davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-02-02
Pass the Farr Bill.

For two sessions Representative Farr,
of this city, has stood as the special
champion of compulsory education.
He has made that subject particular
study, devoting to it a persistency of
inquiry which few men in public life
exhibit in their treatment of public
questions. The result of this concen-
trated effort is bill which is as nearly
perfect in it's details as any bill can be
before 1t Is subjected to practical ex-
perimental test. The gentleman from
Lancaster county who is now trying to
force Mr.. Fairs bill to the rear may
be just as sincere in his enthusiasm as
Mr.. Farr is. But the practical effect of
his belated work is to complicate the
prospects of enacting any kind of a
compulsory education law, and to this
extent he is doing the public an injury,
rather than benefit.
We are more deeply interested in the
principle of compulsory education than
in the men who champion the principle.
If the question were simply a personal
one between Mr.. Farr and Mr.. Seyfert.
we could we'll afford ito let the house of
representatives make its own choice,
in the light of each mans record. But
instead of raising that issue, Mr.. Sey-
fert has Virtually put an obstacle in the
path of any measure having this broad
principle in view. He has introduced
bill THE provisions of which are drastic
beyond all common sense, and seeks to
force it down. needless of the wishes.o of
nine-tenths of those who worked for
compulsory educatio nbefore he thought
of framing bill on the subject. We
have compared the two measures with
the utmost care, and we are so little
satisfied with the Seyfert bill that we
would sooner see no bill passed than to
have his radical measure become the
law.
In justice to the commonwealth, pass
the Farr bill!
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-02-02
Tho NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Araumcnt.

at was said that free books would make
q compulsory education law unnecessary
They have simply proved the absolute
necessity of such law IL we want to
reach any reasonable portion of the vast
number who do not 20 to school. The
statistics presented to you show that there
are a great army Of them. Free books
drew many of those children whose pa
rents wanted to educate their children
but could not before on account OF the
cost to them of books. But free books
have no charm for the parent who IL in
different to the best interests Of his child ;
who doesn't care whether his little boy
or girl gets any education or not. There
are thousandsof them who for inexcusable
reasons will not educate their children
unless they are compelled. Sentiment
should not be wasted on such parents.
There Is too much at stake. The inter-
ests OF the child. his character. his life,
justice to him. the interests OF the state,
demand that he shall get some education.
Liberty, Cicero says. Is obedience 10
Just laws. Is It any Injustice to a. parent
to say. II you can educate your child, for
the sake Of the child. for your own best
interests, for the highest welfare of the
state. You must do It? 1t Is u license, not
liberty, that such individuals now have.
The children, Of such people are the very
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-02-02
COMPULSORY EDUCATION.
The Accommodation Argument.

Representative Farr at Pittsburg:
Some opponents of compulsory educa-
ton say that school accommodations are
not sufficient to make compulsory educa-
tion necessary. This is merely a pretext
for opposition-a flimsy excuse, indeed.
If 1t were true that present accommoda-
tlons were so scant as that, how long do
you think 1t would take the school au-
thorities to provide the additional accom-
modations necessary for the increased at
tendance that would follow the enactment
of this law? a vigorous public sentiment
would, If necessary, stimulate the school
directors to their duty. School directors,
as a rule, are always willing and take
pride in doing their duty. Schools are an
economy. Wipe them out, and see how
much more 1t would cost to run this state
than with them. In Philadelphia they say
there are rapidly growing districts in
which there are limited school accommo-
dations. The Philadelphia school system
is not the best In the world. 1t has weak
nesses, but that great and rich city ought
to have no difficulty in providing an abun-
dance OF school room. It's share of the
school appropriation made by the state
must be in the vicinity of Sl,00O,OO0 In
Scranton, my home, the population is in
creasing at u wonderful rate. 1t jumped
from 1900 to 1900 between 80 and 80
There has been an additional Increase Of
25, 600 since 1890. Last year our increase in
school attendance was nearly one-thr-
tleth of the entire increase in the state
Scranton Is u progressive city, and pro-
vides school accommodations for all who
want to attend. Unfortunately, there Is
a'large number Of children who should be,
but are not, in school. Here and there
throughout the state there may be crowd
ed schools, but that there Is any serious
lack for room is not true. For a number
of years past school buildings have more
than kept pace with the increasing at
tendance. the number Of scholars drop
ping from fifty-two in each room to
forty-one year before last. The large in
crease last year, due In the main to free
books, increased the number per room by
only one, making an average of forty-two
to u room. This Is conclusive evidence
that Pennsylvania has sufficient school
accommodations for many more In the
state at large than now attend.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-02-02

