Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1899-01-30
WITH THE LAW MAKERS.
NOTES AND COMMENTS FROM THE
PENNSYLVANIA CAPITAL.
No Decided Change Has Yet Taken Place
i'm the Senatorial Contest-Senator Mar
tins New Election Bill to Abolish
Straight Tickets.

| in the Senatorial Contest-SenatOr Mar
tins New Election Bill to Abolish
Straight Tickets.
Harrisburg, Pa, January 21.
1t is SAFE to predict, even at this early
period of the legislature, that this ses-
sion will be vastly superior to that of
two years ago. There will be no padded
pay rolls; no exorbitant bills presented
or paid for Investigating committees or
| legislative junkets, for the present ses-
sion Is composed of men who came here
for business, and who will try to redeem
the reputation lost by the utter reck-
lessuesS of the last term The factional
differences in the Republican, party with
"A united Democracy will keep everybody
in line, and watchful for the best inter
ests of the state. For this reason, if for
no other, | believe the state will profit
| by the disalfection in the Republican
party. For unanimity breeds reckless
ness and eXtravagance.
The senatorial situation is very com
pleX and has changed but little from
last week, although nnmber of ballots
have been taken, yet no choice has been
made, and just how matters can be
adjusted is hard to tell. Quay does not
have enough votes to elect. The in
| dependent Republicans are united and
stand as firm as rock They keep
their votes scattered among a dozen
different candidates, and tho Democrats
ara S,,lf1 Far In,I Il l., .
of the independent Republicans will
vote for Quay, and Quay cannot win
over any of the Democrats. There
seems to be
PRETTY FRIENDLY FEELING
between the Independents and the
Democrats, and some seem to think that
If a candidate suitable to both could be
found, the deadlock might be broken.
Then, on the other hand should jerks
Withdraw, the Democrats would be free
to vote for whomever they please and
Quay might be able to secure enough
votes to elect. Joint ballots are taken
daily until an election is made.
The report of the slate committee
caused complaint from the independents
and Democrats. Some Republ lean coun-
ties have not received single appoint
nent and several of the older members
are complaining because they were not
consulted in the distribution of places,
even though they were members of the
slate committee. The Democrats say
that their representation entities them
to thrty-siX per cent Of membership on
the various committees, which they
have not received.
Governor Stone started in by recalling
all the appointments made by Governor
Hastings since June, 1897. What Mr..
Stones idea was in doing this is hard to
say, unless it is to
FILL THE PLACES WITH MEN
who are more closely allied with the
administration. The change will affect
some hundred appointments.
Public receptions given upon the in
auguration of new governor are de-
generating into somewhat of nuisance
At the last one the police collected a
| large pile of overShoes, broken hats and
torn garments, as result of the crowd
which surged through the executive
mansion. Some of the visitors were
even inclined to be disorderly and gave
the police considerable trouble.
Senator David Martin, former sncre-
tary of the commonwealth, has present
ed a new and complete election bill
Iyhiph ic tn dv of ha lafo
in the present law. The most import
| ant change in the bill is the abolition of
the party columns and circle. All
candidates will be arranged in groups,
under the designation of the office, and
! the voter will have to mark cross after
the name of every candidate of his
choice. The new ballot is not more
| than one-tenth the size of the present
ballot. Straight ticket voting under the
new law would be impossible. The
other changes are in the preparation
of nomination papers.
One thing is very evident that II the
senatorial deadlock is not soon broken
the legislature will not be able to ad-
iourn by April 90 As long as the sena-
toral contest is undecided the members
are doing little but spar for points and
time and the
| ACTUAL WORK OF TIE SESSION
bis neglected. The friends of Senator
Quay declare that an election will be
made before next week is ont, but this
they also declared last week and no
election has vet been made. The best