Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1897-07-09
HARRISBURG LETTER
Work Of the Legislature Which
Has Just Adjourned.
A VERY REMARKABLE SESSION.

NopfIlNl 1NiltHlNAAA'AANNtf
Harrisburg. July s.-The record Of
the legislature. of 1897 has been made
up. and nothing which may be said
now will in the slightest affect that
record In the closing hour Of the ses-
sion, when the era Of good feeling pre-
vailed, and when the asperlties OF the
long session had been in a measure
smoothed away by the Thoughts of
parting, Speaker Boyer took occasion.
in responding to some complimentary
remarks on a resolution thanking him
for his impartial and able discharge Of
the duties Of presiding officer to say
that the present house had done much
that was good and that, not Withstand
ing the criticism which had gone
broadcast throughout the state, when
De people of the commonwealth had
an opportunity to study the record of
the legislature they would give praise
where praise belonged, and properly
estimate the work of their representa-
uves.
II was a remarkable session in many
respects and much might be said If it
In commendation. AS rule the senate
is not much discussed, because it is in
the nature of n continuing body but
the house, being composed of represen-
tatlves fresh from the people, is always
looked upon as the branch of the legis-
lature most to be praised or CON
demned. In this view of it, therefore, it
is proper to say that no house in re
~,
its treatment of all questions before It
nor more honest in it's effort to do that
which was right. OF course. as In all
large bodies. there was the element
which cared nothing for public opin-
ion and was responsible to nobody.
This element was responsible for many
things which reflected upon the mem
bership of the entire house. When the
record is gone over carefully 1t will be
found that much that was condemned
never reached the stage of final ac-
ton. Many excellent measures have be-
come laws, and It remains for Cover
nor Hastings to finally dispose of
those which are open to fair objection
either on the score of extravagence or
viciousness. During the next 30 days
the governor VIII clear his table of the
lature, and he has said that the veto
ak will be used vigorously upon all
measures that are excessively ex-
travagent or which are against the
public welfare.
The Fractional Warfare.
In this connection a word about the
fnctional warfare in the house during
the session may not be amlss. Owing
to the great fight over the seat of Sena-
tor Cameron. at the outset of the ses-
sion, a more or less bitter factional
| faaIisao nraVailed throughout the entire
4 six months of the term. The Wanna
maker forces lined up under the leader
chip of e. A. Van Valkenburg. who
managed the anti-Quay fight under
great odds with consummate skill. So
well did he handle the minority, which
held the balance of power, that he was
| cOmplimented after adjournment on
Thursday by many of the fighters on
the opposite side. One OF the most con-
spicuous leaders in the state said to
him that had It not been for his tao.
tlcal resources and his ability to make
the most of every situation the Quay
people would have easily controlled and
| directed the policy of the house upon
| every bill under consideration. Mr.. Van
| Valkenburg modestly disclaimed any
desire to be regarded as a leader, but
remarked that he had come here as
one of the friends of Mr.. Wanamaker
to do all he could for that gentleman's
elevation to the place of United States
senator Having failed in this he felt
II his duty to stand with his friends
and to accomplish all that ii was pos
| sible TO accomplish in a contest of this
kind
During the closing days there was ar
exceedingly hot fight against the
| proposition to increase excessively tins
tax on foreign insurance companies fol
the purpose of increasing the revenues
of the state. Prominent insurance rep
resentatives from all parts of the
country were here to argue against tht
policy of increasing the tax of outside
insurance companies in view Of the
fact that other states would retaliatt
upon Pennsylvania companies, and II
the end compel the holders Of insuranc,
polices In this state to pay the ad
ditional tax The bill was defeated
few hours before final adjournment
and the tax on foreign insurance com
panies remains at per cent.
The various revenue bills passed anC
sent to the governor during the session
are estimated to increase the revenues
Of the state about 81, 800. 600. and thi
amount. It Is believed, win be suf
ncient to pay all the appropriation
bills passed this week.
The New License Law.
The most important fight OF the ses
son occurred during the last "a hours o
the life of the legislature. II was on tn
bill amending the general license law
When the bills taxing beer were aban
doned in the senate another scheme 0
revenue was devised which embrace,
a general reclasslfication of licenses
including brewers. distillers and bot
tiers. When this bill came back to tn
Shouse that body. which had passed tn
beer bills originally, insisted that tn
proper way to raise revenue was L
place a heavy tax upon brewers, an,
refused to concur In the senate amend
ment changing the method OF taxin
the liquor men Those opposed to tn
change contended that the new schem
was an unfair discrimination agains
the small brewers and distillers In ia
vor of the large brewing interests; tina
the bill started by imposing a heav
tax upon the smaller brewers and end
ed with a light tax upon the big ones
So successfully was this argument pre-
sented 70 the house that the report o
the conference committee was over
Nselmingly defeated. and the bill agai
]
sent back to conference, which report
ed at o'clock on Thursday morning
with an entire new classification, max
ing the larger brewers the heavier tax
! ma vare ftar some diaoueafon tho hill
as amended the third time passed botl
bodies and was sent to the governor.
Is estimated that Il will bring into th'