The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1891-02-11
STATE CAPITAL GOSSIP.

HARRISBURG reO, Z, 1851
The Bills so far introduced in the
House, in which Forest county, is in.
terested in particular, are, first, the
Road Law I'd, the Compulsory Edu.
cation Law; Sd, the Bill providing
for District Superintendent for Com.
mon Schools. There is before the
Committee on Education a number of
other school bills, five or six of which
are for uniform text books; two or
more others providing for the manu-
facture and sale Of the same by the
State, and one or two, providing that
the Directors shall furnish all books
free. All of these are being held in
the committee until the conclusion of
the investigation into the School Book
Trust by a sub committee.
Two road bills we're before the com.
mittee on counties and townships, of
which the Forest county member is
secretary. One known as the Road
Bill of the Society of Engineers Of
Western Penn'a." This is an excel.
lent bill aud would work wonders in
most parts of the State, but it is hard.
ly suited to counties like Forest. This
bill is still held in committee, a copy
OF 1t may be found in a day or two in
the Commissioners Office, Tionesta.
The bill known as the "Road Com.
mission Bill" which includes in its
provisions some of the best features of
the Engineers bill, was before the
same committee and reported favora.
bly, to the House. This bill will be
printed and a copy sent to each news.
paper in the county, and to each
board of road commissioners in the
townships by your member. As a
whole it is a good bill, perhaps as fair
-sfbill as q be made for the whole
State, 1t is to be remembered that
every section ear not be exactly suited,
and it is only fair to the Commission
to say that they have honestly tried to
be just to each section. The portion of
the bill that will perhaps be most OBJ.
Jectionable in Forest county, is that
the road tax is to be paid in cash, but
preference in work must be given to
citizens, and persons desiring to work
can so notify the road masters. So it
- paying the tax in cash, and getting
cash back again for the work you do.
However, when the bill is before you,
doubtless your member will be glad of
the five hundred or so different opin.
ions there is to offer, and get so mud.
died that he will wish there was no
road bill. Anyhow, be will be none
the worse of a sensible pointer and
will appreciate it, and so far as practi.
cal, act on il.
The Compulsory Education bill is a
good bill if it can be enforced this
bill, however, was reported with the
understanding that it is to be re COM
mitted after printing, at which time
yoT will be given q synopsis of the
same and a copy of the bill sent for
examination.
The bill providing for District Su.
p~erintendents, originated in Allegheny
county, and provided that in each dis
trict having over ten schools q district
superintendent must he elected, having
the same qualifications as The County
Supt. This was all right for the large
counties, but not necessary for the
smaller counties, and as it was man.
datory in effect, it was opposed 10
committee by your member, and a
compromise effected by which it is
entirely optional with a district. 10
other words, if they don't want it,
they need not have It. This gives all
places a fair chance and is unjust to
none
Some portions of Forest county are
DESTROYS of a return to a fair fence
law. A bill of that character was be.
fore the House, it was referred to the
Committee on Agriculture, on which
We grange element predominates, and
which NJ Taggart is chairman.
Inc 0ff8eMasssPw~ With a negative
recommendation. 1t was re commit.
ted and again reported with a negative.
A motion was then made to place it
on the calendar, which motion failed
to carry, your member voting in the
Affirmative. A bill compelling rail.
roads to fence their tracks met the
ame fate in committee. An honest
fort has been made to give these bills
chance but the eastern part of the
tate is against them.
The revenue equalization tax bill is
yet before the House.