One Of the finest newspaper issues
that we have ever seen comes from the
New York Commercial Advertiser, and
takes the form of a sixty-page edition
illustrating the business resources of
the metropolis. The Commercial Ad-
vertiser under the editorship of Foster
Coates and the business management
of Jason Rogers has become without
exception the most enterprising after.
noon paper in the United States.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-02-02
An Age of Combines,

We doubt If it was ever contemplated
by the founders of this government
that there should one day be passed
IN American law-making assemblages
legislation applicable not to the whole
people, but only to distinct classes.
Yet today the arena of legislation Is a
battlefield of clashing class interests,
and 1t seems to be the exception rather
than the rule when law is passed
for the general good of the masses.
We do not need to go further than
Harrisburg in order to see abundant
instances in proof Of the foregoing as
sertion. What is the first thing, al
most. that one hears at the capital of
Pennsylvania? The chances are ten
to one that it will be something about
some legislative combine" by which
the general interests of the common
wealth are to be held up" in Difference
to the demands of clique or class. One
of these combines is known as the
Labor Combine" 1t exists upon the
proposition that labor is a distinct in
stitution, like hospital or school,
which must each session have a certain
amount Of Legislative pap thrown to
it or else 1t will starve. The particu-
lar kind Of pap now sought for by the
Labor Combine consists Of a grist of
bills creating new offices for labor agi-
tators and their friends and imposing
a new strain upon the constitutional
right of each citizen to paddle his own
canoe, dn his own way, within the COM
mon law. A number of members from
industrial districts, by Joining hands
and hopes, expect to be able to rush
these spasmodic and ill-digested bills
through in time for them to do cam
paign duty ait the next election and IL,
at some later time, the taxpayers shall
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-02-02

1t is gratifying to note that DR.. Park
1--WE have fought one battle and have
won," ne says" and we have got to
fight another battle; and when we have
got through with that battle, we proba-
bly, will find another battlefield looming
in sight. But that Is what life is for"
In other words, keeping everlastingly
at it brings success"
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-02-02

The second number of our new con-
temporary, the Lackawanna Legal
News, was issued yesterday, and it
shows that the court made no mistake
in confiding to John G. McAskie the
reports of it's decisions. An interesting
feature of this number of the Legal
News is the concluding portion of a
scholarly paper by James j. H. Hamil-
ton on the constitutionality of the in
come tax. 1t is an admirable summary
OF the fundamental law upon this now
uppermost revenue question.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-02-02

We reprint, elsewhere, an address on
municipal reform delivered by Rev. DR..
Parkhurst in Chicago the other day. 1t
bristles with telling points and in terse,
epigrammatic force has rarely been
equalled. The perusal of this address
would prove mentally profitable to
every reader Of this paragraph, and
is recommended as equal to the hear
ing of wholesome civic sermon.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-02-02

Mr.. Jordan, of Tunkhannock. will rep
resent the Fifteenth district in congress
just two weeks, lacking a day. But
that will doubtless be long enough to
greSS.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-02-02

The Lebanon Report has decided to
place two Mergenthaler linotype ma
chimes in its composing room, which
will give lit a superior equipment. The
Report will then not only print a good
paper but also a large one, comprising
an exceptional bargain for the appre-
ciative readers of progressive Lebanon.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-02-02

ones who ought to get an education. 1t
Will take them out of the narrow sphere
they now occupy 1t will develop their
minds, enlarge their nature. quicken their
ambition and stimulate them to higher
thoughts and acts, and they will become
useful men and women. Their duty to
their children will be clear to them. and
will be Justly done"
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-02-02

Lemuel L. Quigg has shown in sew
eral directions that he is a wide-awake
and decidedly progressive young man.
AS the editor and publisher of the re-
organized New York Press he will be
the right individual in the proper place.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-02-02

The death of Ward McAllister re-
moves from earth a man who, while
neither learned nor great, will be missed
more than he would had he been either.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-02-02
SCRANTON, FEBRUARY 2, 1895.
THE SCRANTON OF TODAY.

Come and inspect our city.
Elevation above the tide. 740 feet.
Extremely healthy
Estimated population. 1884, 100000.
Registered voters, 20.599.
Value of school property. $750,OO0.
Number of school children. 1900.
Average amount Of bank deposits. $lu''
100000.
It's the metropolis of northeastern Penn
sylvania.
Canproduce electric power cheaper than
Niagara.
No better point in the United states Ut
which to establish new industries.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-02-02

