Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1897-05-07
HARRISBURG LETTER.
Legislature VIII Probably Adjourn
the Middle Of June.
OPPOSING own sERvIOE BILE.

Probabilities That the Measure win
BE so Changed as to Make II Inef-
fective-The Defeat of the Pool Sell
ing Bill--Prison REFORM Measures.
Especial Correspondence)
Harrisburg, May Notwithstanding
the frequent recesses and junkets of
the legislature, an effort will be made
to force final adjournment about the
middle of June. II is understood that
a resolution fixing June 1 as the date
of final adjournment will be introduced
this week in the house, and that the
senate will amend this resolution ex-
tending the time until June 20. 1t IL
probable that a compromise date will
be agreed upon, as the disposition Of
work suffers In proportion to the rise
Of temperature. Heretofore the mem
bers during the long spring days have
sought the shelter of the trees in Cap
itol park during prosy debates, but
the destruction of the capitol and the
removal to Grace church will make
1t necessary for the members to stick
to their posts. Notwithstanding the
heat and discomforts that they are sure
to suffer The experience of other years
seems to have no effect In pushing the
work Of the legislature during the win
ter months.
There has been a good deal of po-
litical backing and filling over the re-
form bills, to which the Republican
party is pledged. At the opening of the
session Il was announced that these
bills would be hurried to final passage,
but three months had passed away
before any serious consideration was
| given them. Those who are lined up
as opponents of Senator Quay charge
that he was responsible for the failure
TO redeem the party's pledges. He
came to Harrisburg to confer with his
lieutenants In the senate and house,
and II was then given out, with more or
less show Of authority, that certain
of these bills would be abandoned be-
cause It was impossible to induce the
Quay men in the Legislature to vote
for them. Just when the anti-Quayites
were about to take advantage Of the
situation and force the bills through
a conference Of all the Quay leaders
was called to consider what was best
to be done under the circumstances
and It has been decided to push the
bills to final passage as rapidly as pos.
sible, and while concessions will be
necessary to meet the views of the
opponents of the radical reforms pro
posed 1t is believed that the more i'm.
portant measures will pass in prac-
tically their original form.
Opposing the Civil Service Bill.
There is much hostility among the
practical politicians towards the civi
service bill, and the prospect now II
that this measure will be so changed
as to be civil service in name only
The political assessment bill will b'
modified so as to not affect the givint
of contributions for legitimate cam
paign expenses, but will make arbi
trary levying and collection of assess
ments a mlsdemeanor AS to the pol
tax bill, there Is no opposition, becaus
II will relieve party organizations
the great burden of paying taxes dur
ing important campaigns.
Since his return from the Grant mon
ernor Hastings has heartily endorsed
the proposition to furnish the Nationa
Guard with a dress uniform. Durini
recent years the soldiers of Pennsyl
vania have won applause over and owe
again on account OF their fine disciplin
and practical efficiency in all that con
stitutes the good soldier. There ha
been a disposition to compel on all oc
casions the wearing of a service uni
form, and the result has been dissatis
faction among the guardsmen. The,
feel that they suffer by comparison
with troops of other states on dres
parade. During the Beaver administra
tion the present governor was adju
tant general, and he was Instruments
in having passed a bill approprlatin
: S75, 900 for a dress uniform. Owing t
the failure of the revenue bill that yea
II was necessary for Governor Beaver I
veto the bill, and nothing has sine
been done officially in the way of sup
plying a uniform for ceremonial oc
casions
The Question of state Revenues.
The question Of revenue for the stat
is one that is giving the financiers 4
the legislature much serious concern
UP to this time the only bill that ha
been agreed upon, and which is bein
pushed along, is the Ellxin bill, taxin
direct inheritances over $1,000 at tn
} rate of per cent. 1t is estimated b
the friends of this measure that It wi
bring into the treasury about 100000
but Representative Ward Bliss, of Del
aware county, contends that 1t will nc
produce more than S500,0G0 He Is tn
author OF several revenue bills, anon
them one to tax beer, and insists tina
the legislature will have TO do some
, thing more In the way of raising reve
nue. before adjournment. There is pre-
nounced opposition to any suggestio
that beer be taxed, and there are thos
who say that the objection is the resu
of campaign deals with the liquor ele
ment. Whether that be true or no
It is very evident that no liquor legis
lation OF any Importance will &c
through this session. Under preseI
conditions at the state treasury the dc
flclency of revenue is at least s2,OOO,00
and many worthy charities In the stat
viii have to be cut on without shil
ing unless more revenue is provide
for this purpose.
A resolution has passed the legis
lature calling upon the governor
designate May 10 as legal holida!
and he has agreed to do so. This
the day on which the Washingto
, monument in Philadelphia viii be vi
yelled with imposing ceremonies.
More attention has been given
politics and to factional differences
this session of the legislature than &
Z any previous sitting for many year
Starting with a bitter contest ovs
, the election of a United States senf
j ator, the bitterness Of factions has II
creased rather than diminished, an
unless the pending harmony scheme
are successful the outlook for Republ
can disruption during the approachin
fof % lo a. rts.