New-York tribune., 1873-02-27
THE PENNSYLVANIA LEGISLATURE.


IuR SESSION MAINLY DEVOTED TO LOCAL QUEs-
TIONS-TuE IMPORTANT MEASURES TO BE
ACTED UPON, AND THE PROSPECTS OF Sue
CBss-LEGIsLATION GOVERNED by THE LARGE
CORPORATIONS.
fvpoM CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRrBUsR.l
HARRrsBURG. Feb. 2J-The Pennsylvania
legislature this Winter has yet done little or nothing
in the way OF legislation. except to pass bills OF only
local Importance and tho importance attached 10 some
OF these does not extend beyond one or two individuals
directly interested the appointment Oh notary pun
lie A number OF bills Of great interest ana aneotng
every citizen OF the state, are n.contemplaton ana
some have been passed through one House bur contn
ued adouinmers the most trivial pretexts prevent
matters OF pubo interest being reached until aiter the
local Jobs are disposed Of Among the bills OF general
Importance likely to be acted upon TINS session ~ ono
granting additional appropriation TO tho Agrloutua
College State 1t will probably not be passed. as
members OF both Houses think the few thousands appro
prated last year sufficient for five years to come La
the mean time the College will struggle on ana nave
name but that unfamiliar one outside the County OF
Centre In which IL is located bill for the payment OF
damages TO citizens living tho Southern border Tor
losses sustained by raids during tho Rebelon VIII again
be presented passage II has not yet been matufeu
but those who favorable to the payment OF theSe
claim that the bill will be worded In such way
thot no possbe objection be made TO ts becoming
Soldiers Orphans Home will continue to be hDerany
proyided for as the Legislature without regard 10 party
has tender feeling for these wards OF the state 1900 or
800 of whom arc being kept and educated az tno
pnbe expense. Tho scholars in the orphan SCHOOLS WI"
be encouraged to advance TO the highest grades taught
by their preceptors by the promise that from among
those standing highest in their class ON commencement
day there will be selected q limited number Tor college
course at the States expense Tho common schools OF
n
out OF tho surplus funds the State treasury than ever
The amount directly appropriated last year was 5oOoo
IL may be g. 100000 this Winter Compulsory education
will hardly be sustained this session. Notwithstanding
the vote will DO nearly even than many imagine
IL Is now evident that the Legislature VIII DO persuaed
into giving nearly II not quite slOOOooO toward making
tho Centenary Anniversary Celebration at Philadelphia
success although the appropriation may not be MADE
directly
A powerful effort ia now making by tho liquor
dealers throughout the State to have 1.-THE Liquor law
passed last year so modified as TO be OF no effect As IL
now stands the question Of license or no license for the
sale OF liquor will be submitted TO vote OF the people oI
nearly the whole State on the third Friday oi next
March, the bill allowing tho submission OF the question
by cities and counties supplemental bill has passed
tho Senate permitting the vote OF cities to be counted
with those OF the counties in which they are situated
thus giving the friends Of temperance, in some cteS
where an adverse vote had already been cast an oppor
unlty TO change the result by carrying the counties
when they vote in March 1t Is be-
eved the pressure public opinion is too great against
the repeal OF the Liquor act of last Winter and too
strong in favor OF the passage or the sup
Elemental bill. to warrant legislators in paying
much heed to the opportunities OF those favor
able TO the honor traffic The danger lies however. In
the supplemental bill being amended as 10 make DOh
measures of no effect. An effort will be made thls SEES
sion TO revive the militia times OF 20 years ago. ana Ds
lave been presented accordingly. The only ndlcdu0n
in re gard TO their final disposition IL fonnd In the Legs
atye proceedings Of the past i've years Ihe Oils o
tbe present session will doubtless lie In the same grave
or be modified that their best TREND VIII una no Ie
sembance OF the original in them
An Insurance Bureau is likely TO be established ana
more liberal policy adopted in relation to foreign nre IN
surapce companies The life insurance corporations OF
other States will hardly OF fOrtunate Out tne
Legislature gradually opening its eyes to sense OF
more reciprocal feeling than has yet prevailed here ana
better era can confidently be looked for Pennsylvania
has discovered that she treats the Insurance.
companies OF other States uniusty, hey can Justly re-
taats by having IS strict laws for Pennsyyanla COM
panies when they seek patronage beyond tine Dues O
the state which grants them their charters U Is pam
fully manifest year after year the Legislature Pc
comes more and more powerless in the bands or the
agents of gigantic corporations, and that soon unless
there is a REFORM those persons may as well DO all the
egisatng Themselves In fact Is now pretty gener
ally conceded that they have everything their own
way; everything disageeable To their tastes very
singilarly falls somewhere before passing entlreIy
through the customary legislative channel Not mem
her of either had the independence 10
set about curing the evil but all sit as mute as mummie
and as compacentIy sleeping babes, While the mock
Legislation goes on