The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-03-09
DRUNKENNESS Considered
Mr.. Millard, of Susquehanna, Intro
duces an Important Bill.
WORK FOR BOARD OF CHARITIES
Pure Food and Pure Beer Bills Have
Passed Second Reuding Druggists
Object to the Medicine Features
of the Measure.
Special to the Scranton Tribune.

yestigation of the Kelley cure treat
ment by the state board of public chari-
ties. 1t was introduced by Mr.. Millard,
of Susuushanna, by request of the
Catholic Temperance league of LuZerne
county A waggish member tried to
make the resolution ridiculous by offer
ing an amendment that ''all the old
drunkards in the state be sent to the
Neeley Institutes at the expense of the
state" The amendment was ruled out
of order. The resolution follows
Whereas. Drunkenness is said to be an
increasing evil in the land and TO present
one of the most serious features of the
problem of caring for the criminal and
INDECENT classes by direction and under
control of the state, and
Whereas. 1t il now being widely main
tanned that drunkenness is more often a
disease that moral frailty or crime ana
can be cured by scientific medical treat
ment. Therefore. be 1t
Resolved, If the senate concur, that the
state board of public charities be and IL
hereby authorized and empowered TO
make careful inquiry into the matter of
the treatment of drunkenness as a dis
ease and IS instructed TO make report TO
the general assembly at the session OF 1897
as to the efficacy of such treatment SO
far as it can be determined. and as TO
whether it is feasible to apply any of the
existing methods of treatment or some
modification thereof in connection with
the management of the penal. charitable
and reformatory institutions of the state.
A special order was made for the
Clarency amendment to the banking
act so as to relieve building and loan
associations from making semi-annual
report to the department for second
reading on next Wednesday and third
reading the following Thursday. Mr..
Clarency has received petitions from
four-fifths of the local building and
loan associations in the state urging
the passage of the bill. The law in its
presents form requires these concerns
to make semi-annual report to the de-
partment, to be published in the news
papers of the county in which the prin-
cipal office is located
For Better Beer.
Representative Crothers. of Phila-
delphia. and Griggsby. of Lawrence,
have pure food bills. Mr.. Griggsby has
two measures. one forbidding the adul-
teration of food and drugs. and the
other the doctoring of beer and liquors.
bOln DlllS are OH the SeCOLu ItduihS
calendar. Mr.. Crorners has capisi th..
Hewitt pure food measure, which
passed the last session and was vetoed
by Governor Pattison. Today Mr..
Crothers asked for a special order for
his bill This started up the ire Of Mr..
uoGriggsby, who said that in his eX-
perience in two legislatures this was
the most discourteous act he had seen
offered to a fellow-member. He ex-
planned what his bills are and that they
are ahead of the Crothers measures on
the calendar He said he had as much
respect for the memory Of Ben Hewitt
as any man, but that had no bearing
on the question at issue. The Crothers
resolution was voted down by pro-
nounced majority.
Mr. Griggsby said when the pure food
bill comes up next week he would
amend 1t to knock out things at the re-
quest of the State Pharmaceutical as
sociation. A delegation of druggists
was here last week protesting against
the insertion of drugs, claiming that
the act Of 1887 to prevent the adultera-
tion of drugs. is sufficient. 1t leaves the
matter in charge of a committee of eX
perts who are now husy prosecuting
people for adulterating medicines all
over the state.
Mr.. Biddle, of Bedford, wanted a spe-
cial order for the f.. w. Smiley road
bill, but he did not get it. He said
he had received letters and petitions
from farmers all over the state ask
ing for the passage Of road bill of
some kind. The bill provides that each
county shall constitute separate road
district, and that a convention be held
annually of delegates from the town
ships. The convention Is to formulate
regulations for improvement of the
roads in the county and they are to be
enforced by township supervisors.
Smith Bill Petitions.
A cart load of documents were
dumped on Speaker Walton's desk The
patriotic societies have evidently been
very active in the interest of the Smith
bill making 1t misdemeanor for any
teacher to wear any religious garb or
insignia In the public schools. The petit
tfons for the measure came like an
avalanche, and from all quarters of the
state. So far, not a remonstrance has
been filed against the bill. Either the
denominations intended to be restrained
are Indifferent or passive In their oppo-
sition. There were many protests
against the repeal Of the oleo law and
petitions for the passage of the Penni-
well local option law. Although the
Farr compulsory education bill has
passed the final stage in the house and
Is certain to go through the senate, petit
tions continue to pour I'm from every
quarter Of the state.
A bill was introduced by Mr.. Har-
vey, of Luzerne, making 1t unlawful in
the manufacture of brooms and brushes
to employ more than per cent of the
labor from the convict labor of any
penal institution.
Mr.. Schwarz. of Monroe, presented a
bill for license of $25 for livery stable
keepers In boroughs. Violation of the
act is made punishable by fine of $25
and costs for the use of the borough
Bills were also introduced allowing
justices of the peace to divide the costs
between the prosecutor and defendant
where the prosecutor fails to establish
charges in petty criminal suits; provid-
Ing that teachers Institutes be held in
July and August and that the teachers
be paid while in attendance.