The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1895-03-01
HARRISBURG LETTER.
Important Measures Pending Be-
fore the Legislature.
OUR EDUCATIONAL INTERESTS.
The Compulsory Education Bill Nearing
n Second Reading--The Insane Asylums
Investigation-wi -wilkesbarre Citizens OPP
pose the County of Quay.
Especial Correspondence.)

Investigatton-Wuke Sitizens up
pose the County of Quay.
Especial Correspondence)
HARRIsBuRG, Feb 25.--This will be an
eventful week at the state capital. The
legislature reconvened this evening after
ten days recess and will remain in ses-
sion until Friday noon. The house will
begin tomorrow to hold two sessions q day.
Governor Hastings is expected to send to
the senate during the week a number of inn
portent nominations. At the close of the
session of the senate on Wednesday tes-
timonial in the shape of a magnificent
solid silver service, valued at 81, ,000 will be
presented to ex-Lieutenant Governor Wat
res, of Scranton, by his colleagues during
the four years he served rs its presiding Of
fficer The presentation speech will DO
made by Senator McCarrell, of this city.
Beginning tomorrow the house commit
tee on ways and means will give hearings
on the new revenue bill formulated by
the state tax conference.
The bill providing for the publication of
e5,000 copies of the famous Bird Book"
will be signed tomorrow by the presiding
officers of the house and senate and then
messaged to the governor for his action.
A similar bill was vetoed two years ago by
Governor Pattison on the ground that the
book was unnecessary and should not be
printed at the expense of the state. The
committee to investigate the state institu-
tlons under the Focht resolution,to ascer-
Z tain how many of their inmates arc aliens
viii also be announced during the week.
The gossip at the capital is that resolu-
ton will bo offered in the senate tomor-
row by Senator Kennedy, of Allegheny,o or
ntbnr frinnH ~ for N
committee to investigate the municipal
affairs Of Philadelphia.
Governor Hastings Three vetoes.
Governor Hastings set a wholesome ex-
ample for the legislature during the recess
by vetoing three bills, two of which created
additional law judges, one in Washington
and the other in Westmoreland county.
The third bill to fall under the governors
veto AK relates to certain DEGREES of the
registers Of wills and of courts on appeal
from the DEGREES of registers. The effect
of this bill, If permitted to become law
would be to make the decree of the regis
ter refusing to admit will to probate
nnal and conclusive upon all parties claim
Ing under the will If unappealed from, and
Ii appeal is ttrken from such decree, then
the decree of the orphans court is made
final and conclusive. AS to the other bills
the governor says to allow them to become
laws would in effect be permitting special
legislation and render nugatory the man.
date of the constitution regarding appor-
tionment. He Is satisfied, though, that
the legislature will fairly consider and re-
lieve the special needs Of all the judicial
districts.
The final reception of the season will be
given tomorrow evening at the executive
mansion by Governor and Mrs Hastings
1t will be the most brilliant ever seen at
the state capital, and will be attended by
many Of the most distinguished person
ages in Pennsylvania.
A bill introduced in the house by Mr.
Crothers, of Philadelphia, exempts leased
sewing machines from levy and sale for
arrears of rent. Another introduced by
Mr.. Harvey, of Luzerne, reduces the profits
of pawnbrokers fully one-half. 1t limits
the charge for interest on money advanced
to 6 per cent. per annum, and for the stor-
age of goods to 2 per cent. per month
which would make net maximum charge
OF 2% per cent. per month, instead of 5
and 8 per cent, as is now charged. An
other bill pending in the house makes it
unlawful for anybody to exhibit in public
any human being afflicted with physical
or mental deformity.
There are many important bills on the
senate and house calendars relating to the
educational interests of tho common
wealth that will be considered during the
week. Some are well advanced and are
likely to reach the governor before the
close of the month. Other bills of this
character are under consideration by COM
mittee and will be disposed of during the
week. In the senate bill has passed
finally requiring school directors and con-
trolers to purchase out of the state ap-
preparation American flags to be displayed
on the school houses in their respective
districts The senate killed the bill in
creasing the minimum school term from
six to seven months The Farr COM
pulsow education bill Is on the calendar
in the house for second reading and will
be considered tomorrow unless the chair.
man of the education committee allows it
to go over.
The Douthett School Book Bill.
The Douthett bill, providing for the pur-
chase of books at publishers prices, was
read the first time in the house this even
ing. The school authorities of the state
are earnestly opposed to the bill, and de-
clare that If it becomes law il will in
crease instead of diminish the price of
books They contend this is the case in
Ohio, where such law is in operation
and that books were never cheaper in
Pennsylvania than under the present sys-
TEN. Six bills prescribing various meth
ods of distributing the school appropria-
tion are slumbcring in the house commit
tee on education.
The soldiers orphans school commits
sion is overwhelmed with applications for
admission to the schools at Hartford, Ches-
ter Springs and Uniontown. The schools
are already overcrowded and the commits
sion has on file over 300 applications, all
Of which have been investigated and found
deserving. There will be no further ad-
missions, unless the applicants are abso.
lutely destitute, before the opening of the
industrial school of Scotland.
During the recess the special committee
appointed to investigate the management
OF the state hospitals for the insane at
Norristown and Wernersville have been at
work in Norristown. Thus far the com.
mittee has only examined the general
lie ~ tkn i,~et Al.