The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1901-01-31
HARRISBURG LETTER.
The Legislative Committees Con-
trolled by Stalwarts.
BNUBBING PITTsBURG LEADERS.
Not . Chairmanship For That City,
While Philadelphia Gets Twelve
House Chairmanships-SOm of the
w Measures Presented.
Especial Correspondence.

Aleduy u great HdIy Important DlllS
have been introduced. The appointment
Of committees has shown that the stall
wart Republicans intend to make war
on the fusionists, and lively times are
to be expected.
During last week Speaker Marshall
appointed his standing committees in
the house. The men in control of al
most every body are stalwarts. Gen.
w. II. KOontZ, OF Somerset, was made
chairman Of the committee on consti-
tutional reform. The craftsmanship OF
the committee on retrenchment and
reform was given to Representative
Coray, of Luzerne.
In the passing around Of chairman
ships II were secured by Philadelphia
members. The balance were given to
the country legislators. Pittsburg did
not get craftsmanship. President
Snyder announced the senate commit.
tees tonight, and again the insurgents
are ignored.
Speaker Marshall laid before the
house of representatives at tonights
session the resignation Of William II.
Keyser, of the Nineteenth Philadelphia
district. A resolution was adopted that
a vote Of thanks be rendered Mr.. Key
ser for his uniform courtesy and kind
ness, regretting his resignation and
congratulating him upon the prospects
of his election to the senate to fill the
vacancy created by the death of Fran
els A. Osbourn, of Philadelphia
A resolution was adopted urging the
Pennsylvania representatives in con-
gress to support the GrOut bill.
The senate bill authorizing the Penn
sylvania Railroad company to increase
its capitalization to 100000 900 was
favorably reported from committee.
A number of new bills were intro
duced
Among the bills introduced in the
senate tonight was one authorizing the
courts of quarter sessions to grant IL
censes to sell intoxicating liquors at re-
tail, Wholesale or by brewers for lon
ger or shorter period than one year in
certain cases. Another senate bill aims
to amend an act authorizing the state
treasurer to refund collateral inheri-
tance tax heretofore paid or that may
hereafter be paid in error.
Perhaps the bills of most importance
before the legislature at the present
time are those relating to the compile
tion Of the new capitol. Already three
have been put in. Senator Fox, of Har
risburg, was the first to introduce his
measure. 1t provides for an appropria-
tion of S6,0000 900, and calls for a COM
pleted structure in 1905. Provision is
made for the appointment of a commits
sion. Mr.. Kennedy, of Beaver, has a
bill appropriating $4,500,000, and, like
Mr.. Fox, leaves the appointment of
the commission to the governor. Mr.
Palm, Democrat, OF Crawford. would
spend $4,000 and names these men
as the proper ones to build the capitol:
A. J. Cassatt, Robert f. Pattison, Louis
A. Watres, II. G. Mccormick, Capt.
William Hasson and John b. Jackson.
Apportionment legislation is to be
hurried along. The QuayItes intend to
prepare bills without consultation with
the fusion forces. They figure that
they can get enough votes to pass the
legislation.
Oeo is to be the cause of much wran-
Cling. So far only the anti-butterine
people are represented by legislation.
Two bills have gone in, one by Mr..
Harris, of Clearfield, and another by
Mr.. McGlathery, Of Montgomery. They
are both severe on the dealer in oleo.
Heavy penalties, including imprison-
mcnt, are provided.
The bill with the most political sig
nificance attached is the one introduced
by Senator Muehlbronner, providing a
new charter for second class cities and
ripping" out of office the present Of
fcials. The measure is directed at the
municipal machine which controls
Pittsburg and of which Senator Will
lam Finn is the head. The Quayites
out there make the claim that a new
charter is absolutely necessary, for
under the present one it is impossible
to secure an efficient government. The
bill also affects Allegheny and Scranton.
AS to the charter feature of the meas
ure. there is little or no objection. The
trouble comes on the ripper clause.
Under it the governor is empowered,
within 80 days after attaching his sig
nature to the bill, to appoint new may
ors for Pittsburg Allegheny and Scran-
ton. They would hold office until 1903.
AS soon as they are named every en-
ploye in those three cities, from mayor
to scrub woman, would have to step
out. The new executive would then
proceed to name all subordinates
An attempt is being made to revolu-
| tionize the libel laws of Pennsylvania.
] During the senatorial contest some of
the papers of the state printed articles
| which caused the stalwart leaders much
annoyance. The proposed new meas
ures will make it necessary to secure
the permission from the man criticized
before the article can be printed and
will also prevent the cartooning of men
in public life, or even printing their
picture without consent.
President Goblin, Of the senate, estab-
lished a new precedent last week in de-
Gliding that the bill creating fifth
common pleas court in Philadelphia
which had been defeated day or two
/ before, could be reconsidered on the
motion Of senator who had voted for
the bill. 1t has been rule in the legis-
lature to require two persons who voted
with the majority to move for the re-
consideration of defeated measure. II
was impossible for the friends Of this