The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-04-22

Harrisburg, April 21.-In the SEN
te this morning there was quite dis
Nssion over the consideration of the
bill on third reading providing for
more just and equitable method Of
distributing the state appropriation to
public schools The bill provides for
the dividing of all the school money
into three-thirds. Two-thirds of the
sum is to be distributed according to
the number Of teachers employed and
the number of school months. The re-
naming third Is to be divided on the
basis of population.
Mr.. Osbourne declared that the
measure was not at all fair to Phila-
delphia and Pittsburg. II am in fa-
vor Of this bill" declared Mr.. Finn,
"although / know that Pittsburg will
not get as much as she Is now recciv-
ing, but she will get all to which she
is entitled. Under the present law
Philadelphia gets $7.95 per pupil Ale
gheny, $50, while a county like Beav
er gets but $S1O. This is not at all
fair"
Mr.. Critchneld said that every coun-
try member was interested in the pas
sage of the bill, and he asked the
senators representing the rural dis
tricts to vote in the affirmative.
Another attack was made on the bill
by Mr.. Osbourne. He said the bill
would take many dollars away from
Philadelphia. Mr.. Goblin spoke for the
measure, and a vote being taken on
final passage the bill went through by
a vote Of SO to 8. The countrymen
lined up almost solldly for the bill.
A deal of time was spent in the sen
ate in the consideration of bills on
third reading.
The resolution providing for an in
Vestlgation of the state penitentiaries
was referred to the committee on ju-
dietary special, with instructions to
report tomorrow morning.
GOVERNORS VETO.
The governor informed the senate
that he had vetoed the concurrent
resolution requesting the state treas
urer to pay witnesses who testify in
the investigation of the condition of
the miners in the coal regions.
When the bill defining libel and its
punishment came up for final passage,
Mr.. Thomas moved to amend by max
ing section 3 read In any civil action
for libel (when the publication is print
ed for public information) the Plea of
justification shall be accepted as ade-
quate." The clause in the parenthesis,
which was Mr.. Thomas amendment,
was agreed to and the bill was laid
over to be printed.
Mr.. Thomas, the author of the bill
providing for the removal of the state
capitol to Philadelphia, moved that the
measure be indefinitely postponed.
This was agreed to.
HOUSE PROCEEDINGS.
Bills on third reading and final pass
age was the order today in the house,
The political assessment bill was
reached at the opening of the morning
session. Mr.. Woodruff, Of Philadelphia
promptly moved to postpone considera-
ton for the present. He explained
that the Goblin bill, dealing with the
same subject, has passed the senate
and differed with his bill principally
in that it extends to employees of coun-
ties.
There was much objection to post
poning action but Mr.. Woodruff's mo-
ton carried by viva voce vote.
The Focht bridge bill passed finally
on special order with only one dissent
ing vote.
The state fish commission bill passed
finally as did also a bill amending the
act of May IA, 1889, to extend the period
of the limitation of liens for taxes en-.
tered of record to three years. Mr.
Baldwin, of Delaware, made lone
speech in support of his insurance bill
Mr.. Clarency, of Philadelphia, spoke
against the measure after which it was
defeated by 76 to &c.
The bill relating to holidays wa,
amended in committee Of the whole t.
conform with a bill of like purpos,
passed by the senate. Mr.. Hopwood