The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1895-03-28
Thursday, Mar. %, 1895.
Letter from Harrisburg.
HARRIsBuRs, Pa, Mar. 27, 1896

HARRISBURG, IA, Mar. ~, 1890.
Editor Posr:
The experience of the bad legisla-
tion and over legislation has had its
influence in the past ia determining
the frequency and length of legisla-
tive sessions. Formerly the sessions
we're annual: now all states but five
meet biennially. 1t appears to me
that the state would not suffer ma
terislly il the sessions were still less
frequently and laws fewer. Judging
from the number of bills introduced
one might be led to believe that the
entire state was in a condition Of
chaos, that the security OF home,
life, liberty and all depended upon
the legislation of this session. A
great deal of useless matter finds its
way into the legislative hopper which
fact may be excusable il is not per-
mitted to find its way out
This Legislature as body endeav-
ors to do good service for the state.
It is working with great deal of
of vim and up to this time has ac-
complished more than many pre-
vious ones had at this date. The
last week was rather uneventf ul,
nothing interfering with the usual
running of the machinery.
Poor House Blu.
The bill changing the method of
taking care of the poor, came up for
final passage but failed to receive
the constitutional majority and was
therefore lost. 1t is generally sup
posed that an effort will be made to
reconsider the vote by which it was
defeated. If that should happen
another attempt will be made to pass
it.
=, / endeavor to represent the ma
I"'ty as near a. ] am able 70 'r'e 7
Snlne that from the opinions Tia.
have come to me.
There may be god reasons to
change the existing plan of provid.
ing for the maintenance OF the un-
fortunates but l do not propose to
decide for the people of Snyder
county When under existing laws
they have that power delegated to
them. No poor unfortunate father
OF mother will be sent over the hill
TO the Poor House by my vote in
the legislature according to the pro-
visions of the proposed law.
l shirk no duty, evade no RESPONSE
bility and ask only the considerate
Judgment of my fellowmen. 1 have
faith in the people and whenever
possible all questions affecting their
local interests should be submitted
to them. That is pure govern
ment of the people and by the peo-
pie.
judicial -1pportionment Bin.
A bill, apportioning the State into
Judicial districts passed second
reading. There is no doubt that
the state should be reapportioned
but the bill seemed to lack that con.
sideration to the economical expen.
diture Of the peoples money which Q
subject Of that Importance deserves
Our district is reduced to Union and
Snyder, a territory containing a pop
ulation of about 5000. Northum
berland and other districts contain
from 10000 to 10000 of population
and have one Judge assigned. Hunt
iugdon belongs to the Centre dis
trict but under the proposed plan il
is detached and Mifilin is unitet
with it, the two counties forming {
new district. There is no reason a
least az far as territory is concern et
why Huntingdon county could no
have been annexed to the Perry
Juniata districts. The population
OF those three counties does not eX
c'ed that of Northumberland count,
which has but one Judge. Some one
1 Isuppose. must be provided with
place. That one may be lawyer
Lowell who withdrew from the con
test in the Centre Huntingdon dis
trict last fall and made it possible
for Love OF Centre to be elected
The bill provides for four or fiv,
more judges than We have at pres
ent, which means an additional ex
pense to the state of about $25OOO d
year. The real fight, however. was
directed against Judge Macher's dis
trict composed of Clinton, Elk and
Cameron. and the fight did no,
cease until the district was pretty
well annihilated.