The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1891-05-06
STATE CAPITAL GOSSIP.

HARRISBURG, May l, 1871.
This week the time of the House
has been taken up with the Pittsburg
street bills, appropriation bills and a
few general calendar bills. The only
bills specially interesting to Forest
county are the road bill and compul.
sorry education bill. The former is
very little different from the bills re.
Gently sent by youT member to every
Township in the County, aud row goes
for concurrence Gin the amendments to
the Senate if a motion to reconsider
is not carried. The present outlook is
that such an attempt will be made.
OF the bill itself there is this much to
be said, that it does not suit the peo-
Pile who are anxious for immediate
improvement of the public highways.
The first bill presented to the House
embodied their ideas. State and
County superintendent they demand.
ed. This the more rural counties
would not have, and the bill is largely
a compromise. The best that can. be
said of it is that it is a step in the
right direction. Lawyers in the House
are divided in opinion as to its ap.
plying to counties like Forest, which
have a special act. However, the
law, if passed, will change Forest
county's road law much less than it
does the general law.
The compulsory education law has
gone to the Senate. 1t is a very mild
law, and will work no hardship /; that
is, if passed as it left the House. The
principle underlying the act is that
there is no other way than by a com.
pulsory law to educate to any extent
growing foreign population. The
and the Hun, the Italian and the
Issian Jew, won't educate their
children of their own free will they
prefer to set them at work at as early
age as possible and let them grow up
in ignorance and-dirt. The safety
of the State and Nation demands in.
telligent citizens, and if the parents
Of these children will not educate
them the State, in self defense, must
compel them. This question natural
ly brings up the resolution regarding
parochial schools introduced by ouI
Senator, Harry Hall. That resolution
will simply stir up a little breeze and
then die. If there is one thing more
certainly fixed than any other in both
: the minds of the legislators and the
people of the State, it is this: "NC
monkeying with the common sehOols!'
Beyond that it is not worth discussing
at this time.
The ballot reform bill and the reve
nue. tax (Granger) bill are still hang
pg fire in the Senate committee, eacl
3 of each bill having hearings. Th
grave and reverend Senators seem t
be on the fence, and not anxious +
get down on either side. The chance
are, however, that the ballot reform
bill will pass. If the Granger bill
passes it may be in such shape tina
the House will not concur in th
amendments. Up to date the Grange
element have consented to many cor
cessious to manufacturers, but won
yield to the corporations. At preseT
it is hard to even guess at the ouleom
the chances being about even. ]
however, the Senate does not pass Ii
Taggart or Granger bill, the rurI
members of the House will insist Q
nearly doubling the present millaG
on corporations and very largely il
creasing the appropriations to commC
schools, and they will win, too, or sta
all summer If the road bill is col
Cured in by the Senate the Hou
will insist on a million or more f
Loads from the State to the Countie