The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-04-17
ritter BILL PASSES HOUSE
A New Pension List Approved by
Vote Of 107 to n.
SALARY FOR RETIRED JUDGES
Members Of the Supreme Court Who Have
Served Twenty Years at Starva.
tion Wages Arc to BE Offered
Pensions for designations.
Spec 4 to the Scranton Tribune.

Spec'.l to the Scranton Tribune.
Harrisburg. April 16.-The judges re-
tirement bill passed finally today in the
house. The vote was 101 to II. The
passage of this bill establishes pre-
cedent in the lower branch of the legis-
lature. For a generation efforts have
been made to get 1t to pass such bill.
Once or twice its advocates succeeded
In the senate. but this is the first time
they have ever passed the bill in the
house. The success of the friends of
the bill passed today is dUi principally
to the activity of Speake'/WaltQn. He
has been energetic from the start in its
behalf. and 1t was largely out of court
esy to him that IL was passed. During
the discussion on the bill this morning
Mr.. Walton left the chair and made a
powerful plea for its passage. His re
marks had good effect and won even
some of the most active opponents of
the bill.
The morning session was extended an
hour in order to dispose of the bill.
The measure was on the calendar for
third reading on special order. and
was taken up shortly after IL o'clock.
The debate was opened by Mr.. Martin,
or Lawrence. with a speech against the
measure. He took the ground that the
principal involved in the bill was a
bad one. and that it ought not become
a law. Representatives Seaner, of In
diana, followed with Il long speech in
opposition to the bill. He read his re-
marks. At the close Mr. Harrison, of
Philadelphia, created much laughter by
calling for second reading.
Mr. MattoX, of Venango, then took
the floor and made an earnest plea for
the defeat of the measure. He uemind-
ed his Republican colleagues that they
We're committed to economy and reform
and declared this contended the bill
was one of the most unpopular that
the party could pass. Mr. Mattox
thought the judges of this state were
we'll paid and that such a measure
ought not to become law when the
working men of Pennsylvania We're
hardly making enough to fed and clothe
their families. Mr. Morrick. of Tioga,
was opposed to the bill because it pro-
posed to pension judges. He claimed
no better reason could be given why a
judge should be pensioned than that a
pension should be given school teach
ers. The duties of the schoolmaster are
far more important than those of a
Judge. But it is not question of which
Is the most deserving said Mr.. Merrick,
1t Is question of principle; a question
OF whether We shall begin the forma-
tion of civil pension list that may
extend as far as the politicians with a
'pulP' can pull it, He believed the
not become law.
Ex-Auditor General Niles, of Tioga,
appealed to his party colleagues to vote
down the bill. 1t was wrong and the
people will not stand it when the treas
ury is depleted and the public chari-
ties are about to suffer. Mr.. Niles
said the bill was unconstitutional be-
cause 1t was. class legislation. He de-
fled contradiction on this point.
Mr.. Ritter, of Philadelphia, the author
of the measure, replied that in his opin-
ion the measure was constitutionally
sound. He contended that it would not
hurt the charities of the state. In the
name of justice and right it ought to
become a law. So far as he was con-
cerned. Mr.. Ritter said, he was ready to
take his political chances on his posi-
tion on the bill.
Speaker Walton then retired from
the chair to make the closing argument
for the bill. He began by saying it
could not be said of him that he had
delayed the advancement Of the busi-
ness of the house, or that he had taken
the floor in the interest of any meas
ure since the beginning of the session
and asked the indulgence of the house.
He declared with much earnestness
that he was proud of his position which
he has taken in endeavoring to accom-
plish the successful passage of this bill
Mr.. Walton contended that the people
Of Pennsylvania who live in the dis
tricts represented by the gentlemen
who oppose the bill do not understand
its merits, or else their attitude would
be entirely different.
Mr.. Walton's Missionary Work.
II have spoken with farmers in Har-
Tisburg from all sections of the state
in relation to the matter" Speaker
Walton continued, land / want to say
upon my honor as a man that / have
failed to meet man representing the
agricultural interest with whom / have
talked that before / left him has not
told me that he believed this measure
meritorious one. / believe before we
leave our legislative deliberations we
will find enough money, as Pennsylva-
MIA has always done In the past, to take
ample care care of the poor, the Grip
pied and the blind, and If we do not
for one would recall this measure If
Of our people"
Representative Lawrence. Of Wash
ington, closed the debate with plea for
the defeat of the bill. He referred to
the efforts which have been made I'm the
past to pass such a measure. He was
opposed to the principle involved and
did not thing the measure should be-
come law. He appealed to his col
leagues to vote against the bill in the
name of justice and right and reminded
them of the depleted condition of the
state treasury
The measure provides for the retire
ment Of judges on full pay who have
served twenty consecutive years on the
bench, or thirty years altogether, and
have reached the age of 20. The only
justices who now come under the provi-
sions of the act are Judges Hare, Fin
letter and Allison. of Philadelphia, and
Bershing, of schuylkill.
ROUTINE WORK IN HOUSE.
The Vote on tho Justice Pension Bill