The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1895-06-14

Investigation Committee Twenty Thou
sand Dollars for Expenses, but This VIII
Not Prevent the Work from Proceeding.
Especial Co.respondence)
HARRISBURG, June lo.-After one of the
most memorable deadlocks on the owe OF
the final adjournment the senate, early
Saturday morning, was compelled to re-
cede from the amendment to the general
appropriation bill setting aside $40, 600 for
the expenses OF the Penrose committee to
investigate the municipal affairs of Phila-
delphia.
That the attempt to stifle the proposed
investigation will prove abortive was em-
phaszed late In the afternoon by the or
ganization of the committee and the
authoritative announcement that the in
vestigation would be proceeded with. The
committee met In room 1l6 Of the Lochiel
hotel, the senators remaining over In or
der that the committee might be put in
position for work at as early u date as pos
sible All of the senators were present as
follows William II. Andrews, John G.
Grady, E. b. Hardenburg, c. Wesley
Thomas, S. j. NJ. McCarrell and Arthur
Kennedy. Senator Penrose was present
by invitation The meeting was held in
executive session, but it is no secret that
nearly every one Of the members made
sizzling speeches announcing their deter
mination to push the probe In as far as it
will go.
William II. Andrews for Chairman.
The committee organized by tho selec-
tion of William H. Andrews as chairman
and G. Wesley Thomas as secretary. On
motion of Senator Grady the chairman
was instructed to engage competent coun-
Gil to assist the committee, to secure one
or more stenographers and to look after
the necessary clerk hire. On motion of
Senator Kennedy the chairman was in
structed to have 1000 subpGnas printed.
Although no announcement was made of
the fact it is known that Silas w. Petit,
of Philadelphia, is to be the counsel of the
committee. He will be instructed to pre-
pare the necessary papers in the case and
will have everything in shape for the meet
ings Of the committee. The committee
adjourned to meet ut the call Of the chair.
If the opponents of the Penrose commit
tee thought they would smother the inves-
tigation by their action they are very much
mistaken. Senator Penrose is authority
for the statement that the committee
means business. 1t Is not after money,
and the tall Philadelphian startled the
jobbers by saying that If it were neces-
sary for the life of the committee he would
make out his personal check for any
amount of money needed
While the committee adjourned to meet
at the call of the chair, it was agreed that
the next meeting should be held in Har-
risburg in the early part of August. BY
that time 1t was thought all the details
could be arranged and the committee be
prepared at once to plunge into the inves-
tigation.
The Beginning of the Deadlock.
Early Friday evening 1t was evident
that the house and senate would become
involved in q deadlock over the general
appropriation bill. The fight began when
the house objected to the two senate items
in the bill-one for eco, 900 to pay the ex-
penses of the Penrose committee and the
other one for $4,000 for the expenses of
the committee appointed under the Ken
nedy resolution to inquire into the man.
agement of the public schools of the state.
The anti-Quay faction In the house, 1t
seems had for several days been setting up
the Job to defeat this appropriation. When
the house had refused to concur in the
amendments to the general appropriation
bill, including tho two Investigation items,
Speaker Walton named Messrs Ritter, of
Philadelphia; Marshall, of Allegheny, and
Collins of Lycoming, as the conferrees of
the house, while President Thomas Sc
lected Messrs. Penrose Andrews and
Grady on the part of the senate. 1t was
only necessary for the conference COM
mittee to get together to appreciate the
hopelessness of their coming together.
Three times during the course of the night
was the house called to ortsAc to hear tho
report of the conferrees and three times 1t
sent them back to conference, with in
to, nj ntni in ha hnz Ia
of the house.
At o'clock the house met again, when
Mr.. Marshall, from the committee, re-
ported that the senate had made these two
propositions--that 1t would reduce the
item for the Penrose committee from So0,-
600 to Sl5, 900 and that for the Kennedy
school committee from $4,000 to IS, 900.
An infiammatory speech from Mr.. Ritter
caused the rejection of this. Finally the
senate receded from its position, but this
was not done until Senator Penrose had
made one of the most sensational and elo-
quent speeches of the session. He practi-
cally said that money was being used to
shut off the investigation.
Penrose Assaiis Finn.
When the senate reassembled to hear
the report of the conference committee
Senator Finn made the mistak Ike of saying
the investigating was
portant. Penrose was on his feet in an
instant Although greatly fatigued by
the work of an all night session, he talked
with the fro and energy of a man in the
pink of condition, His eyes flashed fire,
and the rosy cheeks of Senator Finn
paled at the volcano of fiery words that
were hurled at him. HS declared that he
had offered to draw his personal check fol
any decrease the committee might make
in the amount asked for, and that he had
information from Philadelphia which as
sured him there would be no trouble In
raising the full amount If the legislature
refused an appropriation.
As Senator Penrose proceeded he grew
more emphatic. He said in part:
"The appropriation for the New York
investigation committee was obstructet
in a similar manner, but 1t only resulted
In arousing popular vengeance and return
ing tenfold upon the heads of those who