The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-05-18
Measure in Which Ne
groeS Are Interested
Approved Finally in
the Senate. 33 to 1 l
PENITENTIARIES
PLAN ADOPTED
Upper Branch Votes in Favor of Con-
solidating Of Eastern and Western
Institution - Third Glass City
Amendments Pass

The session of the Senate last night
was one of the liveliest held this year,
the approaching windup evidently hav-
ing set the Senators ON edge.
The first thrill of the evening was
when the special order for the consid-
GRAFTON of the "equal rights bill - was
reached, 1T being on final passage. This
bill guarantees equal rights to all, re-
gardless of race, creed or color, in all
places of accommodation or amusement.
1t had been hanging by the eyelids for
some time in the Senate, the evident
intention being to let it die, but its
progenitors were too smart for the op-
ponents and succeeded in having a spe-
cial order fixed for its consideration on
final passage in the Senate at 1890 last
night
Early in the evening the Democratic
Senators held caucus to decide how
they would vote, but took no action as
Senators Hilton and Stewart gave no.
tice that they would not be bound by a
caucus decision.
Senator Washbers, who presided at
the caucus, decided that unless all were
bound by the decision of the caucus
it was useless to take vote, so the
caucus adjourned. When the bill was
taken up in the Senate large delega-
tion of colored men was present, but
there was no talking for or against the
bill. 1t passed finally by 35 votes to
IL against it.
Shortly after the equal rights bill
was disposed of the Walton bill relat-
ing to third class cities, prepared by
the State City Solicitors Association
at its recent meeting in Harrisburg.
the companion of a similar bill killed
in the Senate, came up on final passage.
This is the bill familiarly called "the
third class city BILL" as it has been
so drawn as to smooth out kinks in the
original Clark bill.
Cities Bill Passes Finally
When the measure was read Senator
Beidleman moved to have it sent back
to the committee on Municipal Corpora
tions for amendment. Very strenuous
objection was made to this by Senator
Clark, the author of the original bill.
After some discussion the Beidleman
motion was defeated by viva voce
vote and then Mr.. Beidleman moved
that the Senate go into committee of
the whole for general amendment of the
bill. Senator Clark opposed the motion
and it was defeated. The bill then
passed finally and now goes to the Gov
ernor.
At II O'Clock the East and West
had small tournament over the bill
for the consolidation at the new pen
itentiary in Centre county of the West
ern and Eastern penitentiaries. The
Centre county institution will take the
place of the Western institution, but the
object is to bring the two penitentiaries
together for the benefit of the prisoners,
who will have a big farm on which to
work, plenty of opportunity to get fresh
air and, it is contended, become better
citizens. The passage or the bill meant
the doing away with the Eastern peni-
Tertiary in Philadelphia, and Senators
McNichol, Daix, Buckman, Salus, Far
ley and Ware made vigorous opposition
to the bills passage, while Senators