The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1897-07-01
HARRISBURG LETTER.
Legislators Cannot Adjourn Thurs
day, As Agreed Upon.
MAY FINISH UP BY SATURDAY,
Meantime There VIII Be Some Lively
Discussions Over the Exorbitant
Bills Presented by Members of Va
rious Investigating Committees.


Especial Correspondence
Harrisburg. June 29.-Thursday mex
is the date fixed for the final adjourn
ment of the legislature, but the con
dition of the calendars of both senat,
and house is such that it will be i'm
possible to get away before next Sat.
urday. IL then. All the efforts of the
leaders Of the two branches of the leg.
islature are being directed toward fina
adjournment, because they realize tha,
every day adds to the danger of the
party In power. Not only the minority
but very considerable number of Re.
publicans are making 1t unpleasant for
the organization. There is danger of a
revolt in the Republican ranks. and
not a few thoughtful men predict that
a split In the Republican party will
follow the controversies in the legis-
| lature.
since the opening of the session last
January the Seventy-six, or anti Quay
Republicans, have been accommodating
trouble for the faction in power. These
men have consistently pursued a course
OF opposition to the plans of the lead
ers in the senate and house, and wher-
ever possible they have made it un-
pleasant for the Quay men. While in
the minority, they have maintained
their organization so well as to de-
moralize the faction which organized
the legislature. Not point was lost
throughout the session. Anything that
would add to the unhappiness of the
other side was promptly taken ad-
vantage of, and the situation has de-
veloped singular state of facts. In
stead of the Quay men running the
legislature in these latter days, they
are In reality following the Seventy
sixers. Many things have contributed
to this peculiar condition. the leading
factor being the utter absence of lead
ership on the part of the Quay or
ganiyation.
Opposition to the Reform Measures.
owing to the opposition of many Re-
publicans to the ultra reform measures
that were looked upon as the party
bills 1t was difficult for the Quay lead
ers to force them to final passage with
out material amendment. These amend
ments have given the Seventy-six an
opportunity to hold up the Quay
men as insincere and hypocritical. OF
course, the Democratic minority was
willing to help along in this work, and
the result has been disastrous FOR the
leaders in the legislature. At this stage
OF the proceedings it is almost impos-
sible for the leaders to map out any
plan looking to united action on any
measure.
The Seventy-six have also added to
the discomfort of their opponents by
pointing out and emphasizing the ex-
travagence of the various investigat-
Ing committees, whose bills Of expense |
have been the scandal of the present |
legislature. If the legislature does not |
get away this week it will be largely |
because many members of that body |
Will not permit these bills to get |
through without a stubborn fight. Al |
ready the opposition has developed
Some of the bills introduced have |
opened the eyes of the older members |
TO the danger of permitting the ex-
fravagent legislators to make up the |
expense account of investigating COM
mittees. Many Of these bills will be
thoroughly ventilated on the floor of
ne house, where the principal battle
viii take place this week. Thousands
)f dollars are involved in these ex-
ravagant measures, and 1t Is difficult |
o understand how 1t Is possible to pad
he bills In the way that 1t has been |
lone. Hundreds Of dollars are incIud-
"a Tor items that are claimed to be |
fraudulent. In one election contest the |
ill was several thousand dollars and a
member of the committee, Mr. Rice, Of
sucks county, made a statement to the
louse which caused a sensation. In
his bill he was allowed $42 for "car
are, kilograms, etc." and moved to
trike out the Item, saying that he had
lever had any such expenses. Other
Committeeman had similar items of
Expense. So 1t goes all through the list
the various committees. An old leg
slator said to me the other day that
q view of the fact that every member
ldes on pass it was absurd to charge
thousands of dollars for mileage on |
he railroad. He further intimated that |
Mess this sort of extravagence was |
topped the Republican party would
cffer at the polls.
'isgusted Over Investigation Expense |
Many loyal Quay men are disgusted
18th the way In which the inyestigat-
lg committees have piled up the ex-
ense account. In the house a member I
committee which arranged for the |
'ips of the legislature to the Grant
lonument ceremonies asked that the
Ill be sent back to committee "for ,
lvestigation and proper amendment"
Ie thought that he ought to have an I
pportunity, as a member OF the COM
littee. to scan the items of expense. T
hose who were with the legislature =
New York cannot fathom the ex- |
ense account for that trip. 1t is said 7
lat the caterer is to have 81, ,OOO This c
a sample Of the general makeup of I
le bills. About n,7O0 is wanted by the {
'mmittee which investigated the Z
'igin of the capitol fire. When it came C
p in the house last Saturday Mr., T
hillips of Chester. declared that IL I
,ould be wiped from the calendar b
ithout further considerations that II I
as impossible for this committee to {
I'VE expended any such sum of money, q
'cause 1t never sat outside of Harris b
irg. Mr.. Miller. Of Somerset, the C
airman of the fire investigating COM c
ittee. said that there had been some II
istake and asked that further con- I,
deration of the bill be postponed.
his saved the measure for the time g
nf