Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1897-05-31
Harrisburg, Pa, May 2s. 1897.

Harrisburg, Pa, May 2S, 1897.
A deficit of nearly two millions by
November 80 is the prospect of the con
dition of the state treasury. Some
means will have to be provided for the
prompt relief of the treasury, or the
legislature will not get away from here
all summer. Money must be provided
for in some shape or form, as the appro-
priation bills will be held in committee
until the money to pay them is provided
for. The worst part of the affair is that
every plan that is suggested meets with
opposition from some quarter, but some
thing must be done to raise more money.
The situation is indeed imperative and
the leaders are at a loss to know what
to do. AS last recourse it is believed
the legislature will be forced to place
an additional mill on the personal prop
crty tax for the state only. 1t is claim
ed this is the simplest method and the
one from which returns can be most
quickly derived. This condition of the
treasury was brought before the legisla-
little attention was paid to it; it was
allowed to drag along, until now, near
the end Of the term, climax is reached
There doesn't seem to be any idea of
cutting down expenses to meet the in
creased demands. The majority of the
members do not want to return to their
constituents with record for increased
taxes, at this time, and here is the rub
Last week bill of nearly sixty thous-
and dollars was presented to the legis-
lature to pay for the ''LeXow" investi-
tion into the Philadelphia management
This investigation was created for poll
cal purposes, has amounted to nothing,
and to ask the state to pay this bill at
this time is one of the greatest injustces
yet propounded by willy politicians. The
chances are that the bill will pass. and
if there is much more such legislation
presented and passed by this legislature
the state will soon be in a fit condition
for great political upheayal. Why,
look at those celebrated reform measures
that were thrust upon the Republican
state convention in 1895. Not one of
them will ever pass this legislature in
their original shape. They were started
on this course through the house, when
during second reading all were so badly
mutilated that had they been allowed
to proceed they would all have been de-
feated-and all this by the very persons
who created them.
The governor has vetoed the following
bills: Enlarging the competency of the
wife to testify against her husbands;
authorizing the publication of 10000
copies Of the report of the Indian forts
commission; authorizing the controller
of the city of Philadelphia to appoint
his chief clerk as deputy controllers; in
creasing the salary of the members of
the board of revision of taxes in Phila-
delphia from 81, ,000 to SG, 900 year. and
authorizing the organization of societies
to loan money to the poor at the rate of
one per cent aomonth
Governor Hastings has signed the act
to punish breaking into school houses or
school properties; the act prescribed q
penalty of 500 fine or six months in Jail
The act to regulate bone boiling and
fertilizer establishments was also signed,
with that validating bonds in certain
cases; also a bill providing for house
of detention for juveniles in Phila-
delphia.
Several weeks ago ! spoke about a
y-thousanddollar insurance scandal
Ever since the committee was appointed
to investigate, there has been an air of
mystery about the doings of certain
members of the senate. There seems to
be noticeable anxiety on the part of a
number of members to get out of Harris
burg until this stencil disappears.
These bills have passed finally and 90
to the governor for his signature A
bill providing that no employees of bake
shops shall be compelled to work more
than six days a week; that the plumbing
of bake shops must be in accordance
with the rules and regulations govern
ing house drainage and plumbing; that
rooms used for baking purposes must be
thoroughly ventilated: that no cellar or
basement shall be used aud that sleep
ing rooms mnsG be kept separate from
rooms where materials are stored for
use; no person having consumption or
contagious diseases shall be employed in
such establishments. The factory in
spector is charged with the enforcement
of the act
The Weller bill to protect employees
of corporations in their right to form.
join and belong to labor organizations
also goes TO the governor.
The Central Railroad of New JERSEY
reports gross earnings for the four
months ending April 30 to be SO, ,524, 1873,
a decrease of S1ss, s35 as compared with
the corresponding period of last year,
and net earnings for the same period
81 ,039, ,919, a,decrease OF $56,015
A new bill has been presented in the
bousp appropriating one million dollars