A LEGISLATIVE SCENE IN AMERICA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XII, Issue XII, 3 July 1875, Page 3

A LEGISLATIVE SCENE IN AMERICA.

A PTiniiiNii scene lias been recently enacted tho I.oTvcr House of the Pennsylvania Legislature. It seems that the ' >j-mei 1 constitution" adopted in Pennsylvania in IS7H is not working at tirst as smoothly as could be wished, and that the " various checks" which have been introduced " to protect the people against special and reckless legislation" arc not at present completely answering their purpose. Tho lirst session of the enlarged House has brought together a large number of inexperienced members who elected a Speaker who did not understand his duties. The House appears to have dono little for two months, but to have attempted to concentrate tho work of tho session into ita concluding day. In the lirst week of March, when tho end of the session was approaching, there was a rush made by members to get their bills through. Tho House had an " all night" session, when it coiiduetod its business in the following manner :—Members crowded round the clerk's and Speaker's desks yelling and screeming ; tho tloor was tilled with lobbyists ; and amid tho din aud confusion bills wero " put through" without any one being aware of what was going on except the few who were interested. Tn the midst of it a conllict was developed about a " Boom Rill." A lumber company, which has a boom on the Upper Susquehanna at Williamsport, enjoys a valuablo franchise in the fees levied for catching floating logs, which are then made up into rafts. The " I'ooin Bill" was a measure for reducing their charges. It was advocated and opposed vehemently, and from midnight till morning. Lobbyists detected in plying their vocation were put out of tho House. At .'lO a.m. the wild turmoil in the House was " stilled by a stroke of Ngyptiau darkness." .Somebody had broken into tho vault where the gas-meter was located, and turned the gas off. "In the gloom that followed, dim figures were seen Hitting about, and an effort was made to steal tho bill from the clerk's desk." Then a report was started that some ono wanted to assassinate the Speaker. But the gas was relighted, the Speaker was discoTered to bo in his place, apprehensions subsided, the din recommenced, and the Boom Bill passed by a two-thirds vote.