The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1897-03-19
CIVIL SERVICE BILL.
1t Caused Strong Talk IN the
State Senate.
WENT THROUGH ONTHIRD READING
Senator Finn Caused Surprise by Sup
porting the Measure-NIagee Opposed
It-Au Amendments Defeated-Eire In
vestigation Report-The House Session.

taken up. There was not single bill
presented and the calendar was pro-
ceeded with. The first measure to
come up was the civil service bill,
which was on third reading. Mr..
Goblin, the author of the bill, made "A
speech in favor of it. Senator Grouse
moved to amend it so that it would not
refer TO the positions of assistant cash
1ers in the office of the receiver of taxes
in Philadelphia. There was quite
discussion over the bill. To the surprise
of the anti-Quay people, Senator Finn
opposed the amendment. He said that
he believed the act was a good one, but
that it did not extend far enough. He
said
Il know that this bill was conceived
by the senior senator from this state l IL
order TO embarrass some of his political
opponents. but that does not matter
This is the entering wedge, and while
il is political necessity now, 1t Will be
in operation only a short time until 1t
VIII have to be extended all over the
state. | know that this will drive out
of politics all the young men, and
don't know Just who viii support poll
tics III the future, as there can be no
assessments from OfficehOlders. | don't
know, but L believe that it will result
| know that today one of the biggest
firms In the United States, yes, | guess
IN the world, Is supporting the dOml-
nant faction in this state, and they are
InstruCting their men to vote for the
friends of that faction. There is de-
mand on the part of the people outside
of politics to have some law of this
kind. 1 said [ would vote for 1t and
Will.
.'It took the senior senator 30 years to
reach the position where he thought
civil service was the proper thing. and
it has only taken me a few months. So
l viii go with him"
Senator Goblin said that he did not
think the senior senator should be
charged with the authorship of the bill
He said the senior senator favored 1t,
but the state convention had approved
the bill and made 1t a part of its plat
form.
Senator Magee then took a hand in
the discussion. He said: Il cannot
agree with my colleague from Pitts
burg, Mr.. Finn. l don't think this bill
is a good one | don't think it is the
proper thing for there 70 be law that
certain official IN Allegheny county
commits a crime if he does a certain
thing, while the same class of officials
can do the same act in the adjoining
county and it should be legal. L don't
believe the bill is constitutional, and
for that reason | will vote against II.
This bill says that no emplOye can be
discharged except by the civil service
commission, yet the constitution of this
commonwealth plainly states that any
appOintive officer can be removed by the
appointing power"
This ended the discussion and the
bill passed with only few dissenting
votes. All amendments offered were
defeated.
Senator Heller presented the report
OF the sub committee appointed to in
veStigate the state capitol fire. This is
the second report of the committee
When the first report was presented the
senate sent 1t back for more infOrma-
ton. In the present report the COM
mittee filed copy of ali the subpPnas
| in the case ard the papers 1t recites
the fact that the minister refused to
/ testify and it asks that DIR. Swallow be
brought before the bar of the senate
and asked to give the names of his in
formants and upon his refusal the pre-
| siding officer shall issue commitment
for contempt, if the senate so decides
The report was laid on the table for the
time being.
The following bills were passed
finally:
A further supplement TO an act en-
titled, IAN act to regulate the practice
of pharmacy and sale of pOisons and to
prevent adulteratiOns of drugs and
medicines prepared in the state of
Pennsylvania approved May %. 1887.
a supplement TO an act entitled. ''an
act providing for the incorporation and
government of cities of the third
| class approved May %, 1899 and pro-
viding for the assessment and colIec-
| tion of special taxes upon abutting
properties for street sprinkling and
| street cleaning.
An act to prevent manufacturers and
contractors or other employees of labor
| from discriminating against employees
because they are members of labor
! unions
An act to equalize the levy and col
| lection of assessments for local i'm
provements in bOroughs and cities of
| the state of Pennsylvania except in
| cities of the first class.
| An act to provide for the collection of
| interest III addition TO all costs, charges
| and penalties upon all taxes returned
| for the purpose of creating or continu-
| ing lien upon real estate and repeal
| ing all acts or parts of acts inconsistent
| Herewith.
An act fixing the salaries of the dep
! uty sheritfs other than that of the chief
| or real estate deputy in counties cock
| tensive in boundary with cities of the
| first class
After numerous bills of minor import
| ance were passed finally Mr.. Kennedy
| asked unanimous consent TO read a bin
| in place, and then presented the Lvon
| classification act, which was referred
| to the committee on municipal affairs
The bill providing for popular vote
| at the primaries IN all senatorial legis-
lative and congressional districts, COM
| posed of two or more counties, was
| called up. There was some discussion
| of the bill. Senator Finn objected to
| 1t, saying 1t was one of the alleged re-
| form bills that only reformed where it
| did not affect the majority faction Mr..
| Kennedy wanted unanimous consent to
amend the bill Mr.. Finn objected.
| ana the senate went into committee of
| the whole.
The bill permitting poolselling at reg
ularly organized race tracks passed the
| senate finally
Inc state college bill, making the
state responsible for all the debts of
the college, was discussed for some
time and then held over After the
calendar was fairly well cleaned up
| the senate adjourned
In the house Mr.. Patterson offered a
resolution providing for the appoint
ment of a Tennessee centennial com
mission. The object of the commits
sion Is to prepare Pennsylvania state
| eAhlulI ior the exposition. The COM
mission VIII serve without paw.
Only Two bills were introduced, one
! Dy Mr.. Manning. providing for speedy
nearing IN the case of persons alleged
| 70 De lunatlcs, and the other by Mr.
ocnrlnk, creating the Office of county
! solcltor In counties containing I50 O0O
inhabitants. The bill making an ammo.
| prlatlon for the expenses of the Heller
| Lau bach election contest committees voc