The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-04-22
FATE OF The Smith BILL
The Religious Garb Measure Has
Hard Lines Ahead.
HESITATION IN THE SENATE
Members Fear the Result Of Passage Oi
Defcat-Thc Ex-Governor Cannot
Find q Good Berth Gordon
impeachment Case.
Special to the Scranton Tribune.

Special to the Scranton Tribune.
Harrisburg, April 21.-Little effort
has been made to bring the Smith re-
ligious garb bill out of the senate edu-
cation committee. The senators do not
know how to handle this two-edged
sword. They are sure to make enemies
If they pass it and If it is smothered up
or defeated they will call down upon
them the wrath of the patriotic So
ceties.
This bill passed the house finally over
a month ago, and since then has been
in the senate education committee. The
impression was given out at first that
the measure was to be pushed through
with possibly some amendments. Rep
resentatives of patriotic orders were
given a hearing and they We're satis-
fled to accept the amendments. The
principal one was suggested by Sena-
tor Finn. of Allegheny. 1t placed the
penalty for violation of the proposed
act upon the boards employing teach
ers wearing religious garbs in the
schools, instead of upon the teachers.
After this charge was agreed to 1T was
thought the bill was to be put on the
senate calendar and acted upon at
once. Since that time the measure has
been asleep in committee. and it is be-
ginning to look as though it would
never be awakened. Senator Becker,
secretary of the committee, is making
strong fight against it. He claims the
people of his district, which is a por-
tion OF the Third congressional district,
Philadelphia, do not want the bill to
become a law.
The state legislative committee of the
Junior Order of the United American
Mechanics is making an earnest effort
to get the bill out of committee. Last
week memorials signed by S4,293 voters.
representing forty-eight of the fifty
senatorial districts of the state. were
presented to the senate by the commit
tee in favor of the bill The memorial
from the Second disti It, which is repre-
scented by Senator Becker, contains
1868 signatures. The only districts
from which no petitions for the bill
have >en received are the Twenty
third and Twenty-fifth. The committee
claims memorials signed by half mil
lion voters can be got If necessary to
secure the passage of the bill. Secre-
tary Buser and other members deny
that the people of Becker's district are
against the measure, and threaten to
make it very interesting for the senator
If he does not cease his opposition to
the pet scheme.
CarrolltOwn Case.
A member of the Junior Order OF
American Mechanics of Hastings, has
written to the state -ouncil the follow
ing letter:
L. A,,Ia ic f,r1I
fighting the foes of our free institutions
and have a law now on the statutes, or
expect to have in a short time, to pro-
hibit the wearing of religious garb while
teaching in the public schools, would
like to call your attention to another
evil In my estimation is of greater mag
nitude. 1 would cite to you Carroll
town, borough of about 900 inhabi-
! tants, four miles from Hastings, where
the teachers not only wear religious
garb, but schools are parOchial under
the Immediate supervision of priests
and are annually getting the state APP
prOpriation, on grounds of free pub
lie school. They also levy and collect
annual tax for the school.
The catechism is daily taught as the
principal branch and it is said the
county superintendent knows of this.
but simply winks at it. This is but
a sample of Cambria county schools.
There are plenty more of the sort, and
/ will name a few of them, as follows
Loretta, ST. Augustine, Chess Springs,
Nicktown, st. Boniface, ST. Lawrence,
and a host of others.
Considering such condition of affairs
as this. is 1t not time the people were
aroused and something was done to
remedy the evil. You may ask why we
do not do something. / will answer by
saying that there are no Junior
H.. IN ~ f.rfra a aasl
and If we were we are so terribly in the
minority we would not dare say a word
On certain days, holidays, the whole
school at Carrolltown is marched into
the church to be catechised by the
priest There is a cross on the top of
the schoolhouse.
The Mechanics are now considering
the opening up of a war on this town,
but 1t will be a long and bitter fight.
There are few but Catholics in this
mountain town and the farmers In the
country roundabout are devout follow
ers OF the pope.
Quay and oliver in Town.
Dick Quay and II. w. Oliver, OF
Pittsburg. We're Harrisburg callers las:
week. They were not here for pleas
ure, but the secret of their mission has
not come out yet. The Beaver poll
tfcan and the Pittsburg manufacturer
who also likes to dabble in political
streams, arrived here Monday an6
were at the country residence of Sena'
tor Cameron for two days. Since ther
the people about town have been try
ing to figure out the purpose of the
visit. Some think 1t has political sig
nificance. while others are of the opin
ion the callers were talking over bust
ness matters. The balance of the peo
ple are waiting for "time to tell"
The months are rapidly slipping
away since Robert f. Pattison stepped
out of the gubernatorial chair to Civ
place to General Hastings and still III
is without a job. The fat positions n
was to have did not come his way. Th
only thing he has done since his re
tirement was Ito run for mayor o
Philadelphia and be defeated. Thi
did not help his standing and 1t ha
been harder than ever for him to get |
position to his liking. He would hav
liked to have gone back as presiden
Of the Chestnut Street National bank
William NJ. Singerly has that position
now and does not care to give 1t up
Some of the large corporations that i
has been said were going to employ MI
Pattison as their attorney, have givel
the places to other men. The ex-gov
ernor has a beautiful home at Over
brook, the aristocratic suburb of Phila
delphia and Just now has plenty O
time to spend with his family.
A hearing will be held next Tuesda.