The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1891-05-01
THE LEGISLATURE,
Special Correspondence OF THE COLUMBIAN

HARRISBURG, April 20, 1891.
The general Road bill has passed
finally in the House. When it came
upon third reading yesterday, Mr..
Cotton, Of Allegheny, spoke in oppo-
sition to it. He said he would vote
for it just to get rid of it, as, in his
estimation, it would do neither good
nor harm. Capt Skinner, of Fulton,
in protesting against it said that the
sum of $I,ooo,o 900 is too small to re-
pair the roads, and that the bill would
be no improvement on the present
system. Mr. Lytle, of Huntingdon,
wanted to go into Committee Of the
whole for the purpose of inserting the
county engineer feature, but his mo
ton was voted down. After other
speeches, pro and con, by several
members, the bill passed by a vote of
1903 yeas to 7S nays, a bare constitu-
tional majority. 1t was stubborn
fight. On the first call of the roll it
was defeated, but several members
changed their votes, claiming they had
voted under misrepresentation. Mr..
Gillian, of Franklin, finally protested
'gainst the changing Of votes, and that
ONE members came to the clerks
lesk to see how the matter stood be-
fore making the change The bill
has already passed the Senate, and
goes to the governor.
THE COMPULSORY EDUCATION BILL.
The House passed finally yesterday
the bill introduced by Mr.. Far, of
Lackwanna, the Compulsory Educa-
ton bill. 1t requires the parents or
guardians Of children between eight
and twelve years Of age to send their
children to the public, proverbial or
private schools at least sixteen consecu-
tive weeks in each year. The penalty
for violation of the act is a fine of
Sc for the first conviction, and SIS for
each subsequent conviction. The bill
now goes to the Senate, and if it pass
-es then what fate it will meet with at
the hands of the Governor, your cor
respondent is not able to say.
THE MUNICIPAL LIEN BILL.
When the bill of Senator Finn.
of Allegheny, was called up yesterday
creating and relating to municipal
liens, for concurrence in the House
amendments, Senator Ross, of Bucks,
criticised the measure because of in
sufficient notice to nonresident prop
erty owners. As it affected boroughs,
whose government was altogether diff
ferent from that Of cities of the second
class, the suggested amendments re-
CURED notice to be published in at
least two newspapers in the proper
county for three weeks. The bill in
volved possible liability of jeopardiz-
ing titles to property. Senator Finn
asked that the matter 60 over, and
said he.would be only too glad to have
it amended to meet the objections of |
the Senator from Bucks.
THE DoCKAGE BILL.
A war of words took place in the
Senate on Monday night between
Senators, Thompson, Republican, of |
Dauphin, and Hines, Democrat, of |
Luzerne. 1t grew out of the bill to |
prohibit the dockage Of coal in the
Anthracite coal fields. This bill had
an easy passage through the House,
its opponents reserving their strength |
Tor the battle that was sure to result |
in the Senate. 1t came, however, a
little sooner than was expected being
precipitated by the Senator from Luz |
erne. who asked for the postponement
Of the bill on account of the meagre
attendance of Senators. Thompson in
terposed an objection, which, of course
was sufficient to defeat its considera-
ton. Then Hines took the floor, and
spoke warmly in favor of the bill. |
Ie intimated in unmistakable terms
at the Senator from Dauphin county
as simply violating the sentiments of
ne corporations, and said that during
he past two weeks he had witnessed
ne most shameful proceeding to de-