The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1895-02-22

each. They are to be appointed by the
governor and serve for four years. Tho
governor is also authorized to appoint u
chief clerk at salary of 81, 800 year and
one messenger, whose salary shall be 5000.
The other officers, except the state vetcr-
marian, are allowed clerk each at a
salary Of 81, 500. Governor Hastings is
urging the speedy passage of the bill, and
1t is likely that 1t will reach him before
the close Of the month.
The forestry bill has also passed the
house and is well advanced in the senate.
This Is one Of the most important meas
ures introduced this session and WILL If 1t
becomes law, tend to protect the forests
of the state from destruction by fire. The
bill provides for special fire wardens in
remote and thinly peopled forest districts
who are to be residents of such districts,
their compensation to be fixed by the
forestry commission and paid by the state.
The supervisors OF roads of the respective
townships, by virtue of their office, arc
district fire wardens. In case of fire they
are to go to the ground at once and hire
such help rs they may deem necessary.
Anyone desiring to burn brush or other
combustible matter in or near forest land
must first apply for permission from the
fire warden. Violators Of this provision
may be arrested and taken before magis.
trato without warrant. The bill defines
the word forest" to include scrub brush,
sprouts, briers and all woody growths apt
to feed or spread fire.
Tor the County of Quay.
The senate has passed finally a bill crc-
ating the county of Quay out of portions
of Luzerne and Schuylkill counties. In
the house the measure will not have tho
easy time that 1t did in the other body.
In the lower branch the friends of Martin
and Porter are opposing the measure and
have succeeded so far in keeping it In COM
mittee. The Coke Brothers, the large coal
operators In Pennsylvania, are opposingit
also. The bill takes in three townships Of
Schuylkill county and two in Luzerne in
Guiding the city of Hazlcton. 1t is claimed
that within the territory there is popula-
ton OF 10000, with the Democrats in u
majority.
The house committee on education las
reported the Douthett bill aimed at the
school book trust. The bill provides for
school book board, to consist of the COVER
nor, secretary of the commonwealth and
state superintendent of public instruction.
Within sixty days after the passage of the
have gathered required information and
prepared list Of text books with the pub
fishers prices attached. The board will
fix the price for each school book not to
exceed rs per cent. of the Wholesale rate
now quoted. After the list of books is
prepared the publishers will be asked for
proposals at prices not exceeding the new
ones fixed by the board to furnish the
books for five years under contract, the
school boards to pay the freight. For every
failure to fill orders the publishers will be
fined $500. The books adopted cannot be
changed for five years without three
fourths vote of the board. The board can
order the books from the publishers at
the prices stipulated by the school book
board, or II they can secure the same books
for less money they are at liberty to do so
The house has under consideration a
liquor license bill to protect the retailer
the wholesaler and bother. 1t provides
that If a bottler bottles spirituous liquors
and malt liquors both he shall pay the
same license as q retailer and wholesaler
pays, but If he bottles malt liquor only
then he pays the sane license that he now
pays. The bill provides further that no
wagon shall be used by a bother unless it
Is his absolute property. This is to pre-
vent the peddling of beer by parties who
have no license, but who put some ones
name and number on the side of their
wagon and sell for a brewer on commits
sion. The bill was introduced by Mr..
Fow by request of the Retail Liquor Deal
ers' association of Philadelphia.
The Marshall bill repeating the law
prohibiting the consolidation of competing
, pipe line companies went through the
house on final passage as II fabricated,
only flfty-six votes being recorded against
1t. The measure is before the senate cor.
porations committee and will be reported
after the recess 1t is likely to go through
that body with as much ease as character
lied its passage by the house.
Want the Winter Registry Abolished.
The country members in the house arc
urging the passage of the Wilcox bill.
abolishing the December registry of voters
and changing the time of the spring reg
istry from May to June. They contend
that one registry year answers all prac-
tical purposes, and that the winter regis
try Is expensive and useless. The city
members oppose the bill ON the ground
that in juno many persons in the cities
are at the seaShore and the mountains.
and that 1t would put them to q great in.
! convenience to return home and register
| The bill has been read the second time In
! the house.
! A bill for hospital for consumptives
! has found its way into the house. The
measure has been indorsed by the state
board of health and public charities, as
well as the leading physicians of the state
1t recites that the governor shall appoint
,hve commissioners, who shall serve with
out compensation, to select the site and
build the hospital where none but resi-
dents of the state shall be treated. The
} commissioners are to select within four
months after the date of appointment a
tract of land not less than 1000 feet above
the sea level and shall be we'll adapted
for successfully carrying out the climatic
treatment of consumption, and shall be
approved by the governor and board of
public charities. The cost Of the site and
buildings shall not exceed $3.50, 900, which
is to be appropriated to the commissioners
for this purpose
| ba hut l.