The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1891-02-27
THE LEGISLATURE.
Special Correspondence to the COLUMBIAN.
HARRISBURG, Feb. as, 1891.

HARRISBURG, Feb. IS, 1891.
The Burdick Pipe Bill has received
black eye, at least for the present.
On Friday last it was reported mega
lively IN the House, and the supposi-
ton was that the author would make
an effort last evening to have it again
placed on the calendar. The House,
however, waded through lot of peti-
tons and remonstrances in this, that
and the other thing, but never once
was the Burdick bill mentioned. Mr..
Burdick had counted noes, and found
that he could not get Io3 votes, the
constitutional majority, to further his
ends. But this does not by any
means dispose Of his measure. He
can have another chance on Friday
The Standard Oil Company is strong
ly opposing the bill, but there are
equally strong influences, although
probably not as well financially heeled,
in its favor. Among the latter is Sen
ator Emery, and when he enlists for
fight it means that he is in to the
finish. Some hints have been drop
ped to your correspondent that the
bill is killed, but day or two will de-
velop whether, such prognastications
are worthless.
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION.
Mr.. Wherry's bill for the holding of
Constitutional Convention was fav-
orably reported in the House yester-
day 1t calls for the election of 176
members, and arranges for the salary
Of these beforehand. The most i'm
portant measure which will claim the
consideration Of the body, if it ever
meets, will be that of ballot reform
but there are equally important mat
tiers, first of all that of putting in force
all the provisions of the Constitution
of 1873, many of which have never
been enforced, or at least no penalty
has been attached to the violation of
these provisions. OF what use is a
constitution if year after year it is de-
liberately violated by the lawmakers
Isn't it a travesty on both constitution
and law?
ANTI-DISCRIMINATIO
Mr.. John Norris of the Philadelphia
Record, was before the House Com
mittee on Judiciary General yesterday
afternoon in advocacy of the Anti Dis
elimination bill introduced by Mr.
Senor, of Allegheny county. He is a
quiet unpretentious talker, but fluent
and interesting nevertheless, and his
argument was certainly strong one.
Norris is combative man from away
back, and keeps hammering at any
thing he undertakes until at least a
recognition of the merits of the meas
ure are listened to and in more than
one instance conceded. He is about
the last man in the world one would
take for a pugilist in an argument, but
i'll common parlance he frequently
''gets there all the same"
TAXING COAL PROPERTY.
The pill taxing the owners of the
anthracite and bituminous local fields
one-half cent per ton on all coal mined
was called upon final passage in the
House yesterday, and was defeated by
a vote of 90 yeas to 81 nays, consti-
tutional majority, 1903, not having vot-
ed in its favor. Mr.. Davis of Schuyl-
kill, who has charge of the bill, sue
ceeded in having the vote reconsider
ed, and it was then postponed for the
present The bill is intended to
create a relief fund for disabled or in
jured miners, and in cases of death
provides pension of So per month to
the widows and S. per month to each
child under IA years of age. What its
fate will eventually be is hard to say,
for the reason that it is antagonized
by the Legislative Committee of the
Knights OF Labor, who favor another
measure, which they say will bring al
most similar results, and be not benef-
cial only to the miners but operators
as well.
THE APPROPRIATIONS.
Auditor General McCamant esti-
mates that the receipts for the next
two years from all sources will be
Sc, $50, 900, and the expenditures, in
Guiding 100000 borrowed for the
Johnstown sufferers, $s,53o,ooo, leav-
ing less than $1,000, 900 for appropria-
tions to other and necessary purposes
Already bills to the amount of over
$II,ooo,ooo have been introduced,
and what the appropriation committee
will do under the circumstances is
hard to conceive. Then, too, after
they get through, and the bills should
pass the legislature, these will have to
encounter the pruning knife Of Gov
ernor Pattison, and the tax payers can
rest assured it will be exercised with
salutary effect.
A NEW CAPITOL.
The new Capitol scheme bobs up Sc
renly. 1t does so every session in one
shape or another. There are two