Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1901-02-07
Entered at the Post Office at Laporte, a
second-class mail matter.

the legislative mill to the governor
Although there have been over 300
bills introduced into the legislature up
to date there has been but one to reach
the executive, and that Is of minor
Importance. It relates to the method
of electing members of boards Of direc-
tors in corporations. The bill permit
ting an increase In the capitalization
of corporations, which was primarily
introduced as an enabling act for the
Pennsylvania Railroad company, has
been passed and will no doubt be ap-
proved by the governor in due time.
It will allow an increase Of 500, 1000, 900
in the capital stock Of this corporation
and the money will be spent upon i'm
Frovements in the road bed. increasing
the rolling stock, and building bridges.
AS Pennsylvania industries will be
called upon to furnish nearly all the
material used in these operations, the
benefit to the state is apparent There
were but IA votes in the entire legisla-
ture against the bill.
OLD COMBINE BROKEN.
There were several test votes in the
house of representatives which tend
to show that the insurgent movement
which William Finn, of Pittsburg, and
David Martin, of Philadelphia, organ
lied for the United States senatorial
contest has practically gone to pieces.
The Democrats have refused to long
er follow the lead of Finn, and they
have been voting in the most indepen-
dent manner on matters of legislation,
much to the discontinue and disgust
of Mr.. Finn. He had hoped to line
the Democrats up as he had them last
session, under his partisan lash. and
have them oppose everything that the
regular Republicans advocated. The
fact is that Democratic members of the
senate and the house have legislation
in which their constituents are inter-
ested, and they do not propose to be
caught in a trap picking Mr.. Films
chestnuts out of the fire. They see
that the regular Republicans have a
majority in each branch of the legisla-
ture, and that IL they are to be Of any
service to their constituents they must
cooperate with the regulars on mat
ters in which their party's interests are
not involved. Finn would like them
to back him up, but he finds that his
Democratic following is growing small
er every day.
Nineteen Democrats voted with the
regular Republicans in support Of the
bill providing for new court for Phil
adelphia, and there were several men,
bers Of the house who had acted with
the insurgents who did the same thing.
The insurgents see their forces fritz
tering away. and with their former
Democratic allies divided they are in
no position to accomplish anything of
importance.
FLINN UPON HIS KNEES.
Just at this time Finn is on his
knees asking mercy from the stalwarts.
He does not want them to pass what
is known as the ripper" bill. This
measure gives cities of the second
class, including Pittsburg, Allegheny
and Scranton, reform charter legisla-
tion. In order that the people of these
cities may have an opportunity to elect
new mayors without the interference
of the present officials, 1t Is proposed
that there shall be vested in the gov
ernor power to name temporary sue
cessors to the present mayors, II that
shall be deemed desirable. He can re-
appoint any or all of them IL he sees
fit.
WHAT FLINN FEARS.
1t is the danger of his losing control
Of the patronage of Pittsburg that is
giving Mr.. Finn so much concern.
There has been a demand for years
from the people of Pittsburg to be re-
lieved OF the domination of the Finn
machine. They have been unable to
overthrow his bossiSm on account of
the army OF officeholders he has been
able to command to back his candi-
dates at the various elections.
With new mayor in Office who will
not permit Finn to issue orders to his
subordinates there would be a chance
for the Republicans of Pittsburg to
elect candidate for mayor of their
own choice, and this Is what is keep
ing Finn on the go at this time.
There will be hearing tomorrow of
representatives from the three cities.
who will be here to give their views on
the proposed legislation. There will
undoubtedly be a number of changes
in the bill now In committee of the
senate, but the stalwart Republicans
say they WILL after the bill shall be
amended, put II through both the sem
ate and the house and give Finn the
most exciting reform campaign" he
ever encountered In his political ca
reer.
POLITICAL HYPOCRISY.
A bill which Is going through the
legislature without attracting much
attention Is that which was introduced
by Representative Hoy. OF Clarion. II
is Identical with the old McCarreli bill
that raised such row In the last leg
islature. II was then opposed by the
insurgents and some Democrats be-
cause they believed II might be used
TO help Col. Quay In his case before
the Philadelphia courts. which was the
outcome OF the political conspiracy
hatched up by certain parties In the
Quaker City and Allegheny. Col. Quay