Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1897-04-12

| What 1t Will Cost or Where the Money
Is to Come From.
! Harrisburg, Pa, April Q, 1897.
The senate not having been in session
and the house cOnvening Monday even
ing and adjourning on Wednesday after
noon until Monday, not much time was
devoted to law making this week. But
| that seems to be characteristic of this
Legislature, not the amount of work
| done but the amount not done In say
ing this | do not mean to be quoted as
including all the members and senator's
There are some, but not working
majority, who are just as diigent in the
performance of their legislative duties
as they are in their own private busi-
ness. They have told me that they
were opposed to this wanton waste of
public time, but the majority rules and
they are forced TO obey the will of the
majority, although to whatever detri-
ment they may appear to their constit-
uents. | could name these men and
they come from good many of the
counties in which my letters are read
Every member that | have spoken to
agrees that it will be absolutely neceS-
sary that the new capitol building be
completed in time to hold the next ses-
sion of the Legislature, yet more than
two months of valuable time has elapsed,
not stone has been moved and the
legislature has not even agreed yet upon
who is to manage the building, how
much it is to cost. or where the money is
to come from. The latest move in this
direction was the report of the buildings
and grounds committee of the house,
last week;accompanying this was the gov
ernOr's special message recommending
the erection of a building not to exceed
$550,000, These are the basis of action
upon which the legislature may act.
The money to meet this expense, the
report says, should come from slight
increase in the corporation tax, the
enactment Of law Of a succession tax
on inheritances OF every kind, above a
moderate figure, and tax on beer.
This it is thought will raise the amount
required for building the new state
house within the next two years.
just before the adjournment Of the
house, last week, motion was sprung
to reconsider the libel bill, drafted 10y
the Pennsylvania State Editorial Asso-
citation, which was killed last week on
second reading The motion carried
The house, it appears, is against this
measure and there is no likelihood of
its passage unless it is radically changed
to suit the views of some Of the members
who have no time for the newspapers
only during campaigns.
There seems to be no end of the ap-
pearance of new bills. At almost every
session they appear by the dozen, until
now there must be about one thousand
bills presented this term. bill which
practically aboliShes capital punishment
has been presented. The measure per-
mits jury when they return II verdict
OF guilty Of first degree murder to qualify
the decision by adding without capital
punishment" and providing Il life sem
tence at hard labor when so returned.
This is one of the important measures
and will be watched with interest.
Governor Hastings has signed the fol-
lowing bills: Providing for the erection
and regulation of municipal liens and
the proceeding for the collection thereof
in bOroughS; fixing the standard weight
of IA bushel of oats at thirty-two pounds;
supplement to the act of June /, 1895. to
authorize school districts to aid free
public libraries otherwise establishes:
authorizing the purchase by the state of
unSeated lands for the non-payment of
taxes for the creation of u state forest
reservation; making constabes of town
ships eX-ofticio fire wardens for the eX-
tnction of forest fires and for reporting
to the court of quarter sessions viola
tions of the laws for the protection of
forests from fire. to provide for the pay
and mileage of coroners for viewing
dead body whore no inquest is held.
The bill directing county commits
sioners to take, maintain and assume
control of township bridges oyer thirty
feet long and providing for the rebuild
ing of any bridges which may be des-
troyed and the building of new bridges
was defeated.
The bill to create a state bureau OF
geology and mines was defeated by
vote of 76 to ~ the bill fixing the mini
mum school term at seven months, which
was defeated last week, WAS reconsider
ed and then laid aside. Nissley.
Anthracite League Organized.