Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1859-03-02
LETTER FROM HARRISBURG

S. B. Row, Eso.-Dear Sir The adiourning
over OF the Senate from Friday to Monday,
and the House to Tuesday evening, puts me to
my trumps to furnish you anything very inter-
esting of general nature, and the local legis-
lation is like the Yankees little end of MOTH
ing, whitfield to point
The House has passed an act declaring Potts
creek public highway. AS am unacquaint-
ed with its locality, may 1 ask if this law
Will have any effect in reducing the price of
lumber.
The bin for changing the time of holding
the courts in Ciearfeld county, has passed
both Houses.
There is one bill now pending in the House
into the merits of which every person must
see at single glance. 1t is bill to publish
the local laws in the papers in such localities
effected thereby, and the general laws
in all the papers. Now, sir, think can not
only convince You, but all your readers of the
entire business of such information being Civ
en- to the many who find the pamphlet laws in
accessible. 1t was only day or two ago that
the Legislature was called upon to pass bill
releasing Collector of Militia taxes in Lam
caster county who did not comply with the
provisions of the law, simply because he did
not know. How many violations of the law
are committed through ignorance 2-and how
far could these violations be prevented by Civ
ing publicity to laws through the columns of
a newspaper
The bill. Incorporating the Clearfeld Gas
Company has passed the House, and will Of
course pass the Senate.
The bill for the relief of James 7. Leonard
has also passed.
On Tuesday last Mr.. Miller, the young and
talented Senator from Washington offered the
following, which may be regarded as very ap-
propriate to the day on which it was offered
WHEREAS, A number of our citizens, under
the name of the s"Mount Vernon fund associa-
tioD,'' are engaged in the patriotic a1d noble
work of raising funds for the purpose OF Sc
curing the possession of the SshOme and tomb
Of WashlngtOn," and of making them, like
his fame and deeds, the common property of
the whole country: AND WHEREAS, \ pro-
found sense of gratitude for the inestimabIe
principles of civil and religious freedom, Sc
cured 10 US and our pOsterity in the Federal
Constitution, and achieved for us hy the wis
dom, virtue and patriotism of ssWashingtOn,'
been recognized by the citizens OF this en-
tire Commonwealth, and therefore impels rs,
as their representatives, TO re-cXpress their
sentiment, and for them and in their behalf
at this time, TO pay a becoming and substan.
tial tribute to the memory of him with whose
name is blended whatever belongs to the
present. the liberty, the free institutions,
and the renown of our country; therefore
ResOlred, by the Senate and House of Repre-
sentatlveS of the Commonwealth of Pennsyl-
vania in General Assembly met, That the sum
of two thousand dollars be and is hereby ap-
propriated to ssthe Mount Vernon fund associ-
ation," to be applied to the purpose for which
that association was organized, and the State
Treasurer be authorized to pay .he same to
the proper officers of the said association out
of any moneys not otherwise appropriated.
The committee reported it with negative
recommendation, but l still have hopes that
it will pass.
The Pennsylvania Railroad men are here in
full force, showering IN their petitions for the
repeal of the tonnage tax. You may remem-
Der It was stated by some newspaper some time
ago that the company had determined to re-
sst the payment of the tax, in obedience to
competent legal opinions. This has been so,
in part, as is shown in 4 letter from the Audi
tor General TO the Legislature, in which that
officer sets forth that the Pennsylvania Com
pany is indebted for tonnage tax from the Goth
day of July, 1858, to the 1st day of December,
in the sum of SS7 ,375 %, and that the Com
pany have expressed willingness to pay that
portion of the tax on sslocal tonnage - that is
the freight carried within this Commonwealth,
as soon as the amount can be ascertained but
that they refused to pay the balance for legal
reasons assigned by counsel, and all the pay
ments made were made under protest. They
might have chosen more appropriate time to
resist payment than when on the eve of ask
ing for legislation.
The Harrisburg and Lancaster RailraodCom-
pany is in arrears from the 10th day of March
to the 1st day of December, in the sum of
S2S, ,394 AZ; but the Auditor General remarks
that they have agreed to pay the same within
a short period.
The appropriation bin is up in the House,
and is undergoing pruning. Among the ap-
propriations asked for is S5 900 for the s.Penn
Widows Asylum and the ssHoward Associa-
tion." Both these appear to be sort of
refuge for the broken down aris.ocracy, who
have delicacy about hanging up their bon
nets in poor houses. According to the expen-
ses, the bill of fare must be considerably a.
head of the provender we use up about the
mountain.
The proposition to appropriate S24 900 to
the Monument TO the memory of those who |
lost their lives in the Mexican war, is meeting
with opposition, and L would not be surprised |
to see it ioored
The bill in relation 70 nridancn has hnan |