Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1895-03-28
HARRISBURG LETTER.
A Growing Sentiment in Favor OF
the New Revenue Bill.
JUDICIAL APPORTIONMENT BILL.
1t Gives the State Six New judges and
Makes Material Changes in the Present
Districts-Journalists on Governor Hast
ings stan-The Governors Presidential
Boom.


growing sentiment in the state in favor of
the new revenue bill. Tho hearings before
the house ways and means committee the
past three weeks have given the people q
better understanding of the measure and
1t looks now as if 1t might become law
with a few minor amendments. Its friends
claim it will increase the state revenues
and at the same time make a 0lore equit-
able distribution of taxation. The most
Objectionable features of the bill are the
provisions levying mill tax on the cap
ital stock of building and loan associa-
tions and a four mill tax on the capital
stock of manufacturing corporations. Tho
manufacturers are kicking on the BILL
while the bankers and railroad people are
quietly urging It's passage
The lack of funds to make all the ap-
propriations desired by the legislature
continues to be an interesting topic among
the members but those from Philadel-
phia Insist that the money for the Della
ware river improvement must be found
somewhere, even II 1t has to be taken
from the item set aside for schools 1t is
argued that u reduction of $500, 900 in the
total school appropriation would be felt
but slightly in the individual districts,
whereas expending that sum on the
states highway to the sea would so stimu
late our commerce and general business
that in few years there would be enough
revenue to largely increase the appropria-
tions to schools. 1t is also argued that
some of the country districts depend al
most entirely upon the state appropriation,
and 1t would do them good to have to
hustle about and raise little larger fund
of their own.
Taxation Bill Aimed at Corporations.
A taxation bill aimed at corporations
has been put in the senate by Senator
Walton. 1t taxes corporations, including
money at interest, stocks, bonds, etc, for
all local purposes, except public schools
Under existing laws corporations pay four
mills to the state and are exempt from To-
cal taxation Their stock will be assessed
like real estate, and the millage of the dis
trict will apply. Senator Walton says the
burden OF taxation on real estate Is be-
coming so onerous that unless something
is done 1t will not pay farmers to hold
farms and the working classes to own
their own homes. He believes the corpo-
rations should assist in maintaining the
municipal governments
The Nickel amendment to the constitu-
tion reducing the number of elections one
half, without throwing local and state
elections on the same day, has gone through
the house on second reading and will be
considered during the present week on
third reading. Mr.. Nickell's amendment
proposes that members of the Legislature
and congress, judges of the courts of record
and all officers and representatives to be
chosen by the state at large shall be chosen
on the Tuesday following the first Mon
day Of November in the even numbered
years, while all county, city, ward, Dor
ough and township officers shall be chosen
on the same day in odd numbered years.
The craze for the erection of new coun-
ties is on the increase. Bills for the cree
tion of the counties of Quay, Mononghela
and Grow are pending in the house, and
Representative Fow has come to the front
with bill from the people of Wayne
county to create county out of parts of
Wayne, Wyoming and Lackawana coun-
| ties, with Carbondale as the county seat
Three names have been suggested for the
proposed county-Meredith, for tho sec
retary of the treasury in 1S49, who is
buried in the lower end OF Wayne county;
Morris, after Robert Morris, the revolu-
tionary flnancier, and Anthracite, after
its chief product. Grow county is q Demo
cratic scheme to block the Republican
plan of erecting Quay county The chances
are that some of the proposed counties
will be created.
The judicial Apportionment Bill.
The judicial apportionment bill will
considered on third reading in the house
| tomorrow. 1t went through on second
reading last Thursday after bitter fight
against 1t by the Democrats. The bill
gives the state six additional judges and
makes number of material changes in
the present districts. Huntingdon and
Mif1lin are made district and Centre,
which is now attached to Huntingdon Is
made separate district. Schuylkill
county is given separate orphans court
judge, Delaware and Lancaster each gets
an additional law judge, rs does Washing
ton and Westmoreland. The Clinton
| Cameron Elk district, now Democratic
has been dismembered SO as to give the
Republicans another judge. Cameron has
been tackled on to Potter and Mexican,
Elk to Forest, and Warren and Clinton to
Clearfleld.
The bill provides that II the president
Judge and additional law Judge of dis
trict cannot agree on u question of law
the opinion of the president judge shall be
the decree of the court, from which bill
of exceptions can be sealed and taken to
|
tion for new trial is made the opinion of
the trial judge shall be deemed the decree
of the court. Where the judges are sitting
| In different courts it shall be competent
for the trial judge to reserve question of
law and have it argued before them both
when on the bench.
Charles Heber Clark, secretary of tho
Manufacturers club, of Philadelphia will
deliver an address in the hall of the house
of representatives tomorrow evening, by
request of the legislature, on free silver.
| Charles Emory Smith, editor of the Phila-
delphia Press, will reply to Mr.. Clark on
Thursday evening with speech on Sound
Money"
The patriotic societies are protesting
against the change to be made by the sem
ate education committee In the provisions
of the religious garb bill. The measure
as 1t passed the house puts the RESPONSE
bili.y on the teacher, and that is the way
the patriotic societies want 1t to remain.
But it Is proposed to amend the bill so as