Page:The autobiography of a Pennsylvanian.djvu/416

 This was a course without precedent and was a practical assertion of state rights. A state ventured to call on the nation to perform its duty. This bank failure was at once exploited by the political orators and it came just at a time to destroy all hopes of the election of the Republican candidate for state treasurer. At the election, November 7th, William H. Berry, a garrulous, kindly, ignorant, good-mannered slouch, who had been born in Illinois, come east to seek his fortune, and failed to find it, was chosen by the people to manage the financial affairs of the commonwealth. On the 11th, without further consultation with anybody, I called an extra session of the assembly to meet January 15, 1906, and consider legislation upon the following subjects:

First.—To enable contiguous cities in the same counties to be united in one municipality in order that the people may avoid the unnecessary burdens of maintaining separate city governments.

Second.—To increase the interest paid by banks, trust companies and similar institutions for the use of state moneys; to impose proper limitations upon the amount of such moneys to be held by each of such institutions; to make it a misdemeanor to pay or receive, to offer or request any money or valuable thing or promise for the use of such moneys, other than the interest payable to the state, and to adopt such measures as may be necessary for the protection of the public moneys.

Third.—Reapportionment of the state into senatorial and representative districts.

Fourth.—To provide for the personal registration of voters.

Fifth.—To provide for the government of cities of the first class and the proper distribution of the power exercised by such municipalities.

Sixth.—To designate the amount to be expended each year in the erection of county bridges and to take such other measures in regard to them as safety may require. 398