The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1897-02-11
HARRISBURG LETTER
Probability of a Record Breaking
Legislative Session.
SOME IMPORTANT NEW MEASURES.
One OF These Proposes to Permit Grape
Growers to Manufacture and Sell Wine.
Insane Asylum,
Especial Correspopdencel

to state business. A vigorous and virile
pretense Of carrying on legislation as
though there had been no break, was
made by both branches. Bills were
read in place and reported out of COM
mittee, but there were no committee
meetings, no pretensions to continuous
and successful effort. The fire, the fu-
ture, the multitudinous uncertainties
connected with the remarkable contin-
/ gency of the week alone absorbed at
/ tentton.
The legislators came together again
this evening at Grace Methodist church,
but will adjourn on Thursday until the
Monday following the spring elections.
During the recess the proposed changes
in the church, the solons' temporary
home, will be completed, and both bod
les Will continue their sessions without
further Interruptions. Neither house
will do much, however, until after the
Inauguration of President -elect McKin-
ley. The work of the committees has
been retarded by the loss of many bills
in the burning of the capitol building,
1t Is already foregone conclusion
that the present session will establish
record for length, although it is
limited that Senator Quay Is desirous
or shortening up It's laborers as quick
ly as possible. But the delays incident
to the catastrophe are of such a char
acter that the session cannot help but
be protracted beyond the ordinary
length, unless important legislation is
neglected and the screws of dominant
power be put on with their greatest
tension.
Talk of an Excise Commission
The liquor men of the state need to
keep their eyes open for legislation
that will seriously affect them. Indis-
putable authority says some radical
measures in this line are to be intro
duced. There is strong talk in certain
circles that an excise commission for
the state would be an improvement
upon the present method of issuing Ii
censes by the courts. That there may
be no uncertainty as to how the ju-
dietary views the subject, 1t Is broadly
intimated that letters from a number
of the occupants Of the bench in the
state will be presented, favoring this
change in the established law when 1t
is brought forth.
The power Of an excise commission
in the hands Of a dominant faction in
Pennsylvania politics would be
greater lever than has ever been exer-
cised, even in the control and manipu-
lation of the state treasury In the
hands of designing and INSCRIPTIONS
men 1t would be made a sword of
Damocles to hang ever over the head
of every wholesale and retail liquor
dealer in the state, as well as the great
brewers and bottlers of the common.
wealth.
The laborers and skilled workmen Of
the state received their due share of at
tention the past week, despite the ex-
citement Of the times. Representative
Muehlbronner, of Allegheny, who rep
resents the district in which the West
ern penitentiary is located, is the au-
thor of a bill which proposes to cur
tail prison industry in favor of honest
outside labor. His bill, which has for
its object a limitation of the number
of inmates of prisons, penitentiaries,
state reformatories, and other penal
institutions, who shall be employed in
the manufacture of goods therein and
prohibiting the use Of machinery in
the manufacture of said goods, has
provided that not more than per cent.
of the whole number OF inmates in any
prison or penitentiary shall be en-
ployed in the manufacture Of any one
kind Of goods that are manufactured
elsewhere in theastate. The bill also
prohibits the use Nf any machines, ex-
cept those operated by hand or foot
power, in the manufacture of these
goods. A violation of the act is deemed
a misdemeanor, punishable with a fine
not exceeding $1,000 or an imprison-
ment not exceeding one year.
Citizens Only on Public Works.
John r. Farr, of Lackawanna, who
is regarded as the father of educa-
tional and labor legislation (the latter
In so far as it relates to American citi-
zens), introduced bill which provides
that hereafter none but American citi-
zens shall be employed upon any work
by the state or by any municipal cor
poration. Mr. Farr's bill also desig-
mates eight hours as a legal days
work. Although eight hours, under this
bill, shall constitute q legal days la
Dor, 1t is provided that the working
men shall receive the full wages paid
throughout the city and state. II pro-
hibits the employment, absolutely, Of
aliens and provides for the removal
from office of any offending official.
Not only this, but an additional fine
of not less than 5000 or more than 500
shall be imposed upon the guilty
official.
Every farmer throughout the state is
Interested in a bill presented by Colonel
H. p. Gould, Of Erie Colonel Gould comes
from grape growing district. His con-
stituents are noted for the quality and
quantity of their Concord grapes. His
bill Is intended to permit growers of
grapes to manufacture wine from grapes
OF their own raising which are not first
class or marketable, and sell said wine to
licensed dealers, without taking out or
paying license The bill Is a radical
change in the law of 1891. Under this new
act 1t Is proposed to permit growers of
grapes to manufacture wine from grapes
OF their own raising which are not mar
ketable, and sell such wine in quantities
OF not less than one quart without taking
out a license, provided that such wine is
not drank upon the premises where sold.
In other words, any raiser of grapes can
make his own wine and retail 1t by the
quart to his neighbors, provided the wine
Is not drank on the promises. i
N0rristown AsyIums Many Wants.