Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1897-03-29
| IN THE LEGISLATURE.
WEEKLY REPORT OF THE DOINGS
OF THE LAWMAKERS.
Governor Hastings and the House Are
Still Apart on the Capitol Building
Ouestion-A Bill Introduce d to Tax
Bicycles-Dr. Swallows Case.

being opposed to Governor Hastings
plan of new capitol buildings to cost
about half million. The general feel
ing among the members is that the state
must spend more money and make IA
better showing. They think half mil
lion would put up too shoddy an affair.
The governor on the other hands thinks
it sufficient. The legislature is nov
anxious to get a bill passed creating Ii
commission to supervise the erection o
the building, so that work'may begin on
the new structure. The governor is
resting with his side of the question and
watching to see what the legislature will
do, SO the matter stands. Each seems
to be afraid to make the first move.
Senator Durham has scheme which
is regarded by many as the most feasible
that has yet been offered. His idea is
that the legislature should pass IA bill
directing the new capitol to be erected
under the supervision of the board OF
pnblic buildings and grounds and if it is
not completed at the end of their official
the commission. The board is composed
of the governor, auditor general ana
state treasurer. If this plan is adopted
it would give these officials say until
it is completed. The governor will agree
to this proposition and it is thought the
differences between the executive and
legislature may be settled by the enact
ment of such Il law.
Rev. DR.. 5. c. Swallow came near
getting himself into Jail last week.
stated in previous letter that DR.. Swal-
low had refused to testify before the
capitol fire investigation committee.
The committee made its report TO the
senate on Wednesday morning and it
stated that in its opinion DR.. Swallow
was ia contempt by his refusal to an
swer questions propounded to him by the
committee. The report recommended
his arrest, so warrent was issued by
Lieutenant Governor Lyon. The senate
then took recess until o'clock that
raigned. The sergent-at-arms started
out to find Mr.. Swallow, but at o'clock
he returned and stated that the preacher
could not be located. While this was
going on DR.. Swallow, was out over the
city serving SubpGnaS for his libel trial,
the day after, and was unconscious Of
the Senate's proceedings. Mr.. Swallows
trials are now on and by the time he is
to appear before the senate his evidence
will be known and he will tell what he
knows about the capitol fire.
A bill to amend the constitution to
enable the legislature to pass special
registration laws for city and country
districts has been introduced. Under
the constitution the registration laws
are uniform throughout the state. This
works great hardships on both cities and
counties For instance, in cities like
Philadelphia and Pittburg two assess
ments year are absolutely necessary
because of the many changes of resid
ence. On the other hand, in the country
districts, where the population is stable
and less subject to change, it is unfair
to impose the extra expense of two as
sesments. Yet under the present situa-
tion the interest of one must be sacri-
feed to the other.
Bills levying a tax of 81 on all bicycles
in use haYa been offered by Messrs.
Spatz and Upton. The money is to be
paid into the state treasury to be applied
for road purposes.
Speaker Boyer read the truant mem
bers of the house sharp lecture last
Friday evening. He said that if they
continue to absent themselves without
leave he would order call of the house
The business of the session is being de-
layed by the absence of many members
and. the speaker declared heroic meas
ures were necessary to require better
attendances. There were only ffty-two
members present when the house went
into session and score of these asked
for leave of absence After the speakers
remarks the hall gradually began to fill
up and towards the close two-thirds of
the members were in their seats attend
ing to business.
The osbourn bill, repeating part of
law governing prisons to allow GER
tain persons to visit the inmates of such
institutions, has passed first reading on
special order and will be considered on
second and third reading and final pas
sage this week. The purpose of the
measure is to allow James r. Gentry,
the actor, who is to hang at Philadelphia
next month for the murder of his sweet
heart, Madge York, two years ago, to
see his counsel and spiritual adviser.
The friends of the bill claim that Gen.
try is not morally guilty and that to
hang him would be a judicial murder.
They will ask the governor to commute
his sentence to life imprisonment.
Gentry has not been permitted to see
anybody outside the eprison since his con-