The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1891-04-17
THE LEGISLATURES.
Special Correspondence of THE coLuMprAS.
HARRISBURG: April *. 1901.

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work that is they have gotten down
to three sessions day, or rather, it
should be said, the House has, because
the Senate was not in session last
night. 1t can be remarked, however,
of the upper branch, that it is always
ahead of the popular, or lower, body
in its work, and yet the present Sen
ate has not SO far accomplished much
l have never known any Legislature
SO far behind in its work at this stage
of the session as the present. To be
sure, the Senatorial and judicial ap-
portionment bills have been presented
in the Senate, but they will be torn from
stem to stern before they are passed,
if ever they will be. 1t has come to
be a question whether any Apportion-
ment bills will be passed at all by the
present Legislature. 1t IS limited that
the majority do not intend there shall
be, in the hope that an extra session
will be called by the Governor. But
think they are counting without
their host" Governor Pattison will
hold them to the strict line of the
Constitution, and, if they fail to OBJ
serve its provisions, upon their own
heads must rest the responsibility, not
upon his. He is man that they have
learned is not to be trihed with.
STILL HANGING FIRE.
The Philadelphia appointments ofthe
Governor are still hanging fire in the
Senate. The republicans think they
have the Governor on the hip, but in
this will find themselves much mstak-
en-. The Republican Senate in 1887
played shabby trick upon him in re-
fusing to confirm his appointments of
State Librarian and Supreme Court
Reporter. They never imagined that
their invention then would return to
plague the inventor. Scarcely had
Beaver become seated in the guberna.
torial chair before he sent in the name
of DR.. William H. Egle as state Librar-
ian, in place of Mr.. Edward Stuck,
editor of York Press, who had only
served about year ard a half, and
whom the Senate refused to confirm.
More than this, after Egle was in.
stalled, his term was heightened and
his salary increased in direct contra
vention of the provisions of the Con
stitution, Then, too, when Governor
Pattison wished to get rid Of the then
Superintendent of Public Instruction,
who became badly mixed up in the
Soldiers Orphans scandals, the Re-
publican Senators again interposed.
They must not suppose that the Gov
ernor has short memory. These in
suits are keenly remembered. He
will not commission either Egle or
Waller When the Legislature adjourns
the commissioners to Philadelphia ap-
pointees will be issued, and he will
find other equally competent men to
take the places Of the present State
Librarian and Superintendent Of
Public Instruction.
THE FINAL ADJOURNMENT.
Some people are credulous enough
to think the final adjournment will
take place on the 10th Of May. But
there are more who believe that it will
not occur before the last of May, and
even that the roses of June will be in
bloom when the day of dissolution
comes. There is, as was before re-
marked in this correspondence, much
important legislation yet,to be enacted,
and even with the three sessions day
inaugurated not much he adway is be-
ing made. 1t is generally in the clos
ing days Of the session that hurried,
bad and indifferent laws are engrafted
upon the statute book. Now, it oc-
cures to me that no Legislature
since the adoption of the Constitution
of 1873 is SO far behind in its work as
this, and it does not seem possible that
an adjournment, without detriment
to the best interests of the State,
can take place before Ist of June.
am only giving an individual opinion
but in this feel sure am voicing the
sentiment of all the newspaper people
here as well as many others who
are posted in matters on the Hill.
APPROPRIATION BILLS.
The House has been tugging away
at the appropriation bills, and so far
has passed on second reading enough
to aggregate anywhere from $II,ooo,-
900 to $4,000, 1000. No sane per-
son believes that many of these will
be passed finally, and if they are, the
Governors veto will be sure ito be
exercised. States as we'll as individu-
ais must live within their means. If
they do not, bankruptcy is sure to fol.
low.
SOMEWHAT OF A SENSATION.
Senator Hall, of Elk, created con-
siderable of sensation Monday night
by introducing resolution which has
for its purpose the placing of a pa
al A. Al