The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1897-05-06

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threw out a hint that the bill would
fall under the veto AK II It ever reached
him. This settled its fate.
The Spatz bill to discontinue the pub
lication of The Legislative Record has
passed second reading, and seems to
have a chance Of getting through. For
years The Record has been standing
joke in the legislature. Properly pub
lshed 1t would be a useful public doc
ument, but as the proceeding are never
placed upon the desks of the Legislators
until they are stale The Record might
just as we'll be published at the close
of the session, or not at all.
Mr.. Woodruff, of Philadelphia, has
introduced a bill allowing judges of
the United States circuit court to COM
NIT juvenile criminals to reformatories.
1t is understood to have the sanction
of Attorney General McKenna and
Judge Butler of the United States
district court at Philadelphia. There is
considerable prison legislation on the
calendars of both houses, and an effort
will be made to pass certain bills which
have for their purpose the relieving
of the overcrowded penal institutions
OF the state through system of parole.
Some important changes to the phar-
macy law are proposed in bills which
are now pending in the house. The
most important change IL the elimi-
nation of a proviso authorizing physi-
clans registered under the act Of 1881
to carry on the drug business and prac-
tice pharmacy, though they may COM
pound and sell their own prescriptions
and patent medicines.
The governor has approved the Farr
bill to protect the American flag from
insult and degradation. This bill had
the support of all the patriotic societies
of the state. 1t provides that any per-
son who shall wilfully and maliciously
damage or destroy any flag of flag
staff on any private or public build
ing. or use the flag for advertising
any business or trade, shall be guilty
Of a felony and upon conviction shall
pay fine not exceeding $500 or suffer
Imprisonment not exceeding six
months, or both.
Prison For Female Convicts.
One Of the prison reform bills, pre-
pared by Francis j. Terrence, of Allie
gheny, a member of the state board of
charities. provides that female con-
victs from all the counties in the state.
sentenced to endure punishment by i'm
prsonment in the penitentiary, shall
hereafter be imprisoned in the West
ern penitentiary.
Owing to the illness Of Speaker Boy
er, who has been threatened with pneu-
monia, at his home in Philadelphia,
the committee to investigate the $780,
900 insurance scandal has not yet been
appointed. 1t is suspected that this in
vestigation will be allowed to fade
from memory, but the charges are so
specific that 1t Is difficult to see how
they can be ignored. The main charge
is that $4,000 was demanded by q
coterie of persons to clear from the
calendars of the legislature bills OBJ
1ectionable to big insurance companies.
Governor Hastings has reappointed
Insurance Commissioner Lambert and
the senate has confirmed that popular
official for three years more, dating
from May l. When Colonel Lambert
was appointed in 1895 he was commits
stoned for the unexpired term of
George B. Luper, so that he will have
served at the end of his new commits
sion over five years.
This week the program prepared by
Professor Warren Powers Laird. the
architectural adviser Of the capitol
building commission, will be In the
hands Of all arcitects who desire to en-
ter the open competition for plans for
the new capitol. This competition will
be conducted with the greatest care,
so that there shall be no favoritism
when the award of the prize Is made.
Six in ich
invited to enter the competition, in or
der that the very best talent in the
country shall be represented. These
six architects will be paid from $500 to
$1,000 each for expenses.
Senator Grady, member of the sem
ate committee which has been investi-
eating the municipal affairs Of Phila-
delphia, has declined to sign the report
of the committee. This report has been
revised and revised again, and is still
| unsatisfactory to one or two of the
members. Senator Grady says the re-
port is too voluminous.
Mr.. Hosack's charges Of bribery
| against oleomargarine dealers in Pitts
burg have not been sustained by the
investigation. and the report will prob
| ably exonerate Frank M. Moore. the
special agent at Pittsburg of the dairy
and food commissioner
Opposition to Trolley Extension,
No session of the house was held on
Friday, and the reason given was that
owing to the number of special com
mittees travelling through the state
there might not be quorum. 1t leaked
out that the real reason was a scheme
to prevent the introduction of a reso-
luton to give the Young bill to enable
trolley companies to branch out into
the country special order. The courts
| having decided that the objection of a
single owner of abutting property could
stop trolley company from laying its
tracks on rural highway, this bill
is intended to enable the companies
to go ahend and let those opposed an.
| peal to the courts for appointment OF
viewers to fix damages.
Up to this week the number of bills
introduced in the house was 97S: house
bills reported from house committees
542 senate bills reported from house
committees, III; total bills reported In
the house, $50; house bills passed and
sent to the senate for concurrence, l21;