The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1897-04-12
NEWS FROM
HARRISBURG.
CONTINUED from First Page ,
dent to great combinations or capital

bin provides for the erection of a new
stute capitol building on or near the
site OF the old building at a cost of
$3.50 600, and no doubt with few
amendments viii speedily pass the
house, and the governor proposes to
attach his signature soon after it comes
into his hands. It Is his intention to
have a beginning made toward the
erection of new state capitol very
soon. An effort will no doubt be MADE
in the house to increase the number
of members Of the commission by add
ing two from the house, but 1t is very
doubtful whether the temper of this
body win suffer this to be done The
house recognizes no man as master
and a spirit of great independence Is
a very marked characteristics. one OF
the elements that give strength TO TINS
influence comes from the Democratic
members. who stand I'm solid phalanN
and throw their weight to one side OF
the other as they are satisfied as to the
value Of the measures to be enacted
The other factions find it necessary TO
secure their influence, and they have to
have some regard for the minority,
1t is doubtful whether the house of
representatives of this commonwealth
was ever in better trim to secure for
the people wise and judicious legis-
lation than the present one. This is
becoming more noticeable each week
1t would be well if the senate were
similarly balanced. Too much smooth
ness characterizes this body, and they
are accredited with passing about
/ every measure that comes before them
Another bill to pass the senate
within the past few days was the Ham
/ ilton road bill or senate bill No. 8, by
/ a vote of Al to 6. This bill is growing
| in popularity, and viii pass the house
/ with a good sized majority There
/ seems to be a strong sentiment devel-
/ opinE in it's favor in many of the coun-
try districts.
Electric railway legislation is now re-
/ ceiving some attention. Two measures
/ in the interests Of such enterprises were
/ favorably reported out of the commit
tee on passenger railways, The ono
authorizes electric and other railroads
not operated by steam to carry freight,
while the other practically gives the
electric railways the right of eminent
domain. The object of these measures
is TO avoid the influences Of the SUI
/ preme court decision, which has been
/ an obstacle to the extension of electric
| roads into the country around Phila-
delphia.
The reform legislation that was
/ promised in the beginning does not
/ seem TO be in a very healthy condition,
/ as the bills already introduced in ref
erence to this are not regarded with
special favor. Some Of the members
who were thought to be friends OF
these measures do not take kindly tC
them. Unless there is a decided change
in the sentiment Of the house there are
none of the reform measures likely t
become laws.
Opposing an Excise Bill.
Although a meeting was held in tho
chamber of the house Of representa-
tives in the interests Of the excise com,
mission bill, and a number of able at.
torneys spoke in behalf of this meas
ure, their efforts seem to avail but lit
tie. The provisions of this bill
authorizes the establishment of a com.
mission composed of attorneys, or per.
sons learned in the law, whose duties
would be to pass upon all bills as tC
their legal form and constitutionality
before they are introduced in either
house. 1t is feared that were this bill
to become a law there might a spirit
of favoritsm develop, and in that event
only certain measures be permitted tC
go before either house. It is also OBJ
jected to on the ground that 1t tend.
to Increase the number of the officials
of the state, and thus add to the eX
penses.
Although several apportionment bills
have been introduced, it is extremely
doubtful whether there is any legisla
tion effected in this respect during thi,
session at least. The difficulty is t,
= frame bills that would satisfy the ma
jorty, as in order to make fair appor
tionment some counties would neces
sarily have a reduced representation
and this would incur great opposition
from such districts.
The senate fire investigating com
mittee is still wrangling with DT
Swallow, who seems now to be in a de
fant mood, and rather disposed t,
choose his own time to furnish the evi
dence he is alleged to have I'm refer
ence to the burning Of the capitol. II
an open letter to Governor Hastings
State Treasurer Haywood and Audto
General Mylin members of the publ,
buildings and grounds commission, re
garding their referring his request 70
permission for himself and others t,
examine the ruins Of the old capito
building to The attorney general for hi
decision, he charges childish tactics
and criticizes them very strongly Blu
the time has come when the docto
must obey the tribunal before whicl
he is cited to appear, as they have
right to know of any knowledge or tes
timony he or his friends have to offer
and he viii not gain anything by with
holding his Information longer.
Little Evidence Against Agent Moore
The legislative committee investigat
ing the charges against Pure Foo
Agent f. N. Moore have succeeded i
getting but little evidence in relatio
to the charges made against him thu
far.
The following statistics as take
from the books of the transcribin
clerks. show the progress of legislatio
in both the senate and house: Hous
bills read i'm place, 92S; house bills re
ported from committee, 461; senate bin
= read in place in the senate, 4OS; senat
bills reported from house COMMITTEES
- 61 senate bills reported from house, sc
D house bills passed and in the senat,
, 49, house bills in the governors hands
] 49, approved 9; recalled, 2; senate bill
passed i'm the house, 3.
These bills passed the house fnan
within the past few days: Requirin
constables to make returns to coUI
only when they have violations of la
70 report, except where otherwise pre-
vided for by rule of court; au'horizin
boroughs 60 make appropriations to e.
tablish and maintain free public