The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1897-05-13
HARRISBURG LETTER,
Legislators Move Very Slowly in
Their Labors.
YOUNG TROLLEY DAMAGE BILL,


Though Defeated Last Week, an Efror
VIII Be Made to Have the Measur
Reconsidercd-The Pittsburg Recon
struction Bill.
Especial Correspondence
Harrisburg, May 11.-There Is still
talk of the final adjournment of tn,
legislature during the first week o
June, but nobody seriously thinks tina
the lawmaking branch of the stat,
government will dissolve before tn,
z0th OF next month. At the Friday ses
sion OF the house Mr.. Miller. of Somer
set, offered resolution fixing June
as the day for the final roundup, but
this resolution goes over under the
rules and will probably be referred tc
the committee on rules, where It will
remain until the decks are sufficiently
cleared to enable the leaders of the
legislature to fix a definite date for ad-
Journment During the debate on a
Dill day or two ago one of the men,
pers expressed some concern about the
uay OF maj adjournment being so near
at hand as to jeopardze some import
ant legislation in which he and several
OF his colleagues were particularly in
that at the present rate of progress
the legislature was likely to be in ses
sion until next November. The speaker
hnds 1t necessary to frequently lecture
the house upon it's apparent indiffer-
ence to the flight of time / have never
known legislative body which cared
80 little about the sentiment Of the
people respecting its course as the one
now In session here. While there are
many good men, there is a lack of
interest In the proceedings of the house.
upon the slightest pretext the sessions
are ADJOURNED, and hot weather will
De upon the legislature long before the
important matters have been disposed Of.
The Trolley Damage Bill,
Representative Young, of Tiopa
county, has charge of bill providing
Tor the settlement Of damages ac-
cruing to owners of property abutting
upon public roads occupied by street
railways. This measure Is especially
objectionable to the steam railroad cor
poratlons, and they are losing no op-
portunity to accomplish its defeat. In
one way or another its progress through
the mousse has been retarded until this
late DAY so that the friends of the bin
are much concerned about its probable
rate AT the brief session last Friday
morning an attempt was made to ad- |
vance the bill on the calendar by secur- |
ing Tor 1t special order. This failed |
AFTER one of the most exciting discus |
sions OF the present session. Mr..
Young made a strong speech in sup
port or the resolution to give the bill
an advanced position, saying that the
great Importance of the proposed rem
,dial legislation was ample justification
Tor the resolution. He declared that
-he only opposition to the bill came
rom the steam railways, and that the
lefeat OF the measure would mean Sc
luos loss to many persons throughout
ne state who have put their money
nto electric railways. Mr.. Piolett, of
Sradford county, said that the pro-
ectors Of trolley lines. If they wanted
he right of eminent domain, should
e willing to pay for that right, as the
team railroads do. He argued that
he use of the country roads would be
trongly opposed by the farmers of the
tate. Mr.. Edminston, also a Bradford
ounty farmer, and one of the most |
opular members of the house, insisted |
nat the bill was one in which the
armer was interested, and that it was
OF true that the rural population was
verse to the extension of the electric
ailway system. He said because some '
sIlow's old bobtail horse was going to !
are at the trolley cars was no reason {
ny this bill should be defeated He I
the opinion that the time had I
'me when the farmer who still drove I
town behind yoke of oxen would 1
ave TO recognize modern methods and
Ill In with the procession of progress. C
r. Nesbit, OF Northumberland another I
of the grange element in /
ie Legislature, also supported the bill t
an earnest speech. He said it might {
possible to damn public sentiment C
IT while, but it would eventually }
'erfiow the bounds and force the leg s
lature to give the people what they n
'mand. Mr.. Martin, of Lawrence, a u
auers OF the Changers, gave utterance C
similar views. He contended that t,
e people OF the country districts are b
lxious for the extension of the trolley o
les. N
An Effort at Reconsideration, I
Ihose VINO spoke against the reso- 81
ton urged that any advancement of c.
is bill admitting it's Importance. Il
ould mean the sidetracking Of other T
NfNS 'hiPoi toHt. AIteT a VerY | "a
ii discussion of the matter the reso- a
ton fell by the vote of 81 yeas to | fl
nays, being less than the necessary W
'o-thirds vote. There is no oues- I a
IN that the friends of the bill were ST
0 sanguine, and permitted the reso- A
ton to be defeated through their ii
lure to demand the yeas and nays.
lich would have placed the members m
record. standing vote does not oil
this so effectively. OF course thew hi
IRE much disappointed, and an effort te
IL be made to reconsider the vote tr
which the resolution fell. b,
me Young bill Is one of the most | in
portant before the legislature, and tn
ere Is no measure pending in which | ly
many people are interested. For st
Veral years the trolley railway de- SC
lopment throughout the state has m
en- remarkable. and not until the m
prems court interfered with a dis bu
-rous decision affecting the rights of ia
utting property owners on highways is
the construction of these RAILWAYS al
'ough the country districts cease an
der this decision the electric rail is
y people found 1t almost Impossible DR.
go ahead. and the bill which is he 10
so vigorously antagonized by the cit
am railroads is intended to remedy ALI
existing condition of things ,