Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-01-01
Gov. Pattison On Loss Of Wages in
Strikes.
TEN TIMES WHAT EMPLOYERS LOST
His Address to the Pennsylvania
Legislature.
NEW OFFICERS CHOSEN

HARRISbU re, Pa, January 1.-The leg
islature convened in biennial session ct
noon todsy. After the cath of office had
been administered to the members of both
houses. ard other prel.miEaries had been
gone through with. recess was taken until
3 pm.
In the serate C. Wesley Thomas of Phila-
delphia vas chosen president pro tenn and
f. w Smiley of Venango was reelected
chief clerk Henry f. Walton of Philadel-
phia was elected speaker OF the house, and
a. n. FettcroIf of Montgomery chief clerk.
Both branches of the leg stature are over
whelm!HCiy republican, there being only
- democrats in the house and zine in the
senate out of a total membership of 25i.
The senate and house reassembled az >
O'Clock ard hStered to the reading OF the
message CT retiring Gov Pattison. Whef,
this was concluded a recess was taken for
week to allow time for organization.
The governor makes a number Of recon-
mendatiors looking TO legislative reform.
lie says, among other thiEss
Nothing could more wildly Illustrate
the appropriateness OF labor strikes ard
the resulting disadvantages to those wnU
direct them than tEe statistics of the de-
partmsEt Of internal affairs. according 20
which the loss in wages IN 1893 in Penn
ssylvania incurred by the striking employees
In fifty-three strikes was $l.;;9j, IL.
while the loss 0f the employers was esli-
mated at Sl31.Gj0. The riot OF January -
in Mansfield. Allegheny county. resulting
in the burning and destruction of property
and the loss OF at least one life. was large
~ due to the impulses OF Il population
allen to our laws and language to destroy
life and property.
Like influences inspired the spirit of de-
struction which perneated the strike OF the
coke workers IN the ConIellsville region.
neutrality-suspicious. Miners were con-
spicuous too. in the June. 1894, strike in
jefferson county, to. check which two regi-
ments and a troop of cavalry and the Ma
tional Guard were called out by the diSpo-
sltion shown 10 destroy property by i'll
ceniidriSm. AS usually happens in these
cases. the mere demonstration of the state
authorities to suppress disorder was suf-
hcient To maintain order without the fr;n.;
of a gun or the loss OF a life. OF the
twenty-Seyen strikes which occurred during
the year all save three failed to effect the
purposes at which they were aimed.
The governor urges the abolition of
"pluch-me' stores for miners and the en-
actmcnt of legislation looking to the place
ing Of additional safeguards around the
hazardous work of the coal miners.
With reference to railroad discrimination
the governor says: THE evil of corporate
GiscrniHs ton against some and in favor
OF other pIeroHs Is neither abated or di-
minished
Existing legislation seems to be inefrec-
violate the plain mandates of our funda-
mental law. More stringent and positive
legislation is needed 10 enforce the anti
discrimination laws.
The constitutional inhibition of free
passes is practically dead letter because
appropriate legislation has not been en-
acted to enforce it.