The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1893-06-09
THE LEGISLATURES.
LAWS PASSED DURING THE SESSION
JUST CLOSED.

ClOSCu was SciuCWIdt DdiiCu VI CopSS-
tally important results. While large
number of bills were introduced and
many passed finally, neither those
which received the legislative sanction
nor those which fell were OF especially
general interest. The amended Baker
ballot law works some important
changes, but was not changed to the
radical extent its supporters desired.
1t and the bills fixing polling places
within the territorial limits Of the
election districts and forbidding poll.
teal committees paying for naturali-
zation papers, requiring electors to
vote where domiciled and making
election days legal half-holidays are
the principal measures Of political
character. The labor legislation was
practically included in the amended
factory inspection, compulsory arbi-
tration and anti. Pinkerton bills, and
the revised bituminous mine ventila-
ton law. The first Saturday in Sep.
tember was made Labor day.
There was great deal of school
legislation and perhaps the most i'm
portant bill of the session was the
Farr free text book bill, with Its ac-
companying appropriation Of 100000
annually for the purchase of books.
Others worthy of note are those regu-
lating the salaries of county superin.
tendcnts, prohibiting them from en-
gaglng in teaching except gratuitous.y;
prohibiting members of boards Of
school control from holding salarled
positions under the boards, giving
graduates of chartered colleges the
same right to teachers permanent GER
tificates enjoyed by normal school
graduates, and authorizing cities and
boroughs not divided into wards for
school purposes to maintain high
schools. The salary Of the state super
intendent was also increased from
$4,000 to $4,000. The compulsory
education proposition was disapproved
by the governor and his objections
sustained on the closing night of the
session.
The re-equipment of the National
Guard was provided for and a reor
ganization bill making some impor
tant changes was passed. A nava
militia was also established. An in
dustrial home for soldiers orphan.
was created, with an appropriation fo1
its erection, and the law governing the
soldiers and sailors home at Erie wa.
amended by extending the right Of ad
mission to soldiers OF other states who
have lived five years in Pennsylvania
Fraternal societies were defined ane
regulated and a separate bill was pass
ed in relation to the benefits pai(
them.
The main bills affecting the agri
cultural interests were those creating
the Office of dairy and food commits
sioner and that prohibiting the use o
oleomargarine in institutions receivin,
state aid. The appropriation for th'
salary and expenses of the dairy ant
food commissioner was defeated, con
sequently the law is practically nuga
tory until the next session. One O
the things in which the farmers wer'
really interested was the additional ap
pr opriation of another million dollar
to the state board of agriculture. Thi
was lost on the last night of the ses
sion and lost by the filibustering b.
representatives Of the rural counties
who were apparently willing to defea
measures in which their own consti
tuents were interested in order to xii
those which they thought would benefi
people to whom they were opposed.
| Among the other leading measure
passed, and which like those enumera
ted above have received the governor
approval, were the following: Estab
hshing state boards of medical exami
ners, repeating the law permitting
physicians to be pharmacists withou
passing prescribed examination au
thorizing the governor to commission
women as notaries; defining secont
degree murder; Furnishing frauds b
the keepers of stations ; providing 70
the safety of employees in new build
ings creating borough boards O
health authorizing the formation c
cooperative banking associations ar
propriating $500, 900 for state librar
building, and Sras,ooo for remodelin
the present capitol Furnishing dair
adulterations creating forestry com
mission regulating mileage and ex
penses Of presidential electors; pre-
hibiting minors under fourteen year
running elevators general dog-ta