The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1895-04-25

uluLiOh To SiiJ the ChAfEeSs
HARRISBURG, April 24.-The municipal
affairs of Philadelphia are to be investi-
gated by senate committee. Yesterday
afternoon Senator Penrose sprung a resO-
luton in the senate providing for a com
mittee of five to be appointed by the presi-
dent pro tom. to investigate the charges
that the councils of the Quaker City are
influenced by powerful combinations to
obtain valuable franchises and privileges
without adequate compensation to the
city Senator Penrose made an earnest
speech in favor of the resolution. He said
it was introduced with desire to investi-
gate the workings of the new city charter
under which Philadelphia has been operat-
ing since 1855. If abuses and corrupUions
existed under its operations they ought to
be known and exposed. He cited the re-
form in the operation of English munich
palities, and urged that something be done
to purify Philadelphia and relieve the
cloud which hangs over it. The resolu-
tion was unanimously referred to the COM
mittee on judiciary general.
The presentation of the resolution was
brought about by memorial from the
Citizens Municipal association of Phila-
delphia, asking for the appointment of a
special committee to investigate the ex-
ecutive and legislative departments of
Philadelphia He said the proposed in
vestigation was desired by "reformers,"
and that the only thing they did was to
create divisions in the Republican ranks.
Mr.. Penrose replied that Senator Os-
bourn's speech was nothing more than
harangue Mr. OsbOurn asked if Mr..
Penrose intended that as an insult. Mr..
Penrose replied that while some speeches
were eloquent they were nevertheless ha-
rangues.
Mr.. Osbourn said with much warmth
that if the resolution of Mr.. Penrose was
adopted he would not hesitate much to re-
sign his seat in the senate, as the proposed
investigation was an insult to the mayor
of Philadelphia and the judges of the
courts of that city. The resolution was
sent to the committee and the exciting in
cident ended.
The Offering of the resolution at this
time was wholly unexpected, and created
great sensation in official and political
circles here.
Senator Penrose was an unsuccessful
aspirant for the Republican nomination
for mayor of Philadelphia his turn
down" at the eleventh hour in favor of
Charles F. Warwick, the present incum-
bent, being matter of history. Senator
Penrose is regarded here as one of Senator
Quay's representatives, and after David
Martin rebeled against the leadership of
that gentleman and refused to support
Senator Penrose's candidacy for the may
orally, it was rumored that the latter
would at once offer resolution calling
for a legislative inquiry into the methods
by which contracts and franchises in Phil
adelphia have been distributed among GER
tain favored persons and corporations.
This was looked for in the latter part of
February, but the matter had been allowed
to hang fire so long that the resolution of
yesterday afternoon had almost the effect
of bombshell.
1t will be remembered that soon after
the defeat of Mr.. Penrose for the nomina-
tion Senator Quay, smarting under the
defeat he had received at the hands of
David Martin, arose in his place in the
United States senate and, without men,
tioning the name of Mr.. Martin, severely
| aTraigned that gentleman as the paid rep
resentative of a corporation which had or
dered the defeat of Mr.. Penrose. Senator
| Quay is coming here from Florida early
next week, and it is believed that his ex-
pected arrival had something to do with
| the offering of the resolution at this time
Previous to the presentation of the Pen.
rose resolutions the house bill to prohibit
| teachers i'll ,he public schools from wear
| ing religious garbs, etc, was reported
! favorably, and number of bills passed
| the senate finally, among them: To
| authorize cities to purchase and appro-
| pirate private property for public park
| purposes; to change the manner of Great
| ing new tOWI .hips by making it the duty
| of the court to OIler a vote of the quail.
| fled electors on the question; to authorize
! soldiers and sailors to bring suit against
| counties, boroUghs and townships foI
| money due them on account Of their en-.
| listment; to repeal the local option law in
| Belle Vernon township, Fayette county
| The bill TO limit the time of labor of EN-
| ployes of cable, traction and electric rail
ways to ten hours day was defeated.
The city members had their turn in the
house yesterday, They buried deep the
pet scheme of the farmers for the distribu.
tion of the school funds 1t was the first
| real defeat the rural members have re
| ceived this session. Their leaders are in
| dignant and threaten dire revenge II
was thought the scheme, which is best
I known as the Smith bill, would go through
! without opposition. 1t was then intended
| to amend it in the senate to meet the OBJ
| iections of the city members But this
| plan miscarried, and the bill was killed OF
final passage 10y vote of "a to o., less thar
! l03 members voting in the affirmative
! The bill changed the basis of the schoo
| appropriation by distributing one thirt
according TO the number Of teachers nc
tually employed for full term, and tn,
balance according to the number of tax
| ables.
Five bills passed finally in the house
| among them one taxing aliens who hav
| been in the state three months So year
and those over five years 50, for the i'm
! provement of the public roads. The bill
| prohibiting changes in school books often
er than once in five years after their adop
tion was defeated.
Murdered in a Court Room.