The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-03-08
House Refuses to Agree with the
SohuuIkiIl Representatives Who
Wish ROderICk DepOsed.
KILLED BY AMENDMENT
The Purpose Of the Measure Defeated
by a Clause Requesting the Cover
nor to Admonish Mr.. Roderick for
His Indiscreet Remarks Concern
ing the Miners-Mr. Garner and
Mr.. Ferrebee Fight Against the
Measure in Vain.
specisl from a stan Correspondent.

special from Stan Correspondent.
Harrisburg. March by an over
whelming vote the house today refused
to agree to the demands Of Representa-
tive Garner and the other Schuylkill
members, that Chief Roderlck. OF the
bureau of mines be called to task for
his alleged indiscreet utterances re-
garding the miners.
When the committee resumed its
session this morning, Representative
Reynolds was in attendance, but he
could not be induced to testify. Chair
man Kendall wanted to put him under
oath and have him repeat the Roderick
remarks as he understood them, but
Mr.. Reynolds denied the committees
right to swear him or force him to
testify, and after some discussion, pro
and con, IL was agreed to let Mr..
Reynolds have his way. The commit
tee then went into executive session
and decided to report to the house
that the language attributed to Mr.
Roderick by the resolution was sub
stantially correct. Mr.. Howarth con-
tended that such report was irregu-
lar; that the committees duty was to
simply report the resolution favorably
or adversely or to postpone action. He
followed this with motion to post
pone indefinitely. but II did not prevail,
and the committee adjourned.
Just before the morning session
opened, however, Speaker Marshall ad-
vised that the committee should report
the resolution rather than finding
thereon. and, acting on this advice.
Chairman Kendall again called the
committee together at 9 o'clock y. m.
At . o'clock the committee came to-
gether and amended the resolution by
striking out the clause calling upon the
governor to depose Chief Roderick and
substituting a clause requesting the
governor to admonish Mr.. Roderick
that his language was unwise. Mr.
Garner and Mr.. Fermbee fought
against the amendment and when the
amended resolution was reported to the
house at o'clock Mr.. Garner Offered
an amendment that would change the
resolution back to it's original form
The amendment was defeated by a
vote of 81 to 73. Mr.. Carey wanted fur
ther action postponed for the present
but his motion was lost by a vote oi
so to II. Then the amendment resolu
ton came before the house and was
lost by a vote of IS to 9S. This disposed
of the affair finally.
In explanation of his action in tn
Roderick matter. Mr.. Reynolds says
There was no need of haste in thi
investigation. A week more or less i
not going to affect matters materially
one way or the other. Mr.. Roderick |
III and unable to be present. This wa
reported to the committee, but, con
trary to all recognized rules of pro
cedure, the committee resolved to &
on with his trial. The protests agains
this unjust. to say nothing of dis
courteous. proceeding had the effect G
forcing the supporters of the resolu
ton to grant Mr.. Roderick a week 1
which to recover from his illness an
defend himself in person or by a swor
statement. Mr.. Roderick was not we
enough to appear before the commit
tee and was compelled to make a de
Tense in writing, ! did not propose I