The Potter journal and news item. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1872-1874, 1873-03-14

jON5TITUTiJH HALL,
pIiiaipiplia Mar. = 1ST.

tOS5TITUTiJ& HALL,
Philadelphia, Mar. :, 1873 (
DEAR JOURNAL: The convention
is at last making reasonable progress.
The daily sessions have been extend
ed to five hours, to wit: from 10 a. m.
to 3 pm.
The article on the Tnecuiirc De-
partmeh, containing twenty-five sec
tions, has been passed through com
mittee Of the whole. it provides
for the election Of Governor and
Lieutenant Governor once in four
years. 1t also provides for the eiec-
tion of a Secretary of Internal Affairs
once in four years, who shall dis
charge the duties now belonging to
the Surveyor General.
His department shall also ''em-
brace bureau of industrial statistics,
and such duties relating to the CHAR
liable institutions, the agricultural, {,
manufacturing, mines, mineral, lum-
ber and other national business in
terests of the State as may be by law
assigned thereto"
There are no other changes Of any
Importance proposed in the article,
and judge that it will pass finally
about as it now stands; and that the
people will generally acquiesce in the
changes proposed.
The article reported by the COM
mittee on Education is now under
consideration in committee of the
whole; cx-GOvernor Curtin in the
chair. This article contains eight
sections, only two Of which are of
much importance, to wit: the second,
which appropriates ''at least one mil
lion of dollars for each year,; and
the eighth, which authorizes compul-
sorry education.
Since writing the above the COM
mittee by large majority has endors-
cd the appropriation Of q million of
dollars annually to the public schools.
! look upon that as the most import
ant vote yet given by the Delegates,
and firmly believe this section in
favor Of liberal support of common
schools will do more to commend
the work of the convention to the IA
vorahlc consideration of the people,
than anything else likely to be done.
For myself l freely confess that to-
days work in favor Of the common
school has covered a multitude of
sins heretofore committed by the
convention.
The business was interrupted yes
tcrday morning by the announcement
Of the death Of one Of the members.
Hon. William Hopkins, Of Wash
ington Co, left here or Friday even
ing last, in good health, to visit his
family. He was taken sick on his
wav home, and died at the house of
his son in Pittsburgh on Wednesday
afternoon.
Yesterday, Immediately after read
ing the Journal, the President an
nounced the death of Mr.. Hopkins,
when Mr.. Lawrence, of Washington,
offered the customary resolutions.
In support Of these the customary
speeches were made, and then the
convention adjourned.
1t is certainly right and commend
able to pay due respect to the men,
ory Of deceased member of the
body to which one belongs, but l am
sure silence would be more appro-
pirate way to honor the dead than the
making of such speeches as were de-
livercd in this convention yesterday,
in honor of William Hopkins.
Judge Woodward came nearer to
making satisfactory speech than
any other gentleman who spoke on
the occasion. but he marred his re-
marks by dragging IN the Buckshot
War. Even tba, was better than the