The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1897-05-04
NEWS FROM
HARRISBURG !
Legislature VIII Probably Adjourn the
Middle of June.
CIVIL SERVICE BILL |
Probabilities That the Measure win Be so
Changed as to Make it Ineffective.
The Defeat of the Pool Selling
Bill = Prison Reform
Measures.


to force final adjournment about the
middle of June. II is understood that
a resolution fixing June / as the date
of final adjournment will be introduced
this week in the house, and that the
senate will amend this resolution ex-
tending the time until June 20. 1t Is
probable that a compromise date win
be agreed upon, as the disposition OF
work suffers in proportion to the rise
Of temperature. Heretofore the mem-
bers during the long spring days have
sought the shelter of the trees in Cap
itol park during prosy debates, but
the destruction of the capitol and the
removal to Grace church will make
it necessary for the members to stick
to their posts, Notwithstanding the
heat and discomforts that they are sure
to suffer. The. experience of other years
seems to have no effect in pushing the
work of the legislature during the win
ter months.
There has been a good deal of po-
litical hacking and filling over the re-
form bills to which the Republican
party is pledged. At the opening Of the
session it was announced that these
bills would be hurried to final passage
but three months had passed away
]
! given them. Those who are lined up
as opponents of Senator Quay charge
/ that he was responsible for the failure
/ to redeem the partys pledges. He
came to Harrisburg to confer with his
lieutenants in the senate and house
and it was then given out, with more or
less show of authority, that certain
of these bills would be abandoned be-
cause II was impossible to induce the
Quay men in the legislature to vote
for them. Just when the anti -Quayites
were about to take advantage of the
situation and force the bills through
a conference Of all the Quay leaders
was called to consider what was best
to be done under the circumstances,
I and it has been decided to push the
bills to final passage as rapidly as pos
! sible, and while concessions viii be
necessary to meet the views of the
opponents of the radical reforms pro-
posed it is believed that the more inn
portant measures will pass In prac-
ticaly their original form.
Opposing the civil Service Bin.
There is much hostility among the
practical politicians towards the civil
service bill, and the prospect now is
that this measure will be so changed
as to be civil service in name only,
The political assessment bill will be
! modified so as to not affect the giving
of contributions for legitimate cam
paign expenses, but win make arbi-
trary levying and collection Of assess
ments a misdemeanor, AS to the poll
tax bill there Is no opposition, because
it will relieve party organizations OF
the great burden of paying taxes dur
Ing important campaigns.
Since his return from the Grant mon
ument ceremonies at New York Gov
ernor Hastings has heartily endorsed
the proposition to furnish the NatOna
Guard with a dress uniform During
recent years the soldiers of Pennsyl
Vania have won applause over and ovel
again on account of their fine discipline
and practical efficiency In all that con
stitutes the good soldier, There has
been a disposition to compel on all oc'
casions the wearing of a service uni
form, and the result has been dissatis
faction among the guardsmen They
feel that they suffer by comparison
with troops of other states on dress
parade. During the Beaver administra
ton the present governor was adju-
tant general, and he was Instruments
F in having passed a bill appropriatinl
SIS, 900 for a dress uniform. owing tC
the failure Of the revenue bill that yea
1t was necessary for Governor Beaver L
veto the bill, and nothing has since
been done officially in the way of sup
plying a uniform for ceremonial oc
casions.
The Question of State Revenues.
The question of revenue for the stat
Is one that is giving the flnanciers II
the legislature much serious concern
Up to this time the only bill that ha
been agreed upon, and which is beinl
pushed along, is the Elkin bill, taxing
direct inheritances over $4,000 at tn
rate of 2 per cent. 1t is estimated b,
the friends of this measure that it vii
g bring into the treasury about 81 600 00C
q put Representative Ward Bliss of Del
aware county, contends that it viii no
produce more than 100000. He is tn
author Of several revenue bills, amon
them one to tax beer, and insists tina
the legislature will have to do some
thing more in the way of raising reve
= nue. before adjournment. There is pro
nounced opposition to any suggestion
that beer be taxed, and there are thos
who say that the objection is the resul
o Of campaign deals with the liquor ele
ment Whether that be true or moi
! It is very evident that no liquor legis
{ lation of any Importance viii ge
a through this session. Under presen
conditions at the state treasury the de
fciency of revenue is at least 81, 600 00l
Y and many worthy charities in the stat
will have to be cut off without a shill
ing unless more revenue is provide
for this purpose.
If A resolution has passed the legis
e lature calling upon the governor I
h designate May IS as a legal holida.
Z and he has agreed to do so. This
h the day on which the Washingto
IS monument in Philadelphia viii be uI
o yelled with imposing ceremonies.
More attention has been given
politics and to factonal differences
this session Of the legislature than
"a any previous sitting for many year
Starting with a bitter contest ov,
the election of a United States seni
g. Ator. the bitterness OF factions has n
,r creased rather than diminished, an
lie unless the pending harmony schem,
II are successful the outlook for Renuhl
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