The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1897-04-01
HARRISBURG LETTER.
The Changes in the Legislative
Districts of the State.
AGREEMENT ON THE NEW CAPITOL.

and the Legislature Now Removed
House Opposition to the Reform Meas
ures-Dr.swallow's Beiiigerent Attitude
Especial Correspondencc.)
Harrisburg. March ao-The governor
has thus far received IL bills. four OF
which he has approved. The last one
he signed was an act in reference tc
prison officials. visitors, etc. He still
has In his hands seven to which ne has
not attached his signature, viz: To
pay mileage Of coroners viewing dead
bodies; creation and regulation Of mu-
nicipal liens and the proceedings In the
collection thereof in the several bor-
oughs of the state; making constables
OF townships ex-oflicio fire wardens in
the extinguishment of forest fires and
reporting to the courts violations of
laws protecting forests, ETC.; regulating
standard weight of bushel of oats;
establishment of public libraries in the
several school districts. excepting in
cities, and the purchase of unseated
lands by the commonwealth for non
payment of taxes for the purpose of
stablishing a state forest reservation.
Both houses have succeeded in the
dispatch of very considerable business,
but the senate is much ahead of the
house in their work. and in conse-
Quence of this have adjourned over un-
til April.
The New Legislative Districts.
bill was offered in the house a few
days ago which makes decided
change in the legislative districts of
the state. BY the provisions of this
bill the Third and Fourth wards OF
Philadelphia are made one district, and
with 1 member. and the Fifth and
Sixth wards comprise one district, with
1 member. 1t entities the Seventh ward
to members. and the Eigth and Ninth
wards are consolidated, with / MEM
ber. The Tenth gets 1 member. The
Eleventh and Twentieth are united,
with 1 member. The Sixteenth and
Seventeenth together are entitled to 1
member while 4 members are given to
the Nineteenth and Thirty y-first wards.
The Twenty-second ward gets 2
members The Twenty-fourth and
Thirty-fourth are consolidated, and
=.
Twenty-sixth and Thirty-seventh are
given 2 members. The Thirty-second
ward. which was formerly in that dis
trict, is made a separate district, with
1 member. These constitute the
changes in Philadelphia.
Adams county gets l member. Allie
gheny county will have 20 members
Bedford county gets 1 member, while
Blair Is entitled to s members. Cam
bria county is given 3. Chester 8. Clar-
ion I, Crawford 2. Clearfield 8, Colum.
bia /, Huntingdon /. Jefferson Q, Lam
caster s, Lawrence l, Luzerne Z, Lack
awanna 5. Mercer 2, Schuylkil s..
Somerset 1 and Wayne 1. while West
moreland gets 4. All other counties
will be the same as under the present
apportionment.
Among the bills that met with de-
feat recently, and which are not likely
to be resurrected again during this
session. were the anti-treating bill and
the pool racing bill. both Of which met
their death on final passage. The lat
ter bill, II was understood, was going
to be knocked into smithereens by the
house any way. and 1t was thought
best TO not give them the opportunity
The libel bill drafted by the Pennsyl-
vania Editorial association was also
practically Killed in the house when 1t
came up for second reading.
Agreement on the New Capitol Assured.
There is no doubt that an agreement
will be reached in short time be-
tween the governor and the legislature
on plan for q new capitol, and the
structure will be on about the same
economic lines as recommended by the
executive in his message. This is
about what was agreed upon by the
committees on public buildings and
grounds of the house and senate, who
had conference with the governor Of
about two hours duration. and the
plans were received as to the group
Ing OF the various buildings in archi-
tectural effect. OF which there will be
four in all. This will include the ex-
scutive building. The style adopted
will in all probability be the rennais-
sance, which will include a slight touch
OF the colonial, the object being to i'm
prove on the old state house.
The governor, in his statement before
the committee. remarked that the con-
tract should be let Aug. I. the build
the work is not done in that time he
would take all the blame. He also
stated that his estimate Of the ex-
penss for the erection of the new build
ing at the cost OF $3.50. 900 was based on
the fact that the lighting. heating and
sewerage were provided for. and that
about 2.so0. 900 brick were in the old
building that could be used. He also
stated that the amount he named il
not intended to cover the interior dec
orations. and that the walls would not
be in condition to ornament when
the next legislature meets. and this
cost would be extra. and must be pro-
vided for by appropriation. This esti-
mate also does not include the furnish
ings, SO that by the time the building
was completed the total cost would as-
gregste about 81. 900. 600. There seemed
to be a very satisfactory feeling among
the members composing the commit
tee, and IL is now certain that any
danger of a clash between the COVER
nor and legislature has been removed.
Opposition to the Reform MeA.ures
The house does not seem to take
kindly to the reform measures. as was
evidenced by the way they cut and
slashed until they could be scarcely
recognized and eventually DsSSad ,ha