The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1891-03-25
. Harrisburg Letter.
HAKnssuae, Pa, March u, 1891.

EDrTos HERALD
The Legislature seems to be getting down
to hard work. and quite a number Of bills
are passed al each session. Ia the Senate
yesterday the following bills passed finally !;
To regulate the employment of minors in
factories requiring lists of the children TO
be posted, and prohibiting their employ
ment beyond sixty hours each week. To
enable Matilda Gross Mcconnell to convey
certain real estate in Pittsburgh. Legalizing
the opening Of drug stores on the sabbath.
Permitting the erection Of a bridge over the
Delaware river Validating private sales OF
real estate BY persons named in the will
other than an executor. Appropriating
$500 TO provide medals of honor for the
members Of the National Light Infantry
and the Washington Artillerists, Of Potts
vile; the Reading Artillery the Allen
Rifles, Of Allentown, and the Logan Guards,
of Lewiston, TO commemorate the said i've
companies, being the first TO respond to the
call for troops by President Lincoln. Au-
tborizing the Indiana Normal School 10
place mortgage Of $4,000 OF their build
ines. Conferring on boards of trustees of
insane hospitals the entire control and man
agement thereof
A number Of bills were passed on first
and second reading.
To day the Committee on Judiciary Gen
ersl gave opportunity for the opponents OF
the Employer Liability bill to present their
views 10 the committee. The bill was de
Tended by Hon VIM. H. Hines, of Luzerne,
and opposed by number of employers and
beads of corporations, who argue that if the
bill should pass its effect would be at once
10 stop the increase Of capital in manufac
turing and other industries in the State for
no man or set of men would continue in
business if made TO pay damages by reason
Of negligence Of their employees that under
;he proposed act capital would soon be lost
in the payment Of damages. They claim
that it Offers premium to workmen to be
careless in their own work and habits, and
careless Of the rights of their fellow work
men; that it would work mischief between
employer and employed, and that it would
drive capital out of the State.
The bill 10 amend the high license as as to
reduce the fee in third class cities TO $500,
which passed the House in such hurry, is
meeting with severe condemnation in many
parts of the State The language used in
some of the newspapers is plain, and the
protests are such that the majority of the
Senate should not hesitate to promptly de-
feat the measure
81. Patrick's Day in the SenGtel
After adjournment Mr.. Osborn, Of Phila-
delphia, recited st. Patrick's Birth, with
grace and brouge that was captivating
indeed, one would suppose him to be but
very recent importation from the Emerald
Isle Some OF the Senators bad their desks
ornamented with green and many of the
pages wore stbe Green"
The road bill, which has created such
Juror in the rural districts, will come up
this wednesday, afternoon for third read
ing. special session having been arranged
for its consideration. Senator Lloyd is the
only member from the Democratic side who
has fought for the whole bill from the begin
ming. The Senator does not recognize poll
tics in the bill, while Others on the Demo
cratic side say it is Republican measure
and is going to be pushed under the party
lash. Whether this be true or not, the de
mand for a better system of roads than we
have at present is apparent, and it is to be
hoped that the present Legislature will give
us bill that will at least be the beginning
of better one. whether it be the bill report
ed BY the Road Commission OF some one in
lieu of that.
In the House on Tuesday bill for the
better supervision of the common schools
/ providing for the election by school directors
of district superintendents-faile of final
passage
/ The bill authorizing the United States
! Government to acquire land in Philadelphia
upon which to erect a mint building passed
finally.
Among the bills introduced we're the fol-
/ lowing
By Mr. Mccullough, Of Allegheny, bill
making husband and wife competent 10
testify for or against each other in civil
actions
/ bill BY Mr. Cochrane, of Armstrong, in
I relation 10 the better equipment of common
schools with books and apparatus for the
7 illustration and study of the sciences.
An evident attempt is being made on the
part of some whom it is feared have not
carefully considered the matter to erect new
and elaborate Capitol buildings at Harris
1 burg such measure should have very
careful examination. before the people, who
are already grosning under the burden Of
taxation. should be compelled TO submit to
still further taxation TO erect buildings that
in fact are not demanded. There seems to be
no need for new Capitol. Experts have
recently examined the present building and
pronounced it an exceptionally solid and
substantial structure. IL will readily be ad-
nitted that the State is in need Of new
Library building. But a building for that
purpose could be erected for an infinitely
small sum of money compared with the cost
of a whole set of Capitol buildings
Since writing the above the Commission
road bill, after discussion continuing more
than three hours, passed the Senate with no
further amendments. II will now go 10 the
House, where a similar bill has been strug-
Cling through the process of numerous
amendments
Crangers Have Their Way.