The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1897-01-13
PENNSYLVANIA LEGISLATURE.
Senate and House Well Attended at Open
ing Seasion.

Senate and House Well Attended at Open
ing Session.
The Senate chamber presented n very ami
mated appearance Tuesday morning. there
being, beside the Senators, n large attend
, ance OF visitors. who crowded the Hobbies
and corridors aud the space back OF the
seats. number Of ladios were present.
The han ndsomo chamber was made more
beautiful by the many pretty floral tributes
placed by friends on the senators desks.
IN THE HOUSE
The handsome hall OF the Honse OF Repre-
sentalivrs was crowded with members poll
ticians and spectators from the time II open
ed at = O'Clock until the ussembymen were
called together Mt the noon hour by Chiei
Clerk Fetterolf. Many changes have been
made In the room since the close OF the last
Legislature. The ceiling has been lowered
six feet and u handsome new gallery room
and numerous other changes made. The
effect Of this improvement II seen In the re-
markable change IN the acoustic properties
OF the room. There were floral tributes on
the desks OF mnny members, IRON friends and
| constituents.
II. X. Boyer, OF Philadelphia. and NJ. j.
Lehman, OF Allentown, were nominated as
the Republican and Democratic candidates
for speaker OF the House. Mr.. Boyer receiv-
| ed 1863 and Mr.. Lehman 80 votes. Mr. Boyer
was sworn in and made short addless
After the House was called to order prayer
was offered by Rev. Ebenezer Adams, n
member from the Twenty-fourth Philadel-
| phia district. The members arrayed them
SELVES before the bar OF the House In groups
| OF 20 to take the oath administered by Judge
| Simonton, OF Harrisburg Tho judge was
| escorted TO the presence OF the House by
Charbss T. Voorhees, and Charles A. Muehi-
| bronnor.
The returns OF the last election for general
assembly were presented by Gen. Frank
| Reedor, secretary Of tho Commonwealth.
| They were opened and read by Chief Clerk
Fettcrolf. 70 hurry 'he business, n motion
was made that the clerks real only the
names of those returned elected. Every
member answered to his name when the roll
was called by Reading Clerk Watkins.
The election OF Jrre B Rex, OF Hunting
| don, as chief clerk, followed. Iie was OPP
posed by james Sweeney, Of Hazelton. Mr.,
Rex had lG7 and Mr.. Sweeney 80 votes. A.
ID. Fetterolf, OF Montgomery, was elected
resident clerk. lie receiyed 1G7 votes. His
Democratic opponent, John Dohoney, of
Harrisburg, was given 80 votes. Ths usual
committees to notify tho Governor and at
tend to other duties were appointed.
The Joint Republican caucus nominated
BOies Penrose TO be Senator Cameron's sue
cessor. The total vote cast for the various
candidates were: Penrose 1873. Wanamaker
75, Senator Cameron I, Congressman Robin
son l. Charles T.. Rice. presiding judge OF
supreme court, 1.
Both branches OF tho Legislature held II
short session Wednesday morning, and then
took n recess until January IS to allow tho
| presiding officers time to prepare the list OF
committees.
Senator Boies Penrose and cx-Lleut- Gov.
! Chauncey I. Black were formally nominated
IN both Houses for United States senator, and
Senator j. Il. +. Goblin and Representative
Peter III, Speer were appointed tcllers The
election Will DO held at IA joint convention OF
| both bodies January IL.
| Contrary TO all precedent, bills were intro
duced in the Senate. No bills will be put In
the House until after the committees have
been appointed. Senator Vaughn introduced
bills for the creation of the Office of receiver
Of taxes In cities OF the third class; to regu-
late civil service In cities of the third class;
| relating to the division Of wards In cities OF
| the third class All OF the above were in-
dorsed by tho convention OF cities OF tho
third class held In Wiliamsport last August.
A large number OF appointments OF notn-
ries public made during the recess were con-
| flrmed by tho Senate. Mr.. Coylo introduced
bill crea'ing mining department and de-
lining Its purposes aud authority: creating
the office OF commissioner OF mines. defining
his powers and authority, prescribing his
duties end fixing his salary; providing for
tho appointment OF q deputy commissioner
and fixing their salaries. The commissioner
wi get $4,000 salary, the deputy $500. fvo
clerks 81 500 aud 40 mine inspectors GO, 600
each. The Senate then adjourned until
Monday, January IL
man who escaped from tho jail at An.
derson Ind, the other night adopted novel
method OF breaking the scent Of the blood
hounds which ;Iere put on his tracks. One
oil me dogs tracked his man TO a farmhouse
north OF the city. Here n stranger had stop
ped and begged breakfast. He had stolen a
peper-boa and had peppered his tracks after
leaving the house. The dog almost died and
had to be called OF.