The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1897-03-18
HARRISBURG LETTER
The Defeat Of the Legislative
Commission Bill.
HAMILTON ROAD BILL POPULAR

It Is Believed the Measure Providing for
Better Roads viii Fass-Provisions of
the Excise Commission Biii-Opposition
to so5o,ooo Capitol.
Especial Correspondence)
Harrisburg. March ls-while IL IL
true that one swallow does not make
a summer. yet the committee of the
senate appointed to investigate the
capitol fire realize that one Swallow
can give very considerable trouble II
so disposed. The refusal of DR.. Swal-
low, editor Of The Methodist. whose ac-
cusations are familiar TO your readers,
| to give the names Of persons whom he
claims to have knowledge of the cause
| of the fire, has placed the committee
/ in an unpleasant position, and while
| they have profound respect for the
gentleman's calling, they feel that 1t
would establish bad precedent to al
low him to prevent them from obtain
ing evidence to assist in prosecuting
their work. They have referred this
case to the house for it's disposal. This
will no doubt be acted upon this week.
Both the friends and enemies of DR..
Swallow claim that they have no ordi-
nary individual to contend with he be-
ing q man of more than usual courage
and able TO defend himself in a con-
test OF this kind.
Or. Swallow himself is quite reticent
on the subject, but some of his friends
claim that he is justifiable in his re-
fusal to answer the questions pro-
pounded by this committee, on the
grounds that he is to be tried for GRIM
inal libel in the courts of Dauphin
county, and on that account should be
exempt from giving evidence that he
may want to use in this trial. But what
action will be taken by the legislature
In the case remains to be seen.
One Of the important events of the
week was the defeat of the legislative
commission bill, which proposed to es-
tablish a commission Of three men,
learned In the law and with powers
second only to the supreme court,
whose duty 1t should be to revise every
bill before presentation to the legisla-
ture. This was in the judgment of the
members of the legislature an insult
to this body, which It no doubt was,
as II was an admission that our law
makers were not capable of transact
Ing business without guardians, and it
placed the authority in the hands of
few persons which would have a dam
aging influence to the state. To those
who are frequently on the floor Of both
houses 1t Is plainly to be seen that a
large majority of the members at the
present time are representative men,
and in every way capable of filling
their positions with ability and credit.
To Investigate Miners Destitution.
Another of the features of the week
that provoked considerable discussion
was the resolution to investigate the
destitution in the Pittsburg coal min
ing district and it's causes. The friends
of this measure were very active in its
interest, and while IL was laid over for
further consideration IL will no doubt
be called up early in the week and act
Cd upon.
Among the many bills that have
been offered since the opening of the
session are a number that are recog-
nized by the several committees as
unconstitutional, as they relate to the
repeal of special acts, and there is
some discussion whether after all the
committees have not a right to report
them, either negatively or Affirmative
ly, to each house for their considera-
tion, and not hold them, as 1t is pro-
posed to be done. This will develop
very considerable discussion within the
next few days.
Among the popular measures that
have been introduced this session, that
has every assurance of passage, is sem
ate bill No. 9, or the Hamilton road
bill. and strange to say the influences
working in its favor comes largely
from the farming districts. OF the
1.s5I supervisors reporting as to its
value from 1,422 townships in the state
1888 favor a money tax. In the coun-
try districts 1t is recognized as having
very superior advantages over the law
now In force. The present laws allows
the supervisor to levy ten mill tax,
and in addition TO this they may incur
debt to an unlimited extent, which
the townships are subsequently re-
Quired to pay; thus virtually the pow
ers of supervisors are unlimited.
The Hamilton bill limits the powers
OF supervisors to run a township in
debt, restricting them to a 10 mill
tax, and in case Of a great emergency
this tax may be increased to 20 mills,
but the extra 10 mills can only be
levied by application to court, and the
WneTe IL is
proposed can protest against this ad-
ditional expense. With a few modifi-
cations this bill will pass both houses
within the next few days.
The Excise Commission Bill.
A bill embracing many far reaching
provisions, and which is known as the
state excise commission bill, has re-
Gently been introduced. This is in ad-
dition to four others that are already
pending in the house or senate for the
appointment of commissioners compos-
ed of a few men who will take absolute
control of certain industries or itstitu-
tions. Among these commissioners are
what are known as the electric light
and water power commission, railroad
commission, mining commission, the
state excise commission and the new
capitol commission.
These bills are said to be backed by
the Quay people. although his friends
have very little to say concerning them.
1t is claimed by the anti-Quay people
that these commissions mean great
concentration of powers condition of
affairs the people of Pennsylvania can
not AFFORD. 1t is thought also that one
of the principal objects NJ thesa cor,