The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1895-03-29
Especial Correspondenoe.)


Especial Correspondenoe)
HARRISBURG, March 25.-Thcre IL a
growing sentiment In the state In favor of
the new revenue bill. The hearings before
the house ways and means committee the
past three weeks have given the people a
better understanding OF tho measure and
It looks now rs IL IL might become q law
with few minor amendments. It's friends
claim 1t will increase the state revenues
and ut the same time make more equit-
able distribution of taxation. The most
Objectionable features of the bill are the
provisions levying mill tax on the cap
ital stock Of building and loan associa-
tions and four mill tax on the capital
stock of manufacturing corporations The
manufacturers are kicking on the bill,
while the bankers and railroad people are
quietly urging its passage.
The lack of funds 10 make all the APP
preparations desired by the legislature
continues to be an interesting topic among
the members, but those from Philadel-
phia insist that the money for the Della
ware river improvement must be found
somewhere, even II IL has to be taken
from the item set aside for schools. 1t Is
argued that reduction of $500, 900 in the
total school appropriation would be felt
but slightly in the individual districts,
whereas expending that sum on the
states highway to the sea would so stimu-
late our commerce and general business
that in few years there would be enough
revenue to largely increase the appropria-
tions to schools. 1t is also argued that
some of the country districts depend al
most entirely upon the state appropriation,
and it would do them good to have to
hustle about and raise u little larger fund
of their own.
Taxation Bill Aimed at Corporations.
A taxation bill aimed at corporations
has been put in the senate by Senator
Walton. 1t taxes corporations, including
money at interest, stocks, bonds, etc. for
all local purposes, except public schools.
Under existing laws corporations pay four
mills to the state and are exempt from To-
cal taxation. Their stock will be assessed
like real estate, and the millage OF the dis
trict will apply. Senator Walton says the
burden of taxation on real estate is be-
coming so onerous that unless something
is done it will not pay farmers to hold
farms and the working classes to own
their own homes. He believes the corpo-
rations should assist in maintaining the
municipal governments.
Inc NlCkell amenunenu TO Une COnStltu-
tion reducing the number of elections one
half, without throwing local and state
elections on the same day, has gone through
the house on second reading and will be
considered during the present week on
third reading. Mr.. Nickells amendment
proposes that members of the Legislature
and congress, judges of the courts Of record
and all officers and representatives to be
chosen by the state at large shall be chosen
on the Tuesday following the first Mon
day of November In the even numbered
years, while oil county, city, ward, bor-
ough and township officers shall be chosen
on the same day in odd numbered years.
The craze for the erection Of new coun-
ties is on the increase. Bills for the erec-
tion of the counties of Quay, Mononghela
and Grow are pending in the house, and
Representative Fow has come to the front
with bill from the people Of Wayne
county to create a county out Of parts of
Wayne, Wyoming and Lackawana coun-
ties, with Carbondale as the county seat.
Three names have been suggested for the
proposed county-Meredith, for the sec
retary of the treasury in 1S49, who is
buried in the lower end OF Wayne county;
Morris, after Robert Morris, the revolu-
tionary financier, and Anthracite, after
its chief product. Grow county Is Demo
cratic scheme TO block the Republican
plan of erecting Quay county. The chances
are that some of the proposed counties
will be created.
The Judicial Apportionment Bill.
The judicial apportionment bill will be
considered on third reading in the house
tomorrow 1t went through on second
reading last Thursday after a bitter fight
D hxy hn han,nnratG "a
gives the state six additional judges and
makes a number of material changes in
the present districts. Huntington and
Mif1lin are made a district, and Centre,
which is now attached to Huntington, is
made a separate district. Schuylkill
county is given "a separate orphans court
Judge, Delaware and Lancaster each gets
an additional law judge, as does Washing
ton and Westmoreland. The Clinton
Cameron Elk district, now Democratic,
has been dismembered so as to give the
Republicans another judge. Cameron has
been tackled on to Potter and Mexican,
Elk to Forest, and Warren and Clinton to
Clearfeld
The bill provides that II the president
Judge and additional law judge of dis
trict cannot agree on question OF law
the opinion of the president judge shall be
the decree OF the court, from Whch Dill
of exceptions can be sealed and taken to
the supreme court. In case where mo-
tion for a new trial is made the opinion Of
the trial judge shall be deemed the decree
of the court Where the judges are sitting
in different courts it shall be competent
for the trial judge to reserve question OF
law and have it argued before them both
when on the bench.
Charles Heber Clark, secretary Of the
Manufacturers club, of Philadelphia, will
deliver an address in the hall of the house
of representatives tomorrow evening, by
request of the legislature, on free silver
Charles Emory Smith, editor of the Phila-
delphia Press, will reply to Mr. Clark on
Thursday evening with speech n"Sound
Money"
The patriotic societies are protesting
against the change to be made by the SEN
ate education committee in the provisions
of the religious garb bill. The measure
as it passed the house puts the responsi-