The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1895-02-15

OF tne act IN regtru 70 voting upon Qutr
tions Of municipal Indebtedness the titlc
will be amended 50 as to cover this defect.
The senator will also endeavor TO amend
the twenty sixth section by requiring every
voter who declares that he has a disability
and requires assistance to make his state
ment under oath upon printed form, rs
now required by residence and on age.
He cheerfully courts criticism Of the law,
and is open to any suggestions that may
be made that would increase its efficiency.
The charitable and penal institutions
Of Pennsylvania will suffer considerably
by the large decrease in the state revenues
Auditor General Gregg and State Treas.
urer Jackson estimate that the receipts Of
the next two years, on account Of the hard
times, will not aggregate more than sip,-
10000 which is &. 900 900 less than that
Of the previous two years. The general
appropriation bill, which includes eleven
millions for the public schools, the ex.
penses OF the executive, departmental and
legislative branches Of the state govern.
ment the state judiciary and the salaries
of the county superintendents OF schools,
will foot up in round numbers about sl6-
0CO.0OO This leaves only 50 OOO, 900 for the
national guard, penitentiaries, house Of
refuge, Huntington reformatory, state
normal schools, state boards Of health and
agriculture and all other state instltu-
tions, OF which there are over l25 sus-
tained wholly or in part by the state.
The state board Of charities estimates that
it will cost million dollars the next two
years for the care and treatment Of the
INDECENT insane.
Heavy Appropriations Asked For.
ka tot al -.I., l. l.
o0O. The National Guard will require
s7Oo000, the soldiers orphans schools
1850, 900 for maintenance. tho soldiers and
sailors home at Eric s3r'rO A bill has
been passed appropriating sj9.L0O to COM
plete the buildings and put in condition
the grounds at the industrial school, at
Scotland Franklin county, and will ask
for an additi nal appropriation OF sl75,OoO
to build sixteen double cottages to ac-
commodate 1000 children. II the appro-
pration is granted the commissioner will
transfer the pupils to Scotland from the
schools at Chester Springs, Uniontown
and Hartford, and close these institutions.
II a compulsory education bill becomes
law the school Appropriation will have to
be increased to sl2,OO0,OO0.
The legislature has established the Gus
tom Of giving TO the retiring governor,
lieutenant governor, secretary Of internal
affairs and other state officials the desks
and chairs used by them during their Off
cial term. Some Of these desks are valued
at 500.
Representative French, Of Washington,
has introduced a bill requiring public
school teachers TO open their schools by
reading the scriptures from five to fifteen
minutes every morning. He says every
body is responsible for this measure but
himself, although the patriotic societies
are urging its passage. II did it on the
broad principles OF Christianity" said
Mr.. French. II believe that il is right.
There is too much Of tendency to disre-
gard the scriptures in school life. / do
not prescribe what the teachers shall read.
They can select a passage in the New Tcs-
lament TO satisfy the Christians or a chap
ter from the Old Testament TO satisfy the
Jew. They can read from the st. James
version so that Protestants may not be
offended or from the Donay version so that
the scruples of our Catholic friends may
be respected.
Speaker Walton has found 1t necessary
almost daily to call upon Sergeant-at-
Arms ShOener to preserve order among the
visitors and lobbyists, who crowd in the
hall Of the house and gossip and talk, to
the annoyance OF the members and the
speaker The rules committee will take
this matter up at the next meeting, and it
is likely that a rule will be adopted that
no outsider should be permitted on the
floor of the house unless introduced by a
member who will vouch for his conduct
As il is, all the doors are open and any
body can enter without question.
To Improve the House Acoustics.
The board Of public buildings and
grounds has ordered draperies from
Trimby, Hunt s. Co, of Philadelphia, for
the windows OF the hall OF the house. 1t
is believed the draperies, with the wires
strung overhead in different parts Of the
room, will improve its acoustic properties.
Representative Fow, Of Philadelphia,
believes the state should own and operate
its own electric light and heating plant,
and has offered a resolution for a commit
tee 10 investigate the subject. The exist
ing contract for light, which Is furnished
by local concern, amounted TO sl2 000,-
600, while the contract for this year Is
100000 For heating, under the old
contract, the cost was 5000; now it is
$3.50.
The house has passed the bill introduced
by Mr.. Fow polishing the kissing Of the
Bible by witnesses, and substituting in
stead the laying of the hand on the open
book. The debate on this question recalls
an interesting incident about certain leg
islators. II was never more surprised in
my life, said a newspaper correspondent
yesterday, when went to take a drink
with Representative B. in his room. As
you know, he likes good drink, funny
story and aquiet game Of poker or fan tan.
Imagine my astonishment when he took
the bottle from the wardroba and sat it
down on the dressing case beside q well
thumbed Bible. learned since that he
has made it practice to read chapter in
the Bible every night for years"
Manufacturers all over the state are kick
ing on the new revenue bill drafted by the
state tax conference. They declare IL will
drive them out OF business II it becomes a
law or force them TO remove TO other states
where the corporations are not taxed as
heavily as In Pennsylvania The Manu-
faeturers' club, of Philadelphia, has filed
a. l.