The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1903-02-19


who has spent considers lie time in
Harrisburg during the present session.
Pennsylvania Railroad officials, when
spoken to on the subject, dismiss the
matter by saying that there is no ne
cessity for a Wabash lobby at the leg
islature, inasmuch as no legislative at
tack is being made on their interests.
Regarding Apportionment.
There is very little prospect Of Lu-
zerne county obtaining what it has for
some years been longing for, namely,
another state senator. At all events
this longing will not be satisfied at
the present session of the Legislature.
Reapportionment of any kind does not
appear to be popular, and 1t is not at
all likely that the legislative appor-
tionment committee of either the
house or senate will be called upon to
redistrict the fifty members which the
constitution provides shall compose
the the upper branch of the general as
sembly. Even the McWhinney repre-
sentative apportionment bill is appar-
emily doomed to die. If members of
the committee having 1t in charge are
to be believed. Mr.. McWhinney him
self says he does not expect to see his
bill again. but he hopes that some sort
Of a decent measure might be built
around its remains.
! There hasn't been any senatorial re-
apportionment since 1874. and the Lu-
zerne people especially, Republicans
and Democrats alike. think it is time
that another should be made. Senator
Drury and Representatives Hartman,
Ross, Flanagan, Ferry, Burke, and
Holcomb are agreed on this point
The constitution provides for reap
portionment every ten years, following
the national census, but as is well
known this is a custom more honored
, in the breach than in the observance.
Mitchell May Be Here.
There may be treat in store for
members of the legislature If certain
efforts being made by the Schuylliill,
Lackawanna, and Luzerne delegations
are successful. Thus far only a few
of what are known as the miners
bills are out of committee. The more
important measures, and those that are
likely to encounter adverse influences,
are still in the committee on mines and
mining or other committees. These, IL
following the customary and gradual
stages towards final passage, will con-
sumo some weeks time. and it is the
! purpose of their hackers in the legisla-
ture to push them along by the use of
the most potential advocacy available.
I With this end in view the attempt is
being made to bring John Michel to
Harrisburg and have him address the
Legislature in favor of the pending
measures favorable to the mine work.
ers interests. Representative Timothy
d. Hayes, of Scranton, last week wrote
to Mitchell at Indianapolis, asking him
} to appear personally before the legis-
lators in Harrisburg. The anthra-
cite members believe that Mitchell's
direct advocacy Of their bills would go
long way to help them, and they have
strong hopes that he will accept their
invitation.
Courts and Liquor Cases.
Through the instrumentality of the
Royal Arch and knights of Fidelity,
/ rival but influential organizations of
retail liquor dealers in Pennsylvania,
efforts are being made to interest these
/ dealers in every county in the state,
not only where they have membership
but where independent associations ex-
J list, in the liquor bills now pending in
: the legislature. This is being done in
view of active hostile action that is ex-
Tho
by these societies are those abolishing
the free lunch in bar rooms, but per-
mitting it in hotels and public inns,
and modifying the powers of the court
in the revocation of licenses. The lat
ter measure provides for a fine of not
less than 5000 or more than $500 for the
first violation of the Brooks license
law; fine of not less than $500 or
more than $1,000 for the second, and
immediate revocation of the license for
the third. Another bill describes the
rules of evidence for the court to follow
in the revocation of licenses, stipulat-
ing among other things that at the time
information is obtained as to alleged
violation of the law the liquor dealer
shall have immediate notice from the
informant, and that the charges pre-
ferred shall not be withheld until the
case is tried in court
Judicial Legislation.
The bill introduced by Senator Ed
miston, of Bradford, some time ago,
providing that common pleas and GRIM
inal judges must render their decisions
within six months of the time of trial
under penalty of the auditor-g general
Withholding his signature from their
salary warrants, ran up against snag
last week that escaped the attention of
the daily papers When the bill was
called up Senator Fox. of Dauphin, en-
tered strong protest against its pas
sage on the ground tnat it was not con-
stitutional. There was Immediately
sharp and informal passage at arms
around him as to the position he had