The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1899-01-11

The House was called to order by
Chief Clerk Rex last Tuesday. Prayer
was offered by Chaplain Sangree, af-
ter which Secretary of the Common
wealth Martin delivered the certifi-
Gates of the members. These were
read, the roll called and the solons ar
rayed themselves before the bar of the
House, where they took the oath of
office administered by Judge Biddle,
of Carlisle. John II. Farr, of Lacka-
wanna, was nominated Speaker by
William T. Marshall, of Allegheny,
and William 7. Greasy, of Columbia,
by George II. Dixon. of Elk. Farr
was elected by the full Republican
vote of l27 and escorted to the chair
by Messrs. Bliss, of Delaware; Ho-
sack, of Allegheny, and Mr. Greasy
Owing to the absence of judge there
was nobody to administer the oath to
the Speaker. John Fow suggested that
this could be done by member. Chief
Clerk Rex read the Constitution to
show that Fow was wrong, and after
a long wait Judge Simonton, of Har-
risburg, was summoned and the new
Speaker took the oath. Farr made n
short speech of thanks, promising to
be fair and courteous to his members.
Jere b. Rex, of Huntington, was re-
elected chief clerk, and a. ID. Fetter-
oil, of Montgomery, takes his old place
of resident clerk. The usual commit
tees were appointed to wait on the
Governor and Senate to notify them
that the House had organized and was
ready to proceed to business. Clar-
ency, of Philadelphia, was appointed
teller on the part of the House to
compute the vote on the 18th inst
Senator Magee's resolution, liking
April 20 for the final adjournment
was concurred in.
Senator McCarrell. last Wednesday
rising to a question of personal prlvi-
lege, defended the capitol building
commission, of which he is member
against what he termed the uni ST
criticism by the governor in his mes
sage of the action of the commission
in connection with the construction of
the new capitol He characterized the
governors statements as without
foundation in fact and unjust" The
commission has acted strictly under
the terms of the act creating II, which
was passed on the recommendation OF
the governor.
He defended the plan of the present
building which provides for addition
nj buildings to be Joined thereto. He
pointed to the fact that the commits
sion had acted strictly under the law
and has been sustained by the sup
RENE court in the litigation instigated
by certain disappointed bidders. The
commission carried out both the letter
and spirit of the promise made to the
court not to construct a building ex-
ceeding the limit of appropriation
Senator McCarrell said that in view
of the circumstances 1t would be quite
fitting for governor Hastings to re-
main quiet, and he declared that in
absenting himself willfully from the
meetings of the commission, and then
criticising unjustly the acts of his fell
low members of that body, the exc
cutive has acted with a pettiness
and childishness which would disgrace
a boy in knickerbockers." He dis
puted the governors claim that the
building as it stands could have been
constructed for S225, 900 instead of the
$350000 1t has cost, and said that II
the builder quoted by the governor
could have done the work so econom-
ically he should have come forward
at the time bids We're advertised for
The senator closed by giving a pledge
to the General Assembly and TO the
people of the State that when the
work of the contractor has been fully
completed the commission will Justify
its acts and purge itself of the prepos-
ferrous and wholly unfounded charges
OF the governor, The Senate then ad-
journed until Thursday. the 18th.