Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1859-03-31
FROM HARRISBURG.
Correspondence On the Bradford Reporter.l ]


mously. 1t provides that jourDeyman mecha-
MICS and laborers, employed BY any master
workman or contractor, may have lien on
any moneys due such master workman or con-
tractor, from the owner or proprietor of the
building, or other property, on which the work
is being done, for their wages earned thereon
This will enable honest -laborers, many times,
to get their pay of dishonest contractors. 3
The act relating to the collection of taxes in
the several counties of this Commonwealth,
which proposes to reyolutionize the system, was
lost The bill makes the County Treasurer the
collector by travelling over the county, staying
two days in each township and boro' for that
purpose The cream having thus been taken
off, the driblets" to be placed in the hands
of the several constables for collection The
objection to the bill ale, mainly, that in large
counties the duplicates would not be placed in
the hands of the eonstables till many of the
transient persons have left with taxes unpaid,
many of which taxes sharp collector might
have picked up, had the duplicate been placed
in his hands at an early day. 1t has tend
ency to prolong the day OF collection, and to
place all the profits in the hands of wel-fed
and well paid officer, and compel the consta-
bes to do all the drudgery without much pay.
| An act to require the Wilamsport & e.
mira r. r. Co., to fence their road was re-
ported negatirely by the Senate r. r. Com
mittee. On motion of Mr. MYER the bill was
re-committed. 1t is singular, indeed, that so
just and so important bill as this should be
killed by that committee, without asking one
of its friends to appear before them for expla-
nation When it was asserted in the House
that certain Railroad Companies exerted an
influence over the legislation of the State, GER
tain very sersative gentlemen became exceed
ingy restive, and yet Others were honest enough
to declare, on the floor, that the most impor
tant constituency he represented was certain
railroad company and it would seem that about
the only constituency represented in the Sen
ate, is the various corporations of the State.
Whether hearing before the Senate Commit
tee, will induce them to change their report, is
questionable.
An act to abolish the Board of Revenue
! Commissioners has been before the House, and
elected some very interesting discussion, which
brought to light many important facts with
reference to the present method of equalizing
the assessments of the State The system
seems to give anything but satisfaction yet
to abolish it without supplying its place would
be jumping out of the frying pan into the
fire." The bill was defeated 81 to 81
The bill for the assessment Of damages on
the North Branch Canal was amended in the
House, so as to make a review by jury of
seven take the place of trial by jury in court
and so passed to a third reading, with the un-
derstandng that it should so pass through both
Houses without opposition, learning, however,
that we'll organized opposition in the Senate
would meet the bill at its threshold, the friends
of the bill in the House restored it to its origi-
nal form and passed it without opposition. 1t
goes into very questionable committee in the
Senate. What steps will be taken there to
kill it will soon be known Mr. MYER will be
on the look out, and keep informed as to all
movements in the premises.
House passed resolutions to adjourn finally
on the 5th of April The Senate has amended
by fixing the 18th. So the 18th may be re-
garded as the day of Adjournment, as the House
will probably concur.
The Fry divorce bill has finally been report
ed to the House, and an effort was made to
rush it through at the expense of other legIti
mate legislation. The bill was read in place
the second week of the session. 1t was retain
ed by the Divorce Committee without deci
sion till ten days ago. After deciding to re-
port the bill it was retained about ten days
longer. What argument has been brought to
bear upon this committee thus to act is un-
known, or whether they were waiting for some
,reighty argument to be brought to their notice,
before they could conscienci0usly make the re
port is also unknown, but since they have seen
fit to thus retain their report, it was certainly
asking too much to have that exciting and
mooted subject crowded into the regular bust
ness out of its order, Let it take its turn,"-
so the House said. ...
The tonnage tax question was made the
special order for Wednesday last. The reso-
lutions set forth that the Pennsylvania Central
Railroad has refused to pay the tax and set
the Commonwealth at defiance, and authorizes
the Attorney General to commence suit in the
Supreme Court against said road, with the
view to ascertain if the said Company has not
thereby foreited their charter, and also to take