The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1895-01-04
MAKERSAT WORK.
First Session of the Legislature
at Harrisburg.
GOVERNOR PATTISON's MESSAGE,
The Senate and House Hear II Read and
Adjourn Until Wednesday of Next Week.
Twenty Bills Are introduced in the
Senate-Other Business.


HARRISBURG, Jan 2.-The Legislature
has convened III biennial session here
After the oath of office had been admin
istered TO members of both houses. G.
Wesley Thomas of Philadelphia was
chosen president pro tenn Of the senate
and E. w Smiley Of Venango was re
elected chief clerk. Henry F. Walton
of Philadelphia was elected speaker of
the house and A D. Fetterolf of Mont
gomery chief clerk.
Both branches of the legislature are
Overwhelmingly Republican, there being
only 30 Democrats in the house and
nine in the senate out of a total mem
bership of 254.
The senate and house reasSembled at
3 O'Clock and listened to the reading of
the message of retiring Governor Patti
son When this was concluded a recess
was taken until Wednesday of next
week 10 allow time for organization
The governor makes number of rec
concentrations looking 10 legislative re
form. He says. among other things:
Nothing could more vividly illus
trate the unprOfitableness of strike and
the resulting disadvantages to those who
direct them than the statistics of the de-
department of internal affairs, accord
ing TO which the loss in wages in 1898
IN Pennsylvania incurred by the strik-
ing employees in 53 strikes was estimated
at 81 ,395, ,423 10, while The loss 10 EN-
plOyers was estimated at Sl3l, $50. The
not of Jan. ~, in Mansfield, Allegheny
county, resulting in the burning and de-
structlOn of property and the loss of at
4, .,
pulses of population alien to our laws
and language to destroy life and prop
erty. Like influences inspired the spirit
of destructiveness which permeated the
strike of the cOkewOrkerS III the Con
nellsville region. Non English speak
ing miners We're conspicuous, too, in the
June, 1894, strike in jefferson county,
to check which two regiments and
troop of cavalry, and the national guard
We're called out by the disposition shown
TO destroy property by incendiarism. As
usually happens in these cases, the
mere demonstration of the state author
tiles to suppress disorder was sufficient
to maintain order without the firing of
a gun or a loss of d life. OF the %
strikes which occurred during the year
all save three failed 10 effect the pur-
poses at which they We're aimed. "
The governor urges the abolition of
pluck me" stores for miners and the
enactment of legislation looking TO the
placing of additional safeguards around
the hazardous work of the coal miners
With reference to railroad discrimina-
tlOn the governor says: The evil of
corporate discrimination against some
and in favor of other patrons Is neither
abated nor diminished. Existing legis-
latiOn seems 10 be ineffective 10 restrain
or 10 punish those who violate the plain
mandates of our fundamental law
Nose stringent and positive legislation Is
needed to force the anti-discriminatiOn
laws The constitutional inhibition of
free passes is practically a dead letter be
cause appropriate legislation has not
been enacted 10 enforce it.
The short session movement took some
form by the senate deciding to hold a
session this morning and both houses
evening of next week. There is also
some evidence of speed by the introduc-
ton of 20 bills in the senate by unani-
nous consent, the Greater PittSburg be
ing the first one. Senator Penrose fol
lowed with eight bills. Four of these
Were at the instance of the state board
of health. One constitutes the boards of
school directors in the several townships
of the state as boards of health and EN-
powers them to protect the health of
children in the public schools, particu-
larly in the matter of contagious diseases
One other amends the act creating the
state board of health in several particu-
lars, one of which is to increase the an.
nual appropriation from =, 900 to 81 900
Mr.. PenrOse also introduced by re.
quest a bill 10 make voting compulsory
and providing for a fine to be imposed
upon citizens for neglect to cast their
ballots. Another of Mr.. Penrose's bills
authorizes the lavy of taxes by cities
and bOrOughs TO establish and mainta u
public libraries and another is the bill
co abolish the public buildings commits
sion of Philadelphia
Senator Landis next obtained permis-
sion TO present bill providing for the
purchase and floating of the United
States flag over all schOolhouses, and
the petition of Henry d. Heller, con
testing the seat of Senator Z. H Lau.
bach, Democrat, from Northampton
Mitchell of jefferson presented a bill tC
detach jefferson county from the
Twelfth judicial district and making il
separate district Mitchell of Brad
ford presented bill authorizing county
commissioners to erect and maintain IN
the several county seats monuments &C
the soldiers and sailors who died during
Senator Grady presented the forestry
bill prepared by the forestry commission
He also presented a joint resolution re
lating 70 the bond of the treasurer OF
Philadelphia. and fixing the amount OF
the same
Senator Brown presented a bill pro-
hlbiting the payment of state and county
taxes for voters by the chairman or any
officer or member of any political com
mittee or any candidate for public office
or by any person for any such members
of a political organization Senator
Brown also introduced two road bills.
Rebellion In China.
PARIS, Jan. ? A dispatch from
Shanghai says that 1000 of Lii HUNG
Chang's best troops have been sent &c
queu a serious rebellion at Chin Chow
Flu, north of the Gulf of Pechili. The
dispatch adds that a fortnight ago the
Dowager Empress had 40 lashes given
TO Chin and Chen, concubines Of the
emperor, who had excited her ire by of
fering advice TO his majesty.