The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1891-04-03
THE LEGISLATURE.
Special Correspondence OF THE CoLUMBrAN.
HARRISBURG, April I, 1901.

duJO uliiliSIt NdhC pldIC ! DOIlIS vi
the House majority members say May
10th, the Senate leaders, June st
The general impression is that the final
adjournment will occur about May
18th. The fact is so much time is
frittered away at the beginning of the
session that the important legislation
necessary to be enacted becomes hurri-
ed near the end. For instance the Leg
islature meets on Monday evening,
continues in session for a day or two,
and then adjourns until the Monday of
the following week, and sothis contin-
ues on until about the seventh or eighth
week, and their measures, i'll advised,
i'll constructed, and Ill digested, are
passed, which have to meet the
crucial test of the constitution
or the Supreme court. Do you Won
der that SO many ridiculous and absurd
laws are placed upon the statute
book, and that SO much legislation of
late years has been declared void and
unconstitutional?
THE COKE REGION RIOT.
There has been riot in the coke
region Of Westmoreland county. III
feeling between the miners and opera
tors has been brewing for long while,
and finally the sad result. On Mon
day afternoon Governor Pattison re-
ceived telegram from the Sheriff of
Westmoreland county asking for the
aid of the military. The answer of
the governor was brief,
sensible and Democratic. 1t was in
substance that the civil power must
be exhausted before that of the military
could be invoked. Nothing further
has been heard Of anything serious.
But it only shows how foolish and Off
cious some people "clothed in little
brief authority are. Governor Pat
tison does not believe in shooting
down people at the whim and ca
price of some unfeeling monopolists,
and will not order out the military at
their bidding. He is the Governor of
the people, by the people, and for the
people, and malefactors of high or low
degree never receives favor or con-
sideration at his hands. 1t is a blessed
thing for the people Of Pennsylvania
that such man is at the helm Of
affairs.
THE SCHOOL BOOK TRUST.
When the House reassembles next
week it is expected the School Book
Trust Investigating Committee will
make a report. The measure was
started by Capt George w. Skinner,
of Fulton, instructing the Committee
on Education to make a report on the
charges made. After it got into the
hands of the committee, a sub COM
mittee was appointed, singular how
many committees must handle any
thing affecting or concerning the in
terests of the people in this Republican
Legislature. The committee finally
got to work, and then it was found
necessary to employ a stenographer,
supply stationary. &c, and ask for an
appropriation. Did you ever know
Republican Legislature that wasn't for
an appropriation? 1t now appears
that the committee will report that
there is no trust; that a number of
school book firms have organized un.
der the laws of New Jersey (what the
deuce do they want in Pennsylvania
then p and that they do not control
the school book trade. The commit
tee will, it is said, report in favor of
Representative Ellwoods free text bill,
which appears to be about the only
redeeming feature. His bill provides
that school books shall be supplied
free from district fund to pupils. 1t
also provides that the tax levied for
this purpose shall not exceed two mills
on the dollar of assessed valuation,
and gives five years in which to put the
system into operation. But for delib-
crate whitewashing on this and kindred
measures the present Legislation has
been able to take and hold the palm.
COAL WILL NOT BE TAXED
The Senate Committee on Finance
propose to report unfavorably the bill
to tax coal cent ton for the relief
OF miners and their families. Sever
al days ago some bituminous coal op-
orators had hearing on the bill, and
Senator Grady, of Philadelphia, who
appears to be master of ceremonies.
has concluded to give the opponents
OF the measure another hearing, in OLE
der to point out the hardships it
would impose upon the coal operators.
Representative Davis, of Schuylkill,
who introduces the bill, has lost hope
for its favorable consideration BY the
committee what an innocent (?) youth
he is AS if a Republican Legislature
would soon do anything to-. injure the