The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1895-05-23
for approving The bin. "Tte general

al act somewhat similar to the pres.
ent measure, each of which met with
executive disapproval There ap.
pears to be throughout the common
wealth general desire for such n
law. / have not received a single
protest from any citizen against
this bill so far as i recall. The un.
animity with which it was passed by
the legislature as well as the large
number of requests made upon me
to sign it, clearly indicate the gen
eral desire on the part of the people
Tor u compulsory educational law.
Under these conditions i am con
vinced that / should not obtrude
any individual judgment which /
may have on this question of public
policy. This measure provides for
compulsory education in perhaps
the least Objectionable form to those
who. oppose it on principle and of
fends as little against the personal
rights of the citizens as possible.
!, therefore, approve the bill, but if
by experience the expectations of
the people are not realized future
legislation doubtless will meet their
demands
The bill as signed by the Cover
nor, provides that every child be-
tween the ages of and l3 years
shall attend Mt least 16 weeks in
each year a school in which the com.
mon English branches are taught,
unless excused by the board of
school directors on account of men.
tai, physical, or other urgentreason
The act exempts children living
more than two miles by the nearest
road from any public school as it al
50 does those who are being other
wise instructed in the common
English branches for like period
of time in any other school or edu.
cational institution. For violations
of the act parents, guardians, or
persons in control Of such children
not so attending are liable to n fine
of 81 for the first and 50 for each
subsequent offense. Notice must
be given, however, to parents, or
guardians before suit is brought,
and provision is made for appeal to
the courts. School boards may also
appoint truant officers at not over
81 per day whose duty it is to ap.
prehend truants and others who fail
to attend school.
The assessors shall each spring
make list of all children between
the ages of 8 and l3 years and return
it to the county commissioners, who
shall certify it to the secretary of
the proper school boards. Each
principal or teacher shall be furnish
ed with list of the children subject
to the provisions of the act which
teacher shall report to the board mt
the close of each school month the
names of all children absent with.
out satisfactory cause. Proceedings
shall be brought against parents,
GUARDIANS or persons in charge of
such children who have failed to
comply with the requirements of
the law. The secretary of school
board who failed to comply with the
law is punishable by fine of S25.
The Bill a5olishing the December
Registry signed
The Governor affixed his sigma
ture to the bill which proposes to do
away with the December registry.
This requirement under the Baker
ballot law is useless expense and n
feature which can be dispensed with
without in any way affecting the ef-
ficiency of the system. The Decem-
Der registry costs the county be-
tween $500 aud $500 which can now
be appropriated to other purposes.
The Judges Pension Blu.
The judges retirement bill is rest
ing peacefully in the dark recesses
of the Senate Committee Room and
it will not see the light of day at
least during this term. Senator
Quay it is said, has put his stamp
of disapproval upon the measure be-
lieving it to be bad policy to pass
such measure at this time. The
leaders ought to consider carefully
before they impose such a RESPONSE
bility upon the Republican party.
1t looks as though The good sense
of the great body of citizens is not
to be outraged by the enactment of
a law that is wholly incompatible
with the principles underlying our
free institutions. No arrangements
have been made for the funeral.
ApportiOnment Bills passed sec
ond Reading.
The constitution makes it imper-
ative for the legislative branch of
the government to apportion the |