Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1893-03-24
Harrisburg Notes.

The greater part Of both sessions Of the
House last Thursday were taken ~ in the
passage on second reading of Mr.. Fairs
free-text book bill and Mr.. Germans gen
eral bituminous mining law, the afternoon
session being extended . few minutes tc
complete the work on the latter bill.
Mr.. Farr, when he called mp the free.texs
book bill, made strong speech IN its iavol .a
free-text books was able to furnish books
and all necessary supplies at 81 cents Q
year per pupil. In this sum il included
the cost Of books and supplies for night
and kindergarten schools, without count
ing the pupils in either Of these classes OF
schools. In the city of Lancaster with
tree text books the cost was found to aver
age As cents per pupil. In the city of
Westchester books and all supplies for .
period of ten years averaged in cost At
cents per pupil, the saving in all of these
cases being at least 81 q year per pupil.
The present system was principally profit
able to the book trust, which maintained q
lobby about the capitol.
Smith Of Bedford attacked the book
trust lobby viciously. He said the house
was divided in sections and each section
was in charge of . lobbyist, the book trust
maintaining the most persistent lobby
known 70 the legislature.
The Senate, that day, passed bills an
thorizing husband and wife to sue and to
testify against each other in certain cases
and to enlarge the capacity Of the latter to
acquire and dispose Of property; to estab-
lish and maintain two or more experiment
al stations for making experiments in the
culture, care and preparation of tobacco,
and then adjourned till Monday.
On Tuesday Mr.. Kearns anti Pinkerton
bill passed the House. As ammended, it
now reads;
No Sheriff of county, Mayor of city,
Or other person authorized by law to ap-
point special deputies, marshals or police
men in this Commonwealth to preserve
the public peace and prevent or quel pub
lie disturbances, and no individuals, CON-
pany or association incorporated under the
laws Of this State, or Of any other State
Of the United States and doing business
in this state, shall hereafter Oppolnt as
such special daputy, marshal or policeman
any person who shall not be Q citizen Of
this Commonwealth.
The penalties for violotion OF the law
are fine Of not more than $500, imprison-
ment for not more than one year, or both.
at the discretion of the court.
Mr.. Kearns is not satisfied with the
amendments made last night. and an
effort will be made to have them strick en-
ont in the Senate. 1t is certainly very
loosely drawn, as would be established
when an attempt was made to put c0rpor-
ations, such as the Pennsylvania railroad
or the Carnegie company, in jail for
year.
The Road bill of Senator Brown, of
Westmoreland, was amended on third
reading to-day and is now ready for final
passage. Should it become a law each
township will annually, at the February
election, elect road supervisor, who
shall receive - for each day searved and
give bond OF a, 900: At the next Nov
ember election 3 county supervisor is to be
elected for each county for term of three
years, who shall be surveyor or civil
engineer, with practical knowledge of
making roads. For this office the county
surveyor is eligible. The county surveyors
salary is to be fixed by the township sup
visors- These officials shall meet and set
aphrt certain roads as public highways,
and proceed at once to mecadamize or
pave one half of each highway, giving
taxpayers preference as laborers thereon.
The funds necessary are to be procured by
an 8-mill tax on all property taxable for
county purposes, poll tax of 81 upon each
male over p years old, supplemented by
State appropriation of $3,000,0 600; to be
distributed on the basis of the number Of
miles thus improved. 1t liz claimed this
bill will pass both houses and meet the
Governors approval.