The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1907-05-02
HARRISBURG LETTER.
Special Correspondence.


The Machine in control of legis.
lation has thrown off the reform
mask. Two measures promised III
the party platforms last year were
enacted into laws and Representa-
tive Greasy is enjoying the salts
faction that, to that extent, work
for which he has been contending
for many years has been partially
accomplished. That is to say the
two cent a mile passenger rate bill
and the trolley freight bill have
been signed by the Governor. They
are not the real thing, it must be
admitted, but they are better than
no legislation Oh the subjects. The
two cent fare bill is OF doubtful
constitutionality, it is said by all
capable lawyers who have examined
it and the trolley freight bill has a
string to it that may entirely de-
stroy its usefulness. But frail and
faulty as the measures are they are
about all that will be achieved in
the nature of reform legislation
this year.
1t is not likely that the policy of
strangling reform legislation dur
ing the remainder of the session
will be proclaimed from the house
tops. There will be no public an
nouncement of the impending OBJ
sequies. But the burial permits
have been issued and the fact that
the funerals will be clandestine
makes no difference in the results.
The Senate committees will do the
work with a celerity that is not even
"contempered with cunctation. "
1t is an open secret that the Rail
road commission bill is to be killed
in the Railroad committee of the
Senate The story is that the rail-
road magnates have engaged to pro-
mote Senator Penrose's ambition
for reelection in consideration of
that service of the machine. There
are those who say that it is not an
agreeable work for the magnates.
Penrose is an expensive luxury and
Elkin would have been preferred.
But Penrose had them on the hip
and forced the issue.
CONFUSION BREEDS BAD WORK.
The sins of the Legislature in the
immediate future will not be alto
gether sins of omission, either. In
addition to killing reform legisla-
lion there are signs Of purpose to
enact some vicious measures. Un-
der existing conditions this will be
an easy matter. By strenuous
efforts an enormous number of bills
have been put on the calendar of
The House and are now at one stage
or another in process Of completion.
The result is confusion during every
session. Each member has num-
Der of bills either in committee or
IN the calendar and he is so anxious
% get them through that he will
:ngage to do anything which will
lelp along the result. The other
.vening l met a Senator on the
,treet who was heading toward the
:apitol at a rate of speed that
threatened heart disease even to
asual observers. why the great
taste, some one remarked. Don't
top me-" said the Senator, almost
Dreathlessly. II have a dozen bills
II the House committees and l want
o hurry them out" That is practi-
cally the case with every Senator
and Representative.
Confusion is the handmade of |
ice in legislation. Hardly word
sttered by the Speaker or anybody
Use is heard by anybody in the
hamber and even the most vigil
mt members hardly know what
bills are being considered. Visitors
ook on in amazement and when
hey ask members for information
-especting the work in progress the
My response they get is the con-
;ession of ignorance. Under such
circumstances it is an easy matter
% get bad bills through. In fact it
is not known that they are through,
as a rule, until the calendar of the
next day is presented. 1t is too late
then to enter protest so they go to
the Governor with all their faults.
His action too frequently depends
upon the interest to be subserved
by the legislation Thus far Gov
ernor Stuart has used the veto with
great courage and wisdom and l
have no reason to apprehend
change in his policies. But it looks
now as if he will have a strenuous
time from this time on and a Gov
ernor is quite as likely to get con-
fused as any one else.
HULINGS REBUKED MCNICHOL.