The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1897-02-10
PENNSYLVANIA LEGISLATURE.

which practically commits the House TO tho
enactment OF law requiring interest on
State deposits.
Mr.. Sparks, OF Bcrks, announced to the
House the death OF Representative p. Nc
Cauiey Cook OF Fulton county.
Bills were offercd--To provide for the Sc
lection OF n sito and the erection OF state
hospital for the criminal insane, to be cnllsS
tho state Hospital for Criminal Insane, r.d
making an Appropriation OF S200,U00 there-
for, and relating to tho commitment, detcn-
tion and discharge OF insane persons charged
with or convicted OF crime. Authorizing the
creation OF board, to consist of the COVER
nor and secretary OF tho commonwealth,
which shall flx the price OF school text books
to be purchased by boards Of education, not b
exceeding rs per cent OF the present whole
sale prices; an net to extend the right OF trial
by jury In proceedings TO disbar an attorney
and providing FIR change OF venue on such
procosdiDga.
Feb. 2.-rhe first important business to-
day was tho introduction OF tho following
resolution by Senator White, OF Beaver.
Whereas, II Is the duty OF tho general
assembly under tho constitution to. imfnedi-
ately after each decennal census, apportion
the state into congressional. senatorial and
representative districts; and,
"whereas, There has been no congress
sional or representative apportionment since
1857, nor senatorial apportionment since
1874; and, whereas, great inequalities exist
under the present apportionments, and some
portions OF tho state are deprived OF tho rep
resentation they are entitled to under the
constitution by reason OF their increased
population; and. whereas, the governor OF
the state, in his message OF January 8, 1897.
calls the attention OF the general assembly
to this question, and urges tho passage OF
proper congressional, senatorial and repre-
sentative apportionment bills therefore be ii
"Resolved, That 1t Is the sense OF tho
senate that prompt action should bc taken
on this subject, and that the congre. sional
and legislative apportionment committees
be instructed to report on said bills with
In two weeks; that such bills shall be pass
cd at tho present session OF the Legisla-
ture."
Bills were read; by McQuown, n supple
ment 10 the Brooks high license law, which
provides that the several courts OF quarter
sessions In the granting OF liquor licenses
shall not grant In any city moro than one
| license for every 900 inhabitants. and In
the several boroughs not more than two H.
cense in each borough having 800 inhabi-
tants or lees.
BY Mr.. Rowland, to insure greater safety
| to life In thenters and other places OF amuse-
ment by prohibiting persons from standing
| In aisles, and providing penalty Of q fine
| OF 500 and an imprisonment of 80 days In
| the county prison on any manager or lessee,
who shall sell tickets 20 persons with the
privilege OF standing In aisle, corridor or
F; passage way.
February 3.-Everything Is in chaos con-
| cerning plan for continuance OF the ses-
sion OF the Legislature. Until the governor
| arrived Tuesday night there was talk OF an
| adjournment for about two weeks but his
| excellency said there was no necessity for an
! Adjournment ut all. He Immediately or
| dered number OF benches and desks put In
| the Supreme Court chamber for the use Of
| the Senate, and when the members OF that
digniiled body arrived they were surprised
to find some very comfortable wooden desks;
and really there Is no reason for the Senate
. adjourning at all. az the quarters, while NOT
| luxurious, are very comfortable, and busi-
ness can be transacted as Usual.
| Senate convened at III a. m. A number Of
| bills were presented, and when II was an
nounced that the House had adjourned un-
| til IL o'clock tomorrow Senator Grady's
| motion was reconsidered and the Senate ad-
| journed until IL O'Clock tomorrow morning.
The House met In the postofilce building,
third floor, at II n. m. The room had been
| used for civil service examinations, and con-
| tains small desks such as are used In school
| houses, but there were barely enough for the
| members Speaker Boyer when he took his
seat was applauded. After prayer by tho
chaplain the speaker announced that the
gavel he was using was presented to him In
! 1887 by Charles Voorhees,. then chief clerk,
| but now q member OF the House.
Representative Kirkslager presented a
resolution that all members who had rescued
| their desks from the fire be permitted to re-
| tain them. The resolution caused a laugh,
| and Representative I,ytle said the member
| who presented the resolution must be from
| n very remote section OF the Commonwealth,
| else he would not present such resolution,
| as that was not the way TO get State proper
ty. Mr.. Kirsslager was very much In earn
est, and said he had rescued the desk at the
risk OF his own life and thought he was en-
titled TO It. The resolution was passed by
81, g.att tftNA uAfA
Tho following bills were read as follows:
| By Robert Smith--An act appropriating
$500 TO the Southern home for destitute
children at Philadelphia
A. j. Farr-An net to regulate tho houra
| OF labor OF mechanics. workm and labor
crs in the employ OF the Sta;e municipal cor
porations therein or other wise engaged on
public works.
\. NJ. Brophy-Appropriating $1,000 for
the Eye and Ear Hospital at Pittshurg.
The House then adjourned until II o'clock
| tomorrow.
Speaker Boyer came In to tho meeting
place with a hatchet In his hand. He had
sent for the old gavel and it did not arrive
He called the Houso'to order with the hatch
ct When the chaplain finished the gave
arrived.
Feb. 4.--Lleut-G Walter Lyon called
the Senate TO crder at II o'clock and reat
the communication from tho governor an
nouncing that thel board OF public property
and the state officials had agreed on Grasl
NJ. Z, church for temporary home for thu
legislative bodies.
Senator Grady offered his resolution fol
an adjournment until February 22 which
precipitated a heated discussion. Senator
Goblin took the door In behalf OF the COVER
and said that II the legislature adjourned
until February 22. 1t would practically loss
two months. and that the sessions would moi
be over until July.
Mr.. Goblin moved to amend by fixing mex
Monday, February 3, as the time for ad-
iournment. This was agreed to by vote o.
~ to l2.
Senator Thomas offered resolution thai
the Legislature refuse to order the erection
Of a. new state house until better fire de.
partment Is secured for Harrisburg. Senator
Grady asked that the resolution be laid over
, 1t was finally referred to the committee on
public buildings.
Senate bill No. was then taken up and
passed. This was the first bill passed by ths
house. The president then announced thai
| tha n hoJ nl,,tt rk