Every one to whom this issue of The
of the address Andrew Carnegie on
THE Uses of Wealth." 1t contains
thoughts worth remembering.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-02-02

next place, liable to invalidate the bal
lot of the man who, after marking
cross in the top circle, wishes after
ward to vote for one or perchance two
individual candidates of another par
tisan faith. The Sittser-Dunham con-
test, in which this point has appeared,
is good local reminder of the danger
of such carelessness--a danger which
would be entirely avoided If the voter
were required to indicate his preference
for each candidate by separate mark,
unless when choosing presidential cleo
tors, at which occasion a group mark
ing would save time.
1t has been intimated that the party
managers at Harrisburg were averse
to re-opening the ballot question during
this legislature; but the distinctness of
these developing abuses should be suf-
ficient to induce them to modify their
decision. The sentiment of the public
in this state is overwhelmingly favor
able to a secret ballot, and for that
very reason the majority party should
be willing, whenever possible, to ac-
cept improvements to the present sys-
tenn promotive Of its secrecy and of it's
fairness.
Representative Kearns of Pittsburg,
has introduced u bill at Harrisburg
which provides that the passenger on
a trolley car who Is unable to get a
seat shall be entitled to a reduction in
fare The bill will fail, of course, be-
cause the trolley interests hold the
whip hand over legislation at Harris
burg; but it is a praiseworthy effort to
solve a great problem. The spectacle
visible in our own city, every evening
about nightfall of street cars indecent
ly packed full of men, women and chill
dren, some squeezed into almost a solid
mass of struggling or exhausted hu-
manity and all because of the negli-
gence of the company in supplying
sufficient cars, is enough almost to
make one wish that the Kearns bill, or
one good deal stronger, might become
a law. An ordinance limiting the num-
Der of passengers to a car, and provid-
ing a fine for the overcrowding of this
limit, would perhaps modify this evil
or one imposing a tax on overcrowded
cars equal to the sum of the fares col
lected above "a certain maximum limit
per car. 1t Is time for the lawmakers
to do something, If the car companies
will not.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-02-02
EYES EXAMINED FREE.

Glasses fitted to remedy all defects of vision.
Iisadache and Nervousness relieved. Ar.
suitable glasses consult US about your eye
sight We will grind special glasses to fit your
eyes. making your eyesight as perfect as in
ihe skill Of the optician. Superior facilities
combined with years of experience, enables
me to guarantee to tit your eyes perfectly.
Correct Work; Honest Prices: Elegant Style;
the Most Complete Optical Establishme Mt in
the state.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-02-02
Lost Manhood Restored.
Weakness Of Young Men Cured.

II you have been given up by your phy-
sician call upon the doctor and be eXam-
ined. He cures the worst cases of Ner-
vous Debility, Scrofula. Old Sores, Ca
tarrh, Piles. Female Weakness, Affec-
tions of the Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat,
Asthma, Deafness, Tumors, Cancers and
Cripples of every description.
Consultations free and strictly sacred
and conildenia,. Office hours daily from
am. to 3 pm. Sunday, 9 to g.
Enclose five 2-cent stamps for SYMPTOM
blanks and my book called New Life"
] will pay one thousand dollars in gold
to anyone whom i cannot cure of EPI-
LEIPZIG CONCLUSIONS or FITS.
DIR. Z. GREWER,
Old Post Office Building, corner Penn
avenue and Spruce street
SCRANTON. PA.
Omaha daily bee., 1895-12-06

Republican Leaders Eviucc Little
Interest tn Contest Gases.


WASHINGTON. Dec 5.--A.though there
was talk before consress met that sou,aern
republicans might Try to bring about cor
gressionnl action on the state constitutions OF
South Carolina and Mississippi which they
claim are designed to disfranchIse their party,
there does not seem to be much likeiihoog
that any effective step in that direction will
be taken. Some OF the new members have
talked with the house veterans on ;hc suh-
lect and have become convinced thai there Ia
nothing that this congress can do aSd that
the only practical MEASURE would be 70 bring
the questions involved into tho supreme court
In the next congress-. II 1t be a republican
house, the status will be different Already
there s talk among southern republicans that
members who bring credentials from South
Carolina to the next congress may be refused
heir seats on the ground that the state has
not the republican form of government guar
ineed by the constitution.
Mr. Murray Of South Carolina who was the
only colored member Of the last congress. Is
back as a contestant for his old seat the Ger
t'ticato to which Is held by a democrat. He
claims to have been counted out and says he
has not the slightest doubt that he VIII be
seated. The republicans of the state, he says
Notwithstanding their recent rebuff In the
iupreme court, are preparing to bring the
question Of the validity Of the new constitution
before the court in form which thsy think
stake
General opinion among the house repub-
leans appears to be that this congress will
he conservative in unseating the thirty-two
N mbcrs whose seats are contested. The re-
publican majority is so large that there is
no need to strain point in unseating any. so
Il is thoasht unlikely to be done.
Speaker Reed is considering plan 10 divide
the work on contested election cases by form
ing two election committees in the house.
This plan, if adopted, would greatly facilitate
he work Of dsposing Of the contests before
the house, and would give the contestants
who may be found to be entitled to seats for
which others now hold certificates their rights
sooner than they might obtain them other
wise. There are thirty-two contests on hand
md they viii furnish much work for one
committee to grapple with. The business OF
his committee corr spends largely to that of
court, as 1t hears all the evidence in every
case and then votes upon It and reports to the
house. 1t IS said that the question Of economy
counts with Mr.. Reed in the matter for
when member is unseated the salary for the
position during the time the contest was
pending Is paid to both of the contestants, as
well az the expense of conducting the case be-
fore the committee
Omaha daily bee., 1895-12-06
As TO COAST DEFEvSES.

