Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1897-02-19

sylvania cavalry, ana ccIonel John ].
Patterson, captain of the Juniata cal
vary, are alive.
Opposed to Moving the Capitol.
The bill introduced by Senator
Thomas proposing the removal of the
faptol to Philadelphia has few friends,
the general sentiment among the mem
bers favoring its retention in Harris
burg. They realize that there is no
time to lose In the consideration of a
question of this character, and the
state has nothing to gain and much to
lose in the removal.
The most important committee since
the fire Is now considered the commit
tee on buildings and grounds, in both
senate and house. Heretofore this
committee has been conspicuous for
the little amount of work that was re-
quired, but the destruction of the old
capitol building has given them new
Importance. There has some friction
and jealousy developed as a result.
In the senate there are but ten MEM
bers, while there are 25 in the house.
The fact of the little Importance of this
committee led to the appointment of
number of anti-Quay members A
resolution was offered, 1t is thought
for the purpose of taking the power
out Of the hands of the present com
mittee on buildings and grounds and
substituting another TO be selected and
appointed by the chairman of the
house committee on public buildings,
together with the governor and lieu
tenant governor, state treasurer, au-
ditor general and speaker of the house,
to constitute a special committee,
whose duty it shall be to consider and
adopt plans and Specifications for
new state capitol building, etc, and
further provides that all repair work
shall be by American citizens, and as
far as practicable all material shall be
of Pennsylvania product. This pro-
volSed a session of the joint commit
tees of a very exciting nature, and the
result was that the resolution was
tabled and an arrangement made for
the chairman of the committee to meet
the governor and discuss the subject
with him. 1t is altogether probable
there will be some spirited contests in
these committees before the subject is
disposed of.
booming the Candidates.
Within the past few days the friends
of several prospective candidates have
started a boom for their favorites for
important places on the hill. There are
many aspirants for Governor Hastings
| position two years hence, and among
those recently reported who would be
willing to serve the state in this ca
pacity are Congressman-elect Connell
of Scranton and Congressman Leisen-
ring, and there is movement on foot
! -TI
eral John p Taylor put in the race.
| General Wiley, Speaker Boyer, Auditor
General Mylin, and many others, are
1 spoken of in connection with the gov
ernorship, and from present indications
there will be many candidates to Sc
lect from in the next contest for gov
ernor. 1t is given out that John Wana-
maker will be the candidate of his fac
ton for governor. 1t is understood
that General j. p. S. Goblin will be a
/ strong candidate for auditor general,
| There does not seem to be many appli-
cants for the position of state treas
urer. Few seem to care for the exper-
ience and responsibility connected with
that office. There are only two persons
whose friends are active in endeavor-
ing to secure the nomination, and these
are r. II. Shindel, cashier of the City
bank of York, Pa, and Mr. Beacon of
| Greensburg, and in the canvass of
these gentlemen there is not likely to
be much friction. There are frequent
rumors of the likelihood of Governor
Hastings securing a place in McKin-
ley's cabinet, although he denies that
he is a candidate for the position. Sew
eral persons have visited Canton re-
Gently, 1t is thought in his interest.
In the event Of his being rendered a
cabinet portfolio, and his acceptance
it is thought a great change will be
made in political circles.
1t is not likely there win be an ef-
fort made to remove the debris of the
old capitol building and steps taken
towards the erection of the new for
some time. The adjournment of the
senate until the evening of Feb. % will
postpone any action in that direction
Disposition to Move Cautiously.
There is a disposition among the
members to move cautiously in the
beginning of an effort to construct a
new capitol building. 1t seems to be
the desire to consult the people gen.
orally, and II possible ascertain theiI
desires as to the amount that should
be expended, and not build a structure
that would be unpopular among the
majority. There will be little time fol
holidays for the remainder Of the ses-
sions, and to get through with the
work outlined at anything like the
usual time for adjournment viii re-
quire steady and active work from thi'
on.
It should be born in mind that
among the bills usually left to the last
is the general appropriation bill. II
should get the precedence, even If 9TH
er measures should be sacrificed wheT
there is time to spare. Many impor-
tan acts have already been proposed
and these should be acted on promptly
and brought before the people for in
vestigation. But at this stage of thu
proceedings not a single one has beer
reported and placed on the calendar
while many that have been talked
about have not been introduced even. /
therefore becomes our lawmakers to b'
exceedingly industrious during the re
mainder Of the session.
The public building committee Of th
house and senate have been invest
eating the cause of the capitol fire
OF the witnesses examined the major
ity conclude that the fire originate,
from the open hearth in the lieutenan
governors room, and II communicates
under the floor. During the investi
CATION it developed that the state hai
adopted but few fire precautions. NJ
efforts had ever been made to organize
fire brigade, and little, II any extin
guishment material had been supplied
By those who were familiar with Il
condition Il has been regarded for year