The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1910-12-28

Closing Date Because Governor-elect
Tener's Program Is Not Known.
May Go Along Until May.
BY ROBERT HAIeHT.
Harrisburg, Pa.-From now until the
reconvening of both branches of the
legislature on the night of Jan. 16 the
members will be busy importuning
their friends to bring pressure on the
presiding officers Of both houses TO
favor them with choice committee as
signments.
1t is a well known fact that in the
eyes of the experienced legislator his
selection for membership on pre-
ferred committee will give him greater
opportunity to spread himself and
further the progress of favored legis'
lation than all the speeches he can
deliver. Then again membership on
an important committee means that
the leaders are forced to go to the
or against a measure, as the case may
be, which puts the member in poai-
tion to become known and more
eligible to seek further favors at the
hands of the party manipulators.
Equitable Distribution Promised.
Prior to the adjournment last week
Speaker Cox asked the members 10
forward to him during the recess their
requests for committee assignments
and he promised to take all the ap-
plications into consideration and make
as equitable a distribution of the
places as it is in his power to do. Ao-
cording to the view of the speaker the
present session is destined to be one
of the most notable in the history of
the state, as much important legisla-
tion is to BE framed and for this
reason unusual caution will have 20
be exercised in the makeup of the
different committees.
Care will have to be taken to see
that a goodly number of experienced
legislators will have to be sand
wiched in between the new members
of whom there is an unusual number
in the house. In looking over the
makeup of the popular branch it has
been discovered that out of a total
membership of 207 there are no less
than 1923 new faces, and it would
never do to trust important legislation
to the care of these novices.
Legislation Interests Leaders.
The most important of the many
measures in which the leaders are
interested in forcing to a passage in
cludes the school code, reorganization
Of the highway and insurance depart
ments, tax reform legislation, revision
Of the election laws, reapportonment
of the state upon the basis of the
new census, increasing the powers Of
the railroad commission, the pending
constitutional amendments, the aboi-
tion of the magistrates and the crea-
tlon of new common pleas courts and
increasing the salaries oi the judges
thereof.
The uncertainty as to the amount
of time TO be consumed In the passage
of these various pieces Of legislation
has forced the leaders to deviate from
their plans Of the past and limit the
time for continuing the legislature in
session Heretofore it has always
been customary at the beginning Of
the session TO set a date for the con
cluson of the sessions but this time
no mention was made OF this.
Uncertainty About Adjournment.
When asked the reasons for ignor-
ing the subject United States Senator
Penrose declared that while an early
adjournment is desirable the inability
to Judge the time necessary to pass
upon the various questions and the
uncertainty as to what other legisla-
tion may be suggested by Governor
elect John X. Tener made 1t impos
sible to set definite date.
An attempt will be made, however,
to restrict the session as near to one
hundred days as possible, although the
old timers do not look for an adjourn
ment until the flowers Of May have
begun to bloom.
School Code May Consume Much Time.
OF all the measures above enumer-
ated II Is expected that the greatest
amount OF time will be consumed over
the consideration Of the school code
and the report Of Senator McNichors
commission to revise the tax laws.
The Recommendations of the former
have been known for several months
and in many Of the rural districts Of
the state the candidates for the leg!s-