The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1893-04-05
From the state Capitol.

merchants doing a business Of $. 600 year
or iess from the payni ,nsof Mercantile tax
es. and prohibiting ,he printing of mercAn-
de appraisers lists
The bill declaring il misdemeanor for
any person to give or promise to give to any
elector or voter, or for any elector or voter 20
take money or other valuable thing at any
general election or nominating or delegate
election and providing punishment therefor
was discussed At length in the senate Thurs
day.
The Fafr bill amending the act oflSS5 so
as TO require school directors or controllers
70 furnish school books and other school
supplies free ofcost was passed finally Tues
day BY the house Of Representatives. The
bin called forth considerable opposition
which led to long discussion Of the public
school question
Farmer Taggart's chances of being
awarded the seat now held by Charles |. Ba-
Ker are not regarded as very bright The
Committee on Elections has the report on
this contest now under consideration. It
is estimated that the total cost Of the cleo
ton contests at the present session will not
fall short of 100000. Sergeant-at-Arms
HOPES wishes there were many more. He
gets mileage and fees.
The bill making every Saturday after II
O'Clock half holiday was passed after con-
siderable discussion engendered by Senator
Bakers efforts to amend it so as TO provide
for the protesting Of notes or drafts falling
due on Saturday. The senator from Della
ware endeayored to convince the senate that
as the bill stood il did not prohibit the pro-
testing of notes or drafts on Saturday but he
failed 10 have his amendment adopted and
the bill passed in its present shape.
The Kane bill requiring unnaturalized
male persons overtwenty-one years of age 70
pay an annual tax Of three dollars a year
wss debated at length Tuesday. Mr.. Kane,
Of Feyetie, made an eloquent and convinc-
ing speech in It's support, the house listen
ing with much interest. He pointed out
that this class ofresidents do not contribute
anything toward the support of the govern
ment and that his bill taxes them as they
should be taxed. The bill places upon the
employers of foreigners the duty of collect
ing the tar, and this ffature was obi ected 10
I Uuimportaat amendments were inserted
and the bill passed third reading.
The term Of State Superintendent of Pub
lie instruction Waller expired Friday
/ There are several candidates for the
position named, among them, DIR
y. c. seheaifer, principal Of th'
Kuiz.own normal school Professor A. J
! Davis, principal OF the Clarion state norma
I school DR.. d. 5. Thomas, ex-p,ineipal o.
I the Mansfield normal school, and County
( Superintendent Hugus. Of Westmoreland
/ Il Is believed that Dr. Scheaffer will be Sc
/ lecied. An appointment had been expected
before this and it IS thought that the delay
arises from the fact that the sill to increas'
the state superintendent salary from $50
TO $, 600 has not yet passed. Were an ap
I pointment made and confirmed before it
passage, the appointee could only receiv'
/ $. 800. the constitution prohibiting an in
crease Of salary during the term of an off
cisL
An animated discussion took place in thl
house Thursday over the bill introduced b.
Nesbit, of Allegheny, which appropriate
! S3,O0OOO0 q year to better the condition oi
the roads ofthe State. The discussion wa:
characterized by several lively tits, one OF
which took place between eK-Speaker Boy
er, Of Philadelphia, and Uncle John Cessna
Of Bedford. Mr.. Boyer is very well pasted
on the revenues Of the State, and he showe'
quite clearly that there Is not enough mon
ey in the state treasury 10 meet the demand
for state aid. There must" he said, "b
q general pairing down of the appropriation
or bankruptcy will follow" This aroused
Mr.. Cessna's ire, and he Immediately pro
ceeded to intimate that Mr.. Boyer was desir
Gus of wiping out the road bill appropris
lions for measures in which he is particular
ly interested. Mr.. Boyer replied that impu
]
stock in trade, and be did not propose TO al
low him to assail his (Boyer's) course in tn
matter. Cessna made some sort Of an apoI
ogy.
4 conference Of the friends of the fiv
road bills introduced in the senate was hell
Thursday night, at which it was decided Il
drop all measures but that presented by Sen
ator Brown, OF Westmoreland. This bill j
regarded as the best solution of the roal
question yet submitted and it will be en-
dorsed by the trainers of the other measure
on this subject which have found their wa,
into the senate chamber. 1t carries with
an appropriation and provides for count.
and township supervisors and district fore
men. It places poll tax on all male resi-
dents over twenty-One years of age ant
makes corporations liable for the tax o
alien employees 1t also provides for IN
completion of the improvement of one-hal
Of the width ofthe entire length of the roa,
first before work is commenced on the othe
half The advocates ofthis measure recog
nizs the fact that the revenues of the stat
are not sufficient to secure large appropris
ton and are content TO take fair SUN. 4
large number Of the rural members propose
removing their support from the Niles Ia,
bill, which, if II should become a law, the
claim, would disarrsnge the present revenu,
system and decrease the state revenues, an,
] -
the bonded indebtedness as well as thecap
ital stock OF corporations. The advocates 0
this measure say it would provide immedi
ate revenues in conformity with the presen
tax law.
The legislature has not yet fixed the dat
Of final adjournment, but the sessions vii
hardly be extended beyond June l. Tw'
years ago the members LEFT for good the las
week in May. Already many members o
/ the present session are tired of the duh rou
I line work and are anxious to draw the bal
auoe Of the salary due them and go home
/ The senate Is still away ahead of the hous
with its work, although holding but on
session daily to the two held by the house
In 1891 the house began holding night ses
sions April II and continued TO do so fou
days a week until the close OF the session
The senate viii hardly hold night sessions
but il Is prObsble that it will hold morning
and afternoon sessions after this week
There Is lots of work ahead for the mem
bers Of both branches.
There have been introduced in the hous
763 bills up 10 the present time, or twenty