Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-06-21
PoetttcA iM
Pen~oqeSanio
BY the Ex-Committeeman

The temper of the House of Rep
resentatives in the closing ten days
of the remarkable session of 1917 is
the most interesting thing in Penn
sylvania politics to-day. The men,
bers have been insisting upon debat-
ing at length and at the same time
indulging in considerable criticism of
the failure to make progress on the
calendar, this state of mind being
reflected in repeated refusals to
make special orders to consider
measures.
A good bit of the fooling was
stated by the refusal of a majority
to make a special order for the
workmen's compensation amend
ments. There have been no special
orders made since. An attempt to
advance the bill to suspend the full
crew law and the effort to give the
preference both brought emphatic
objections.
The attempt to put up the bill to
give Philadelphia a single chambered
council caused some caustic remarks
in the House. The bills sponsor,
Mr.. Boyer. declared that Mr..
McNichol. leader of the Ware forces,
who are against the bill. which is
backed by Penrose and reform
people, was denying a hearing to his
people, to which Mr.. McNichol re-
torted that he would take the conse-
quences. He also told the House to
defeat the motion because the House
had already devoted too much time
to hearing Philadelphia squabbles
aired.
A chorus of "amens" was heard as
Mr.. McNichol finished.
Although members of the
House appear to be rather firmly
set for adjournment next Thursday,
June 2S, it is possible that it may
be Friday or even Saturday before
they get away. The Senate is now
ready to adjourn on the day fixed
although somewhat inclined to be
against such a plan a short time 60
The House now insists on the date OF
adjournment being carried out, but
as there are many bills on the cal
endar it is possible that in event OF
members seeing that their measures
are imperiled by adjourning on the
day set they may either turn back
the clock or extend the date a day
as was done when things became
strenuous in the windup of the ses-
sion of 1913.
The House fought over the
Graeff bill increasing salaries OF
judges yesterday afternoon for al
most an hour. In the language OF
Representative Black, of this city
it was the fourth time at the bat
for the bill. The House some time
ago defeated the conference report
on the bill, but yesterday afternoon
by vote of 107 reconsidered that
action and put the bill on the post
poned calendar. 1t will probably
come up Monday. Predictions that il
would pass were being made to-day.
The bill affects judges in Washing.
ton, Westmoreland, Schuylkill, Mont
gomery, Fayette, Lancaster, Dau-
phin, Berks and other counties.
Lieutenant Governor Frank B.
McClain received a notable reception
in Lawrence county yesterday when
he addressed the big farmers meet
ing at Volant. Mr.. McClain is a
splendid speaker and his straight
from the shoulder talk took with
the STURDY IOlkS OF the western tier.
The Philadelphia transit bills
had another airing yesterday after
noon and the Senate amended and
passed them with William Draper
Lewis in the offing.
1t is probably that the mine
cave" bills will be dropped before
they get very far next week. A
proposition TO make a plan for ad-
justment of damages due to the sub
sidence of surfaces will be presented
by the coal companies.
Men active in the antiliquor
movements in the Legislature were
regretting to-day that they had lost
so much time this session. 1t is prob
able that next session they will de-
mand quick action on their measures
and not wait until the last horn
blows.
Men in the House last night
were specializing on when the bill
TO suspect the full crew law would
get up. Some members seemed in
clined to talk against time, all of
which had the effect of keeping back
the bill.
There was a big demand for
copies of the third class city police
civil service law to-day. 1t will be-
come effective at once.