Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1907-02-28
SOLONS GOING SLOW
Fear Trolley Freight Bill Con-
tains Some Deadly Am
buScade.
1T is LAID UP FOR REPAIRS
But viii Undoubtedly Be Passed
When Legislative Doctors Have
Succeeded in Extracting Its Venom.
TroIeys May Become Numerous.
lspeciaI CorrespondenceD

lDpGCldl NOIIGS pOHuSllCe.J
Harrisburg, PA great deal of
interest is being displayed in the fate
Of the trolley freight bill that has been
sent back to committee for amend
ment. Some think that it is never to
see the light of day again and that its
enemies are responsible for its re-
commitment But this view is not
generally accepted. Although it is the
evident purpose Of the railroad com
panies to keep all inimical railroad
legislation in committee, both friends
and enemies of the trolley freight bill
were responsible for sending the
measure back to the committee on
electric railways for repairs.
A bill allowing trolley cars to carry
freight will be passed just as certain
as anything can be. The disposition
of the legislators and the temper Of
the people will allow nothing else.
But the lawmakers realize that there
is danger in giving trolley companies
too much power, just as the railroads
have had too much leeway in the past.
1t is desired that trolley companies
shall be regulated by the cities and
boroughs through which they pass.
Otherwise it might happen that freight
handling, proving more profitable than
passenger traffic, the latter would be
Disseminated against by the trolley
companies much to the disadvantage
of the people.
Bill Careesaly Drawn.
There is one thing certain, and that
is that the moment the bill allowing
trolley companies the right to carry
freight passes and is put upon the
statute books there will be a great
impetus to the trolley business. New
companies will spring up all over the
state and this state is likely to be
gridironed from one end to the other
with trolley lines within the next few
years 1t consequently behooves the
lawmakers to go slow in granting so
important a privilege to trolley com
panies. The bill that came near pass
ing the house would allow freight of
any and all kinds to be carried in the
same cars with passengers, for there
was no provision or restriction of any
kind respecting the latter. 1t was a
carelessly drawn bill and had been
very hurriedly considered in commit
Tee.
The passage by unalimous vote IN
the house of the 2-ceut fare bill was
administered as sort of rebuke tC
President George L. Baer of the Phila-
delphia < Reading railway, who init,
mated that members Of the legisla-
rure had the right TO violate their
pledges of they wished to do so in
voting upon the 2-cenl fare bill. Not
a member OF the lower house dared
vote against the measure-not even
Mr.. Blakeslee, Democrat, of Carbon.
who made q speech against the mea-
sure. He declared that the bill is
unconstitutional.
May Need Amendment.
Well, whether the bill is unconsti-
tutional or not, it went through the
house and will go through the sen.
ate unless it is found to be illegally
drawn. Then some amendments will
be made to it to make it legal. There
is nothing chat can stop it from going
through, not even George F. Baer or
and Of his railroad associates.
Both the trolley freight bill and
the 2-cent fare bill were in the plat
form of the Republican party, and
the Republicans have 'ssumed the re-
sponsibility for putting both of these
bills through The senate is not un-
der railroad domination Even if a
majority OF the members should feel
friendly toward the railroads, most of
the members are ambitious politically.
and any man knows that it would be
political suicide for him 10 attempt
to sidestep any of the great issues
Of the day
Rights OF Foreigners.
The bill prohibiting unnaturalized
foregnborn citizens from possessing
firearms and making It unlawful for
anyone to sell firearms to them is
going to get a bump before it gets
through. d. f. Dempsey, of Lacka-
wanna, threatens to make a fight
against its passage. He says that the
bill is not a Square deal" to the for
eigners. He says that they are not
all criminals and that to prohibit
them from possessing weapons of any
kind is an infringement upon their
personal rights. 1t allows officers to
break into the dwelling Of any foreign
rr who is suspected of carrying or
awning firearms. After five days the
t.tiicerS v,1y nrpaly IN oe-1f, on tho