The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-04-15
THE SENATORIAL BOOMLETS
Mr.. Cameron Looking Over the Ground
ut Harrisburg.
JOHN WANAMAkER MENTIONED
Charles Emory Smiths Chances Weak.
cncd by His Views Upon the Cur.
rency Question: Spanglcr's school
Scheme Electric Bill Whirls.
Special to the Scranton Tribune.

terday from a southern town and Will
remain at his home at Lochiel until
after the close of the legislature. Sena-
tor Quay is expected here tomorrow or
the next day. Cameron Is anxious to
become better acquainted with the law
makers and has arranged for private
receptions for the delegations from the
several counties. 1t is no longer a
secret that Charles Emory Smith is
casting longing eyes on Cameron's seat
In the senate. 1t is believed that
Smith. John Wanamaker and other
anti-Cameron people have some kind
of an understanding as to which Of
them shall be the candidate of this end
of the party. Mr.. Smiths position on
the currency question, however will
probably operate against his chances,
us the free silver and bi-metallic move
ments are gaining ground so rapidly
that no advocate of u gold standard
can hope to receive large following in
Pennsylvania.
Senator Osbourn's pictorial chart
bill has been buried. 1t passed the sem
ate several weeks ago and there was a
cry went up against 1t from all over
the state. The house education COM
mittee negatived the measure. Sena-
tor Osbourn then asked for a hearing
and the bill was re-committed. He has
refused to appear before the committee
and last week notified the members
that he would allow the bill to die.
He said 1t was charged there was a
snake in the measure. but he denied
this, and rather than have such an
impression go abroad he would let the
bill fall.
The Penrose school library bill will
be reported out of committee in the
house. 1t has passed the senate. The
measure provides for the levying of the
mill tax in cities and boroughs to sup
port the institutions. The Ritter col
lege bill will be on the third reading
calendar in the house this week. Chan
cellor Holland. of the Western Penn
sylvania university, at Pittsburg, spent
last week here working for the meas.
ure. The only opposition comes from
Russell Conwell, a Philadelphian. He
says its workings would interfere with
his lay colleges there. The friends of
the bill say Mr.. Conwell has not inter-
PittcQ tile anu IL
will not be -hindrance to him. 1t is
thought the bill will pass the house
easily.
Light Bill Is WhirIiug.
The Hackenberg electric light bill Is
going through with a whirl. 1t has
passed the senate and is on the cal
endar of the house for second reading.
Under the act of 1891 no borough can
manufacture electricity for public
lighting without first condemning and
buying out any company engaged in
furnishing the town with such light. If
the council and the company cannot
agree on price, the court will appoint
seven " discreet and disinterested" per-
sons to view the property and deter
mine the value.
This law was the work of the electric
light companies association of the
state. They had the act passed first for
boroughs to see how the people and the
legislature would take it. Growing bold
by experience, the electric companies
are now working to have this borough
law extended to cities of the first, sec
ond and third classes. Hence the Hack
enberg bill in the senate.
When the bill was reached in the
house last Thursday for second reading
its sponsor did not have the nerve to
call 1t up. He guessed rightly that the
house was not in good humor after
the launching of the ST. Paul, and was
ugly enough in temper to throttle all
cooperation snakes that might be pre-
Ina1c1 oItthc
in waiting to belabor this electric light
measure as soon as the people back of
1t are prepared to take their medicine.
Senator Green. in opposing the Hacken-
berg bill, said there was some excuse
for such law with reference to water
works, but for electric light plants,
never If the principle involved In the
Weeds water works bill Is spread out
ad libitum the law makers wonder what
rights municipalities will have years to
come.
Carlisle is a quiet, old-fashioned town
with strange customs. This Is made
evident by bill being championed in
the house by Representative Spangler,
the sturdy advocate of the principle
of America for Americans. The meas
in existence almost as long as Carlisle
itself. The bill is in the hands Of the
house education committee. Both sides
have been given hearings and 1t will
probably be reported out next Tuesday
spanglcr's School Scheme.
The school board has autocratic
power under the act Spangler seeks to
wipe to the statute books. The directors
examine their own teachers. and have
sole supervision and control over the
entire school system. Not even the
county superintendent is allowed to in
terfere with the Carlisle schools. AL
most unlimited power Is given the d.
rectors in levying of taxes for school
purposes. They can levy an assess
ment annually for building purposes
which will raise a revenue of about
$1,000. The law has kept the same men
in Office as school directors almost con-
tinuously for half century. The prin-
cipal objection to the repeal of the act
is that 1t would legislate out Of office
men who have grown grey in the SER
vice. Friends of the bill claim the
schools are run by relatives and that
every teacher and director are related.
The opposition deny this and assert the
people who are voting for the repeal Of
1.-THE act are newcomers in the borough.
The advocates of the bill have filed
petitions with the education committee
signed by the leading and most pro-
gressive citizens of Carlisle. They de.
clare the memorials presented by the
other side were signed to different
heading than the one prsentd to the
committee. It cannot be denied that
the educational system Of Carlisle Is not