Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1907-02-21
HANKER FOR PASSES
Destitute Legislators Scheming
to Restore Relations
With Railroads.
CANNOT AFFORD WEEKLY TRIPS
Only Lack of Courage Prevents Pas
sage of Bill to Compel Railroads to
Issue Passes to Members and OFF,
GERS of the Legislature.
Especial Correspondence


Harrisburg, Pa.-Many members of
the legislature are complaining bitter
Iy over the enormous expense they
ale under in attending to their duties
as Legislators. Most of them are
obliged to go to their homes every
week and the expense of railroad ira
vel while making the journey and of
hotel bills while here is fast eating up
the $500 compensation allowed them
by the state. Some of the members
have even gone so far as to consider
the advisability of introducing legis-
lRtion compelling railroads to issue
passes to members and officers of the
senate and house. There is no doubt
that such a bill would be introduced
if the person presenting it did not fear
the ridicule that might be hurled at
him, and there is no doubt the bill
would be passed if the members could
enact it by viva voce vote.
The state will allow mileage to
members for weekly trips home at the
rate of two cents a mile if a bill pre-
sented by Mr.. Miner of Luzerne be-
comes a law. If member should
get a pass he is not to have mileage.
The bill provides that representatives
and senators shall be paid on a new
basis for their services They are to
receive 500 a day but not more than
81 500 for a regular session or $1,000
for a special session. Every legisla-
tor must be present at roll call or he
does not get his money. However, he
can collect if he is absent on account
of illness or on business of the house.
He Is allowed $50 postage for a regu-
lar session and $25 for a special ses-
sion. A contingent fund Of $1,000 is
allowed the president pro tenn of the
senate and the speaker of the house.
This bill would have enc very good
effect. 1t would be the means OF OBJ
tanning a quorum at every session.
But it would not keep the members in
their seats throughout a session. An
other $50 a day might be necessary
to glue them to their seats.
Still Hanker for Passes.
Such bill does not go to the spot
as free pass bill would do. Those
favoring such a law set forth the
argument that if there was such
law members of the legislature could
ride free and still would be under no
obligations to the railroads. A law
of the kind is in effect in New Jersey
and it is said to work perfectly salts
factory-to the New Jersey legislators.
1t is predicted that the pass business
will be resumed by the railroads be-
fore another legislature meets.
Some very clever arguments were
presented by the very clever attorneys
CT the railroads against the creation
of the proposed railroad commission.
Now this is Cne of the platform
pledges of the Republican party. How
ever much the Republicans might de-
sire to accommodate the railroads it
is difficult to- see how such a plank
in the platform could be quite ignored.
President George F. Baer. of the
Philadelphia & Reading, in a letter to
the members of the legislature, init
mates that it is not incumbent upon
any one to carry out the pledges made
by him before the election. Mr.. Baer
put up quite an argument against the
proposed two-cent-a-mile law. His
leading argument against a reduction
in the fare was that the company
needed the money.
Some of these hard hearted legisla-
tors are not paying the attention they
should to the pleadings of the corpo-
rations. Consequently when the cor
poration measures make their appear
ance on the floor of the house or SEN
ate these independent law makers
are going to give somebody trouble.
Powerful Lobby at Work.
The corporations will exert their
utmost endeavors on al occasions to
have bills inimical to their interests
recommitted. Then they will see that
they are smothered to death in COM
mittee. That is the program and a
powerful lobby is at work to carry
it out.
The bill reducing Pullman rates was
sent back to committee in order to
give the Pullman company an oppor-
tunity TO be heard. The Pullman COM
pany also needs the money although
a financial statement of the company's
affairs showing millions of dollars
profits over and above the dividend
requirements would not indicate pow
erty. Mr.. McCullagh of Allegheny,
who introduced the bill, has gathered
quite a bit of data in support of it.
The capitol extension bill has been
sent back to committee in order to
make some changes in it to conform
with the ideas OF those who have op-
posed the purchase of the land to be
added to the capitol park 1t is pro,
posed to change it in such a way as
to prevent speculation on the part of
real estate men and others who would
endeavor to make money at the gov
ernments expense. It is proposed to
spend about $1,S00,000, which is a lit.
IL IA L.