The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1893-03-31
OUR HARRISBURG LETTER.
What Our state Lawmakers Arc Doing
at the Capital City.

HARRIsBURe, March 29.-Farrs free text
book bill has passed the house after meet
ing with strong opposition at each of its
various stages. Mr.. Lytlc Of Huntingdon,
in direct language charged Tat the school
book trust Is interested in the passage of
the bill, since 1t gives to school directors
and controllers unlimited powers in the
purchase Of books and supplies. Mr.. Lytle
said his view of the book trusts position ON
the measure was strengthened by the fact
that it is proposed to follow up this bill
with one appropriating 81, coo 900 from tho
state treasury for tho purchase of books.
IL the money is appropriated, which is not
probable, the trust will certainly be in
clover since all purchases will have to bo
made from it. Mr. Farr did not defend
himself from Mr.. Lytlc's charges, but
nevertheless the bill passed. the country
members taking the ground that the peo-
pie want free text books and this bill WILL
in some degree, meet that want.
Another bill of interest to certain portions
of the state was debated in the house
This is the Kane bill taxing unnaturalized
male persons twenty-one years of age or
over SO n year for county purposes. A
similar bill was passed at the last session
only to meet the disapproval Of the gov
ernor. Mr.. Kane. who is practical miner
from Fayette county, and undoubtedly the
most eloquent and finished tnlker in the
house, claims that his bill overcomes the
constitutional objections the governor had
to the previous measure. 1t stands fair
chance of being passed.
The Miller and Boyer bills regulating
"post-mortem" and "ante .mortem" frater-
nal, beneficial societies. have passed both,
houses and are now in the hands Of the
governor. The general impression prevails
that his excellency will approve both meas
urts, since the legislation is desired by the
classes OF orders affected by them. Both.
bills have been amended so as 10 excludel
Odd Fellows, Masons and similar orders
from its provisions
Senator G. Wesley Thomas, Of Philadel1
phia, will in all probability be the next
president pro tenn. of the senate succeeding,
General j. P. S. Goblin, of Lebanon. Sena-,
tor Thomas only competitor 80 far Is Sena-I
tor Kiefer, Of Schuylkiil. The formers
friends began quiet canvas yesterday,
with the result that Senator Thomas 10 as
sured of the honor. The president pro
tenn. is elected just before the close Of tho
session. Senator Thomas possesses all OF
the qualifications necessary for the success;
full performance of the duties Of the po,
sition.
Before the ways and means committee,
which held its second session In the hall OF
the house Tuesday for public discussion
of the Niles revenue bill, NJ. L. Olmsted,
of this city, speaking on behalf Of corporate
interests in opposition to the bill, refuted
the statement made last week by Leonard
Rhone, master of the State Grange, to the
effect that real estate pays On an average
about nineteen mills, while corporate prop
erty pays only two mills.
Mr.. Rhones mill rate was reached by e.
timating the total real estate in the COM
monweslth at $4,000, ,000, 900, which Mr.,
Olmsted characterized as absurd upon its
face as it was less than So per acre for the
entire state including city property, coal,
iron, zinc paint, slate and other mines,
oil lands and timber lands, city lots, bank
buildings, stores, dwellings barns, stables
and all improvements Of every kind. He
also produced records from the offices of
the various county commissioners showing
that assessors We're deliberately instructed
in many counties to assess real estate at
varying rates from one-half to as low as 10
per cent. of actual value. In Wilkes Barre
the assessors returned $27 ,O0O, 900.
The county comm 'ssioncrs cut it down
to 10000 to equalize with the rest of
the county, the entire county valuation be-
ing placed at SIS, 600, 900, whereas in ad-
vertising county bonds it was stated at
$3.50, 900, 900. He said Mr.. Rhone's per-
sonal experience was the best refutaton of
his public statement and produced evidence
in detail to show that his farm in Centre
county, valued by reputable citizensat Sl4,
coo, was returned for taxation at SO, 400,
the total tax paid by Mr.. Rhone being $S4,
equal to six mills on actual value. OF
twenty-three cattle upon the farm only five
cows were returned for taxation valued al
$14 each.
The Pennsylvania tax conference, com
posed of fifty members representing ten diff
ferent interests, is performing a very i'm
portant and expensive service for the state
In the collection of statistics and before
the end of the year will he able to show
precisely the extent to which each interest
within the state Is taxed and the extent of
certain interests which are not taxed at all.