Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1907-03-14

vi JIIG pGbPlC DluS ldlE 10 De
come a law. 1t is we'll advanced or
the house calendar and has behind Il
every member of the elections com
mittee, it having been reported GU
unanimously. There could be no more
conclusive evidence that the legisla
ture is unbossed if it passes this bill
It's passage will eliminate very baC
feature connected with the presen
system of electing senators wherein
the people have no voice whatever.
Under the present method of elect
ing senators the legislators, in casting
their ballots, are supposed to carry
out the wishes of the constituents, bu
temptation comes to the best of meI
and d,unfettered by any form of instruc
tions, they have often gone contrary
to the wishes of the people. The
passage Of the McCord bill will en-
tirely eliminate commercial dealing!
for senatorial votes. 1t will likewise
put an end to combinations formed
for senatorial battles. The presiding
officers of both houses and the Repub
lican and Democratic floor leaders are
oil LOi inc DlIl IliSlc Is SCdIttlA
a question that it will go through.
it passes there is no doubt that the
governor will sign it. 1t is a demo
cratic measure, pure and simple, ant
no reasonable objection can be
brought against it. This method o
selecting United States senators is ir
vogue in many states Of the Union
t. 20 i,,
Fun for the Lawmakers.
The members of the house had
lot of fun killing the teachers pen
sion bin On second reading. In ap
parently good faith and with sober
mien Representative Dunsmore o
Tioga offered an amendment to the
bill providing that not only teachers
but all persons who had reached the
age of 20 years and who were gooC
and faithful citizens OF the common
wealth should be made eligible to the
pension of $3.50 a year which the bill
provided. Objection was made to this
on the ground that a woman coult
not be made to acknowledge her age
after she had passed co. but the house
ter and cheers. The house also adopt
ed with a whoop an amendment
offered by Mr. Marvin of Pike pro
viding that instead Of teaching Sc
years, as provided by the bill, teach
ers should serve 10 years before be
coming eligible for a pension. Their
the bill and amendments fell.
Roads Bill Nearly Killed.
The Moore resolution calling for
constitutional amendment to provide
for a $25 100000 bond issue for ROAD
improvement almost lost its life in
committee. The committee took 8
vote upon it and decided to report il
out negatively. Some members
thought that it meant that $25,O00,00C
was to be paid out Of the state treas
ury and that this was too muck
money to be spent at one time. The
fact is they did not know what they
were voting for. When Representa-
tive Moore of Allegheny learned that
his bill had been killed he got busy
and had the committee reconsider its
action. Then the committee decided
done
There is much likelihood that the
bill will become a law. Then the prop
osition must have the approval OF a
majority of the electors of the state
and of the next legislature before the
bonds may be issued. The advocates
of the measure hold that it is proper
and just that posterity should help to
pay for road improvement in the
state, for the improvement is to be q
permanent one, and will be enjoyed
by future generations. Under the
most favorable circumstances it will
be several years before the work can
begin.
Very Busy Session.
That this has been the busiest
legislature this state ever has had is
evident from the activity displayed
on every hand The committee work
thus far has been tremendous. Many
hearings, both public and private.
have been held and more are to come
Several important investigations are
under way and several more are to
be undertaken. Formerly there used
to be a cessation in the Introduction
CT new bills after the session had
been a few weeks old, but not so this
time New bills keep pouring in daily.
The committee on rules has not even
considered the question of fixing
time when the Introduction of new
bills must cease. Nor has the com
mittee deemed it wise to consider q
time for final adjournment.
The fact is there is enough business
in hand and in prospect to keep the
members engaged until June or July
even by holding two sessions daily.
There are certain members of the
legislature who have taken a great
liking to their work. They will
make a fight against adjournment no
matter when the date is fixed, They
enjoy making laws and they wOiIld