The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1895-04-10
D0INGS At HARRISBURg.

ne past week DaS seen more WORK aC- /
complished i'm the House than any pre- |
vious one since the session began. The |
Senate has been enjoying a recess during
that time. having gotten ahead of the |
House in its work, which is an easy task, !
inasmuch as courtesy" rules the roost
there, and TO oppose fellow Senator's
pet measures is considered discouoteous
and always frowned down.
Nineteen bills passed finally in the
House on Tuesday. Among these is one
to provide against adulterations of food
and drugs. The bill is framed on the
principles of the Ohio law, which is said
to work splendidly, and its friends claim
that the times are ripe for such measure
in this and other States.
The House wrestled good part of last
Wednesday with the bill on second read
ing, which prevents the sale of intoxicat-
ing liquors on Memorial Day. The bill,
which has been up at every session for
the past eight years, was introduced this
time by Mr.. MattoX of Venango. who
made strong plea for its adoption, and
wa> heartily seconded by a number of
the G. A. h. members in the House.
The bill was opposed by the cities, and
by only two members of the Grand, Ar
my out of about forty who are members
of the House, It passed second reading
aud hidsrfair to 20 through on final pas
sage.
The judges retirement bill came up on
second reading Thursday, and after some
discussion passed that stage. Were it not
for the high regard which all the mem
bers have for Speaker Walton, who is
very anxious for the passage of the bill,
1T would have about as much show of
getting through the House as one to re-
duce the members saleres would have.
For this reason, no doubt, it was allowed
to pass second reading; but if men talk
as they will vote, the city members,
with now and then a struggling one from
the country districts, will havo to do the
passing, for it is almost impossible to
find one outside of Philadelphia and Al
legheny counties who will touch it when
the yeas and nays are called just why
person who has received a salary of
from 81 200 to S., 1000 for twenty years or
upwards should be retired on full pay Is
one of those problems which it is difficult
to make fellow of ordinary mind un-
derstand.
The bill TO prohibit deer killing for
five years was passed finally in the House,
but what the Senate may or may not do
with it remains to be seen.
Word has gone out that the country
members are in favor of Topping Off
million of the school appropriation in the
next two years, in order that the charit-
able institutions may be taken care of.
II this is true it would be interesting to
learn who constitutes the country mem
bership, for the writer has yet to fluid
one that will even listen to any propo-
sition that tends in the direction of re-
ducing tho school appropriation, and if
| any self constituted leader of the country
members has given sanction to any such
proposition, he will find when the ques-
tien comes up for disposition that he has
reckoned without his host. Public char
tiles are in many instances quite worthy,
but oftener they are not, aud it very fre-
quently happens that money appropri-
ated in that direction fails to accomplish
| the ends to which il is sent The appro-
| priations made to the common schools
has come to be looked upon as sacred
iund, and any party which attempts to
! diminish that fund in the least will find
itself iloundering in deep water. And
the papers which have sent out the report
that country members favor any such
proposition are either wholly misrepre-
senting the facts or have gotten their in
formation from a very unreliable source,
A bill passed second reading Thursday
which provides for the organization of a
State school book board, and provides
for the purchase, by school boards. of
books at the lowest prices The bin is
aimed in the right direction, and if made
a law will 90 far toward bagging the
game 1t is after, the school book trust. 1t
is shame to the Commonwealth that
such legislation has not long ago glaced
the statute books.
most worthy and highly important
measure passed the House finally on
Thursday last. 1t is entitled IAN act for
the protection Of railrord travellers, de-
hning the crime of train robbery aud
Furnishing the same on course the title
fully explains the intent Of the law, and
1t is hoped by its enactment to lessen, il
not altogether prevent the frequent u,
bold and daring train "hold-ups" that
are lerrorizing the people who travel in
Pennsylvania. The Sepate ought tC
amend il by making some reference tC
Pullman car pOrters and the like.
The Monday night sessions hereafter
until otherwise ordered, will be taken NJ
with Senate bills On second reading