The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-03-22
THE GROW COUNTY DODGE
Thought to Be a Scheme to Defeat
Quay County Movement.
THE GOVERNOR IN A QUANDARY
He Now Wonders II Another Commission
Will Be Necessary to Settle tho
observation-disclosures Consid.
cred in House aud Senate.
Special to the Scranton Tribune.

county. A petition signed by 1000 citi-
Zens of Luzerne county was filed with
the governor recently TO create Grow
county under the act OF 1878. Under
the law the governor was compelled to
appoint a commission to make sur
veys, locate the boundary lines and re-
turn map of the proposed county.
lie named j. jeremiah Snyder, of Le-
high; Isaac a. Harvey, of Cambria, and
B. f. A. Whitlock of Warren, COM
mission to do the work.
Another petition for u county embrace
ing the territory in Grow county by
adding two townships, thereby increas-
ing the population about $1,000. was
yesterday filed with Secretary of Inter
nal Affairs Brown. The governor now
wonders II he will have to appoint
another commission To. go over the
ground.
The judicial apportionment bill
struck a snag today in the house. 1t
was known that the Democrats, under
the lead of Mr.. Fow, were prepared TO
attack it, but 1t was not expected that
It would encounter opposition from
the other side of the house. The bill
was taken up at the morning session
for second reading on special order
and the remainder of the day was
given up to its consideration.
The first change in the bill was made
at the instance of Chairman North. OF
the judicial apportionment committee
He submitted a series of amendments
which went through with practically no
opposition. They change the bill by
making Huntingdon and Miffiln dis
trict; AdamS and Fulton the Forty-sec-
ond district; designating Jefferson as
the Fifty-second district instead of the
Eighteenth, and Center as the Forty
ninth district. The bill originally made
Huntingdon and Mifliin the Forty
ninth district,
Orjcctor Fow Takes Hand.
When these changes had been made
Mr.. Fow submitted a series of amend
ments agreed upon by the Democratic
caucus. They We're all voted down by
a overwhelming majority. one elimin-
ated the provision giving Schuylkill
county a separate orphans court. This
stirred up the Schuylkill delegation
which has been united in its effort to
get separate orphans court judge for
kthe county. Mrl Orme, in behalf of'the
|delegation, protested against the pro-
posed change. He said the people OF
schuylkill We're clamoring for a separ-
ate orphans court and that they We're
entitled to 1t under the constitution
The people who today are fighting this
proposition. said Mr. Orme, favored it
two years ago because they knew If the
bill became law Governor Pattison
would have appointed a Democrat.
Now, we have Daniel II. Hastings in
the executive chair, and If this bill goes
through he will appoint a Republican.
Mr.. Fow's next amendment was to
strike out the provision giving Della
ware county an additional law judge.
He claimed Judge Clayton had de-
clared publicly that another judge was
unnecessary. Mr. Fow said the pur-
pose of this feature of the bill was to
heal up the factional quarrel in Della
ware county over the judicial contest
q year ago.
The next amendment was offered by
Mr.. Mullin. Of Cameron, a Republican.
1t sought to take Cameron from Clin-
ton and Elk and attach it to Mexican
and Potter to constitute the Forty
eighth district. This called forth a
. long and bitter discussion. Mr.. Mullin
claimed the people of Cameron were in
control of a Democratic ring in Elk
county and that this change was their
only redress As part of his remarks
he had read a series of restrictions
adopted by the Cameron county Repub-
lican committee praying for the change.
Mr.. Fow opposed the amendment. II
was supported by Messrs. Niles and
Meerick, of Tioga. Mr.. Collins, of I.y-
coming. a Republican, made an earnest
speech in opposition to the proposed
change. He said the interests of Clin-
ton, Cameron and Elk were practically
the same, that the three counties were
contiguous, and for this reason the dis
frict ought not be disturbed.
Motives Honest and Sincere.
Mr.. Tablet. of Chester, wanted to
Know of Mr. Collins whether he was
opposed to the change because It would
AFFECT relative Of his law partner, who
was the judge of the district. To this
Mr.. Collins retorted that he had no
law partner, and that his motives were
sincere and honest.
The new county craze has not vet
abated. Bills for the creation of the
committee of Quay and MonongaheIa
are pending in the house. A bin for the
erection of another county was put in
the house today by Mr.. Fow. The OBJ
ject of the bill Is to facilitate the dlvi-
sion of the counties of Wayne. Wyo-
ming and Lackawanna, and the forma-
tion OF n new county therefrom with
Carbondale as the county seat. The
new county Is to be called either Mere
dith, after the secretary of the United
States treasury in 1Si9. who is buried
IN an unmarked grave in the lower end
of Wayne county, or after Robert
Morris, the great flnancier of the revo-
lutionary war period and signer of the
Declaration of Independence, or An
thracitc
The bill was sent to Mr.. Fow by the
people of Wayne county. 1t authorizes
the erection of new counties out of two
or more adjoining counties, which have
more than the constitutional require
ment OF 400 square miles, upon consent
Of the majority OF qualified electors of
the proposed new county district vot-
ing at the election to be called for the
purpose. The persons desiring the erec-
tion of the new county must first file
with the secretary of internal affairs
an application reciting all the facts IN
the case, description of boundary, lines
distance usually travelled by wagons
and railroads, the name of the new
county. the names of the new munich
paltities. and all facts in connection
Herewith, which shall be verified by