Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1876-02-11
CoYreSpondence.
OUR HARRISBURG LETTER.
HARRISBURG, PA,

HARRISBURG, PA,
Feb. 8, 1876.
The interest that was manifested in and
around the legislative halls in past years
has somewhat abated, aud apart from the
members and officers of both branches of
our legislature, very few strangers are OBJ
served IN this city. The Ioostcrs and lob
byists who were always on hand, aud con-
stituted the third house" when special
legislation was one of the prominent fea-
lures of our law makers, are no more to be
seen. That special legislation has ceased
to exist is observable in the fact that many
members have chosen as boarding places,
boarding houses, aud the lower classes OF
hotels, as first class hotels are somewhat
too extravagant for men whose only income
! is what theJ derive from their legitimate
legislative calling.
Bill No. Ii relating to the finances OF
| our State, aud which has caused so much
c0mmotion during this session, passed the
House Yesterday as reported from commit
tee on conference, and will do doubt pass
the Senate to-day, thus making it the first
bill of the session that has been presented
! to the Governor for his signature.
Hon. J. !. Johns is daily growing more
popular, and is making host Of friends by
| the course he is pursuing. While he is
always willing to yindicate the standing
of his party, and his friends, he at the same
; time will not allow predjudice to overcome
his Judgment, which he uses with such Il
! degree of effectiveness as to at once give
| him prominent standing. While he has
| not had the experience that great many
| members have had, and is not kndled with
am intirmable desire given to much talk,
yet the recording of his vote on any subject
| is looked TO with considerable interest by
| many vino are acquainted with his sound
! Judgment His bill on compulsory Edu
| cation" and which has been iudorsed b.
the most prominent citizens OF Northum-
| berlaud Co., is hut another evidence of the
| interest no mauitests as representative.
| The bill is OF Importance to all classes IN
| the State, and while it does not meet with
| much favor Just now, the time will soon
come when il will be recognized as neces-
sity. The bill requires the attendance at
school during II weeks in each year, al
children between the ages OF eight and
fourteen years. Night schools are to be
| established by the school directors, and no
child under fourteen years Of age shall be
employed by any person during the school
term unless evidence is produced that said
child is attending day or night school.
also the books for poor children are to be
furnished by the board Of school directors.
! The night schools are to be established III
| districts only where twenty or more chill
dren reside, and the act shall not so into
effect until majority of the school directors
of the district approve Of the same.
TIE Boom bill'' as passed by the Senate
has been reported from the House commit.
tee by Mr.. Wilmington, and will come up
| on first reading during the week. Peter
| Herdic, of Williamsport, is engineering il,
and may experience considerable dltilcnity
| before he gets through with his pet.
The political pot is beginning to grow
warm, and every day drawing closer, makes
| it rage more iiercely. The Democrats as US
ual are barping on reform, retrenchment,
aud better form of city governme ut, they
prate about city extravaganza, defective
L
waller works, high taxes, and numerous
ct ceteras, but then it is now as always,
they have no political grounds or principles
on which to ba sc any effective arguments,
and Of necessity requiring something
wherein to deceive an uuthinkins people.
They cry fraud, but fear that in this city
their labors will prove i'll vain, as the pres
ent Mayor, and Republican candidate for the
same office. viii. be 100 much for them u
overcome.