The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1897-06-30
HARRISBURG LETTER.

UuSY Wttk WIFI Allo lluNl dbuNtu AdEAo-
lature-partly merited abuse, but most
of it for that of which IL is not guilty.
Three sessions daily in the House, and
the last of them extending almost to
midnight of Saturday. And as result
a prodigious amount of work has been
accomplished. 1t had been discovered
that the House was very much opposed
to an extension of the session beyond the
date set for final adjournment, and the
"powers that be" that is, the rules COM
mittee, came to the conclusion, evidently,
that it had better shape matters with that
end in view. SO the appropriation bills
were ordered out of committee, and on
Wednesday the flood gates were opened
and nearly all were dumped at once,
some $50 or more. They were read the
first time in the afternoon of that day,
the second time on Thursday, and FRI
day and Saturday went through on final
passage; that is, all but about 80, which
will be finished up to-day. On Friday
night the session of the House lasted un-
til 1880 a. nj. On Saturday the House
was in session nearly fifteen hours.
These appropriations are nearly all for
private charities and State institutions,
and are therefore not opposed on the
floor. A lively little tilt occurred in the
House Saturday over the 100000 appro-
priation to the support of the National
Guard. Mr.. McElhaney, one of the
brightest of the Allegheny delegation,
ID a forcible speaker, offered an amend
ment, which should have passed, cutting
down the amount to $500, 900, and in sup
port OF his amendment dealt some sledge-
hammer blows, for which he was asked
to apologize, by some of the champions
of the pretty "sojer boys" The coura-
geous Alleghenian held his ground, how
ever, and refused to be scared into an
apology.
On Friday, while a bill providing for
the payment oi the committees expenses
which had charge of the Saunders Rob
erts election contest, was under consider
alton, it looked as though there might
be trouble for little while. The main
cause of the turmoil was not so much on
account of the bill itself, as it was on ac-
count of the fact that the Speaker had
put 'sub." in the chair, and the boys
were taking advantage of the situation to
air their views of some of the expense
items in the hiIn, adu all wanted to talk
AT once. When the Speaker saw the drift
of things he took the gravel and:imme-
diately brought order out of chaos. Lit
tie episodes like this during the past
week have lent spice to the proceedings
xuhioh Y,1iUbt haat, fap1a anI
monotonous.
The only regretable feature of this Incl
dent, to the writer, is that, just while it
was at its height he received a card from
Rev. G. G. Rumberger of East Brady, re-
questing to see him few moments. 1t
was the first really exciting incident OF
the session, and my fear was that the
genial Doctor might think il was an ev-
cry day occurrence, and hence a confirm
alton of the bad reports which have gone
out about this legislature, which is NO
worse, and in many respects much bet
ter, than the average-if do have to say
it myself DIR. Rumberger, and party
of three other gentlemen from his town,
were ON bicycle tour of the State, and
tysburg, and from thence they will ride
through a portion of Maryland, Wes
Virginia and home.
Perhaps the country members didn'
score home run this week in the House
For two years past, Senator Walter Mer
rick of Tioga county, has given his bes
energies to solving the question of hov
to secure a more just and equitble distri
button of the State appropriation to tn
Common Schools. After weeks ant
months of study and hard labor, and,
might say, demand from those high il
political authority, to aid in this piece G
justice, Senator Merrick succeeded
where every other attempt had failed, i
passing such a bill through the Senate
1t came over to the House, and. as Chair
man of the Committee on Education,
naturally went into the hands of Nj
Hammond of Westmoreland, for passag
through the House. That gentlema
very promptly proved himself who'll
inadequate to the task, by his advice
the House to accept two or three amend
ments proposed by Philsdelphia's olde
member, Mr.. Stewart, which in effe
would have nullified the intent of IL
bill, and given to the country a stone il
stead of the bread they had asked 70
Jim Moore, of Butler, than whom thel
is no brighter member in the HOus
readily "caught on" and his obiectiC
prevented the amendments from ber
inserted in the bill. From this time {
the bill was in MOores charge. "Tl
little independent cuss," as he is oft,
referred TO, successfully guided the b
through the House against heavy ode
1t required back bone, and if Jim hasI
anything else in this world, no one WI
knows him will deny that he has
abundance of that. The bill was b
terly fought by the Philadelphians, WI
have for years past had very unequ
share of this money, and as a last resC
10 kill the bill they attempted tllibustS
ing tactics, but these were promptly sh
of by a motion for the previous que
tion," which shuts off further deba
When this motion was made the constC
nation of the opponents of the bill W
plainly seen. Evidently Speaker Boy
saw the justice of the fight of the cou
try membership and promptly put