The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1897-06-28

APPROPRIATIONS
VIII Awake Lively Discussion in the
Pennsylvania Legislature.
THE QUESTION OF ADJOURNMENT
1t is Not Probable That the Legislators Can
Leave Harrisburg Before Saturday
Next, and the Session May
Continue Into Next
Week.

urday, although the final adjournment
has been fixed for Thursday. The lead
ers agree that unless all debate is shut
off the business cannot be cleaned VI
/ in four days The house has passed this
| bulk of the appropriation bills, and the
/ senate committee is reporting them
| out as fast as they are received Chair.
man Marshall says the house will bring
out the remaining senate appropriation
/ bills this afternoon, and then take a
rest the remainder of the session. The
committees have been working day
and night for month pairing down
bills and getting the general revenue
bill in shape for final passage.
Mr.. Marshall does not think It will
be necessary to extend the session be-
yond Saturday to dispose Of all the
legislation scheduled. Speaker Boyer
believes both bodies will be ready tC
quit Thursday, and yet many mem
bers would not be surprised If the ses-
sion was delayed ten days. The defeat
by the house of the new revenue bill
increasing liquor licenses has upset the
calculations of the leaders This meas
ure would raise about $1,000 600 a year
and unless 1t becomes q law it will be
necessary for Governor Hastings to
slaughter the appropriation bills to
keep the public expenses for the next
two years within the revenues. The
bill will go to a conference committee
and may be fixed up there to meet the
objections in the house. The represent
atives are bent on taxing the brewers
and do not take kindly to putting an
additional tax of 500 on retailers, eN-
cept in classified cities, where the tax
is raised 5000.
The movement to cut the school ap-
preparation $5O0,0O0 a year has been
abandoned. The country members
would not agree to the proposition
under any circumstances. The general
appropriation bill as it passed second
reading appropriated $500 900 a year
to the schools, The bill is in the hand.
of the house committee, and its mem
bers will not take the responsibility of
making the cut II 1t is made it will
have to be done by the senate
There will be a lively time in the
house when the expense bills of the
elections and investigating committees
are taken up for final passage. a strong
combination has been formed to de-
feat these measures, especially the
Philadelphia "Lexow" committee bill
of 100000 and the bill of $4,000 for
fitting up Grace church. The pressure
on members from the country to re-
duce expenses has become so great
that six members Of the special house
committee have refused to take a cent
for car fare and other personal ex-
penses. Such a thing has never been
known before in the history of the
state. These members are Chairman
Hosack, Of the Oleomargarine commit
tee, and his colleague, Mr. Ford of AL
legheny Rice of Bucks, Wilson of Ly-
coming, Pedder of Allegheny and Alex
ander of Clearheld. With the exception
of Mr.. Ford, of Allegheny, who follows
the lead of Senator Quay, these mem
bers belong to the "Seventy-six," the
leaders of which organized a move
ment to kill all expense bills. One
effect of this scheme has been the
quiet pairing down by the appropria-
tions committee of several of the OBJ
jectionable bills. At least $40, 900 or $50,
900 will be saved the state
Repeated attempts have been made
In the house by Mr.. Bare of Hunting
don, Keator of Philadelphia and others
to ammend these bills to require mem
bers of the committees to file sworn
statements with the auditor general
that their accounts are correct but
they all have been futile. If these ex-
pense bills are passed and signed by
the governor there Will be over $780,
900 less for private charities Many
members have voted for the measures
In the belief that they will be disapprov-
ed by the governor. They preferred ia
throw the responsibility on the gov
ernor rather than incur the displeasure
Of their colleagues, who are directly in
terested, by voting against them.
The Doll tax and assessment bills
drafted by special committee OF the
state Republican committee to carry
out the pledges OF the campaign OF
1898 and 1896 are still in the hands OF
the governor The non-political inter
| ference bill was killed by the house
but will probably be reconsidered
amended and passed. The civil service
bill has passed the senate and will be
taken up by the house today fol
| final passage. It viii have to go back
to the senate for concurrence in the
amendments made by the judicial gen
eral committee Although a radical
change has been made in all four bills
nobody doubts but that they viii be
signed.
The ripper" bill and all other
schemes to give Pittsburg a new char
/ ter have all been abandoned. The re-
formers of the Smoky City" will have
to wait at least two years longer for
the reforms they have asked of the leg
| islature. The Becker "three-ffths'
confirmation bill has gone to the gov
ernor, and viii be disposed of this week
the ten days limit expiring Saturday
John c. Bullitt and other prominent
/ Philadelphia reformers viii be given
hearing on Wednesday at the execu-
/ tive chamber. Should the governor
veto the bill before the legislature gets
away an attempt win be made to pass
| It over his veto.
The outcome Of the oleo investiga-
/ ton will probably be the dismissal OF
/ Frank N. Moore, of Bradford, special
agent of the department of agrlcul-
/ ture. Moore was accused by Mr. Ho-
sack chairman of the investigating
committee, Of going In league with ths
oleo dealers in western Pennsylvania
but this charge could not be proved
Several material witnesses failed to ap-
pear before the committee. Mr. Moore
believes he has been vindicated by the
investigation. and apparently is not
concerned about the story that he Is