The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1891-01-28
Harrisburg Letter.

Harrisburg Letter.
HAERIsBuKG, Pa, Jan. oath.
EDITOR HERALD;-
The most eventfal day Of the legislative
session Of 1891 has come and gone The
various delegations intending to be present
70 participate in the inaugural ceremonies
began pouring into the city early on Mon
day, so that by Monday evening the hotels
and boarding houses were filled 10 overflow
ing.
The street parade was moving at O'Clock
a. m. and in size and regularity Of move
ment did credit to the persons having this
part of the display under their management
Long before the noon hour, crowds Of people
began nassing in front of the Capitol build
ing, where the ceremonies were to take place.
Promptly at u m, both Houses of the Leg
islature adjourned and the members filed
out through the rotunda and took position
as near the Speakers stand as possible.
When all was in readiness, Lieutenant Gev-
ernor Davies introduced the Rev. DIR. Swal-
low, of Harrisburg, who at once began the
the administration Of the oath Of office by
Chief Justice Paxton. The oath was taken
upon a small, .gilt-edged Bible, which the
Governor pressed to his lips and then laid
upon a table. Then Lieutenant Governor
Davies proclaimed Robert f. Pattison Gov
ernor OF the Commonwealth of Pennsylya-
MIA. aud the newly qualified Governor began
his Inaugural Address in which was brief
outline OF the policy he expects TO pursue
during his administration. The address was
read from manuscript, and occupied in its
delivery about 40 minutes.
The display OF FIRE works in the public
square in the evening was grand beyond de-
scription, and brought into Market and Sec
ond streets sufficient number of spectators
to shut off all travel while the exhibition
lasted.
At 3 O'Clock p. m. both Houses met in
their respective halls to elect United States
Senator 10 succeed ]. Don Cameron, whose
term will expire March 4, 1891 Ever since
the adjournment, week before last, the Dem
ocratic members have been working and
hoping to secure deadlock, whereby the
/ election Of the Republican nominee, Mr..
/ Cameron, on the final ballot might be pre-
vented. To accomplish this work they called
! into service Leonard Rhone, a full. hedged
! Democrat. who is, however, Master of the
State Grange His hand in the matter was
uncovered by the Master of some local
Grange inadvertently placing the printed
circulars sent TO the Grangers Of the State in
the envelope containing the printed instruc-
tions TO his representatives TO vote for Aus
tin l.. Taggart. These circulars were sent TO
Republican members only, in the hope that
q sufficient number might be induced TO
bolt the Republican nomination and create
a deadlock, in which event the Democratic
leaders proposed to show that their candi-
date, Chauncey f. Black, possessed all the
elements necessary to satisfy the demands of
Pennsylvania farmers for representation in
the United States Senate, and thereby secure
for him the support of the boiling Republic
cans. The fact that Il. H. Thomas, Secretary
of the State Grange. who is Republican,
took no stock in the matter, caused Rspub-
lican members to look upon Il as a stroke of
Democratic policy that augured no good to
the Republican cause.
Had Mr.. Taggart begun his fight in time
TO come before the Republican caucus for
nomination, there is no doubt but that every
member Of the Grange, as well as many
Others not members of the order. would
have been ready to give him their hearty
support; but the principle that a majority
rule is essential to the safety Of republican
government is too well settled in the minds
of all men competent to legislate for the
people to permit them to go against nomi-
nation that is fairly made in an open meet
ing, where all parties interested have
chance to be heard.
In the Senate the vote for United States
Senator was strict party vote, every Re-
publican member voting for the regular
nominee, and but one Democrat failing to
show the same loyalty TO his party. In the
I House every Democratic member voted for
Black, and Of the eleven Republicans who
/ bolted the nomination, seven voted for Tag
gart, three for DR.. Flood, of Crawford coun-
ty, and one for General Harry White, Of
Indiana.
One Of the events Of the day was the pres.
entation by the Chief Clerk Of the Senate to
the retiring Lieutenant Governor Of silver
bound and handsomely engraved ivory
gaveI. The presentation speech on behalf
( Of Clerk Smiley was by Senator Goblin, Of
! Lebanon, who referred to the very sAtisfac-
I tory manner in which Mr. Davies had dis
charged the duties of his office, notipg par
ticularly the fact that during the four years
he occupied the presidents chair not single
appeal had been taken from any of bis de-
cisions Mr.. Davies WIS almost too much
overcome by emotion to reply, but after
several moments pause he secured sufficient
control Of his voice 10 express his high ap-
/ probation Of the courtesy bestowed upon
/ him and the kindly feeling he entertained
for every member of the body over which
it had been his good fortune to preside since
| the beginningof the session of 1887.
The Speaker of the House announced his
committees on Wednesday Somerset ooun-
/ tvs share Of committee work in the House
during the session win be as folIowss On
Judiciary Local, Federal Relations. Labor
and Industry, Legislative Apportion meHt,
and Libray-E. ID. Miller On Agriculture,
Education, Judicial Apportionment, Public
Health and Sanitation, and Vice and I'M
morality. C. Weller The Senate commit
tees have not yet been announced.
At the present writing everything on the
Hill is quiet. The Senate adjourned on
Wednesday, the Dist. and the House one
day later to meet on Monday evening. thc
96th. Nearly all the members have gone
home and scarcely any one is to be seen
about the Capitol except the heads of de-
partments and department employees.
Secretary Rusk's Crop Report.
The crop report issued yesterday by secre-
tary Rusk shows the winter grain TO be in
excellent condition. The statistics for Penn