The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1899-02-15
FROM THE STATE CAPITOL.


The Senatorial situation varies not. II
is still, on full votes, ll2 for Quay, SO for
jerks and 52 votes scattered amongst Is
candidates. / have no guesses to offer,
or claims to make. The fact is, just now
all hands are like Wilkins Macawber,
''waiting for something to turn up" If
the insurgents had united on one man, it
is possible that there would have been
more changes and more music in the air.
The Quay people nave been looking for
three of their supporters to break away,
but so far the line keeps closed. The
reason given for this supposition is that
these persons can be made come off the
Quay perch whenever reiormer David
Martin pulls the string. The whole Sem
atorial fight so far as the Republicans are
concerned is a faction fight for power.
Bro. John Wannamaker stirred up the
fight for his own benefit, and never
dreamed that IL others would want to
share it with him.
The event of the week has been the
coming on deck of the McCarrell bill on
second reading Thursday. Messrs. Nc
Elheny, Bliss and Dixon. made speeches
opposing the bill. Dixon closing his re-
marks with motion to postpone further
consideration of the bill until the 2lst
day of March next. 1t was the best piece
of parliamentary tactics put in use this
session. The motion gave an opportuni-
ty for every member who did not want
TO go on record, to straddle. That is, he
could vote for postponement, and yet say
he had not gone back on his promise to
vote for the bill. 1t also scooped in the
member who was in doubt; this motion
let him down easy. 1t was very clever
move. and it won by vote of 9S to 81.
Two friends of the bill were absentwIth-
out pairs, while all its opponents were
present Had all the friends of the bill
been present, the bill would have gone
over second reading, but as to final pas
sage that's another story. The chances,
however, are with the bill, as all the la
Dor organizations are in favor of it. The
bill was not postponed on party lines,
both sides of the House voting for and
against. This a. m. both supporters and
opponents seem cd afraid TO move for re-
consideration, and the question will like
ly go over until Tuesday.
Personally, don't think the passage OF
the bill, or its defeat, will have any effect
on the Quay trial. The fact of a new and
different sort of District Attorney than
the last really removes any action in this
bill from any effect az that time. But in
the heat Of the fight, the opponents, and a
good many of its supporters, seem to
have lost sight of the fact that there are
other defendents whose just rights this
bill effects as well as the Philadelphia
cases in particular. Before this letter is
in print, new moves may have been
made and the whole situation changed.
Business in both branches is now
moving right along, and if kept up an
early adjournment is still possible. Be-
cause copies of bill are sent to the county
newspapers for information of the public
it is not to be inferred that the county
Representative is always in favor of the
bill, Take for instance the bill making
School Roards Board of Health. That
bill was reported out from committee so
that it could be printed and copies sent
abroad. There are serious objections to
the bill. One is the diverting of school
funds for other purposes. 1t is doubtful
ifthis feature is constitutional. Again,
School Boards have enough to do now,
''pro bono publico," without additional
burdens. Yet on the other hand, the
fact remains that country districts now
have absolutely no protection against
contagious diseases. Something should
be done in that line and the writer may
introduce bill for the purpose at ar
early date. 1t is very difficult to have 4
bill that will suit everybody. An exam
pie of this occurred yesterday. An in
dignant visitor to the Supt. of Public In
struction handed DR.. Schaeffer a copy o
the School Board bill, and wanted j
Suppressed at once" He said, sit wa
nothing but scheme to stop farmer
from building pig-styes." s.s.T.