The Introduction in congress of n bill
to provide for n general system of coast
dcfenses was to have been expected
after the strong presentation of the I'M
portance of this matter by General
Miles and others and in view of the
feeling that possible grave international
complications in the near future make
an imperative demand for providing bet
ter protection TO our exposed seaports
than they now have. The fact that
there is a complete consensus of opinion
among military and naval authorities
as to the necessity of strengthening the
seacoast defenses ought to be conclusive
Oh the subject, but the question of eX-
pendture for this purpose is n very Sc
rious one at the present time, when
more revenue is needed to meet the
present demands upon the government
and there is urgent call for economy
in public expenditures. 1t may be said
that in case of a foreign war an attack
upon any of our large seaports would
probably result in Il far greater loss
than the estimated cost of Il general sys
ten OI ue1pllSeS, Duu. lOilS immunity
from any danger of this kind will in,
duce most people to think that we can
safely wait until there is such improve
ment in the financial condition of the
government as will warrant the neces-
sary expenditure for coast defenses. 1t
is also to be said that with adequate
defenSes we would be less likely to get
into conflict with II foreign power, but
this argument appears to be impressive
to comparatively few.
The bill introduced by Senator Squire
proposes to appropriate SS1,O00,000, the
expenditure of which shall extend over
Il period of twelve years. or ut the rate
Of little over $7,OOO,OOO year. Thus
divided it seems that such Il demand
upon the financial resources of the gov
ernment ought to be met without much
difficulty, but it will be popularity con-
sdered as n whole and therefore is
likely. under existing conditions, to en-
counter an opposition that will be fatal
to it in the present congress.
Omaha daily bee., 1895-12-06
4 NATIONAL rERIL.
The Proposed Fool OF Trunk Line
UniIronds,
Wharton Barkers American.

Wharton Rarket's American.
Considered in its political aspects the now
| combination is q very Objectionable and
pcrilous afTair. Close students OF American
history justify President Jacksons war upon
the Second United States bank on the ground
| that the consolidation Of the money power
under one control would have been exceed
ingly pcrilous to the liberties Of the people
and to the purity and freedom Of elections
1t Is notable that the next experiment we
made IN national banking was not open to
this objection. We established many inde-
pendent banks Of the same type under gov
errmcnt supervision, in place Of one great
corporation. Far more perilous to the inde-
pendcnce and liberty Of the people must be
great combination of railroads. which deal
lar more widely with the public interests
than do the banks. possess far greater cap
ital. and employ an army OF men, whose votes
they never hesitate to control when they are
able TO do So II is notorious that the
politics of New Hampshire, for Instance.
have been Influenced and controlled by one
of the companies in this new combination
II is equally notorious that judges have
been made or unmade in much larger states
than New Hampshire, with reference to
their subservlency to the interests of some
great railroad corporation. The public has
watched with anxious scrutiny the relations
OF new members Of the national supreme
bench to this class of corporations Mr.
Hayes nominated no abler lawyer to that high
place than MIR. Stanley Matthew'S yet this
selection OF great railroad lawyer was
one Of the most unpopular acts Of his un-
lucky administration. Even in so small
matter as the selection Of a college professor,
or the acceptance of a public library, the
weight and influence of a railroad corporation
have been found very effective
This influence We are now to encounter
in a shape which well may alarm all who
are concerned to uphold the substance as
well as the forms Of free government I'm our
country. II this great combination OF cor
porations can maintain itself In the face OF
the law, 1t will become the chief menace
to the liberties of the people. And 1t will
not be surprising If the resistance to 1t
takes the shape of naturalization OF our
railroad system-the shortest and easiest
way to state socialism in this country.
Omaha daily bee., 1895-12-06

fcctly clear that to take S350OO, 600 out
of this amount would inevitably result
i'm great injury to the public service. for
1t must be presumed that the several
executive departments have pared down
their estimates as much as possible CON
sistent with the requirements of the
service. 1t is certainly most necessary
that congress shall observe the most
careful economy in appropriations, but
however wisely and well it may do so
Il considerable deficit in the next fiscal
year as well us in the present one can
not be prevented unless there is legis-
lation for additional revenue