Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1897-04-23

the Introduction of any new bills after
April ., except by consent OF either
branch, a number are still beine Of
fered. These are not likely to receive
consideration in either house. The
house has now on its calendars touch
more than it is able to dispose Of uStii
late in June or in July, and a session
Of that length is not probable. as
very strong sentiment is developing
for adjournment as soon as possible.
Among the bills introduced recently
was one to prevent parents or guar
dians from locking up children under 9
years Of aSe Under any pretext. and
providing penalty of S25 for the first
onense, $50 for the second onense.
and six months Imprisonment for the
third offense. If any child or children
should lose their lives by being locked
up the punishment shall be one years
imprisonment and 800 fine; authorizing
county commissioners to transfer and
convert into the general fund of their
| respective counties any money. now
placed TO the credit of any township
upon any duplicate for taxes where
the same has remained uncaIled for
during u period of ten years. provid-
ing the right to the same is not in
]
The Spatz bill authorizing a tax of
81 ON each bicycle is not likely to have
many friends, unles It is amended to
include various vehicles. 1t would be
both unjust and unconstitutional to
enact measure of this kind without
extending it to embrace all vehicles.
Airport ionment Sentiment Growing.
Strange to say, a sentiment is de-
| veloping in favor of apporuonment,
or to the bill to effect this, and as in
troduced by Mr.. Patterson, of Blair. It
is becoming recognized at present that
after all there is more to be gained
| by the passage of a law effecting a new
apportionment during this session than
to wait until after the next census.
Many are realizing that some districts
/ in the slate are increasing in popula-
| ton very little, while in others the in
crease is very great, and the next cen
sus will occasion very many surprises
/ in this connection. The basis of in
! crease of 22ia per cent between 1850
and 1880, If the apportionment is de-
/ ferred until af cr the census is taken,
| will not be realized in a number of
districts, and it is thought that such
districts Will fare better to have the
apportionment at present than to defer
it, by the provisions of this bill the
number of members of both houses
is reduced to 200 in all.
These bills received favorable con-
sideration recently: Requiring street
! railway companies to inclose the front
and rear platforms of their cars dur
ing the winter months; requiring school
directors or controllers to allow school
children TO have the use of the books
furnished them by the board any time
during the vacation between school
terms, and providing that a teacher
of such schools shall possess a valid
certificate issued py the superinten-
cent of schools; amending the act of
May s, 1854, to allow school directors
or controllers TO levy a special tax,
not exceeding the amount of the an
nual tax nor oftener than once a year.
to be applied for the purchase of
grounds and the erection and furnish
ing Of buildings; senate bill regulating
the employment and providing for the
health and safety Of persons employed
in sweatshops; senate bin authorizing
school directors or controllers to es-
tablislI and maintain out of the public
school treasury free kindergartens for
children between and years of age
. ItHiNilB III Tue ulklI4ttt AUTHORIZING
| county commissioners to acceIt as a
county bridge any bridge over any
stream or river running into or through
any county; authorizing suits at law
by either party that may be dissatis-
fed with the decisions of the board
in regard to granting warrants for va
cant lnnds; to provide for the protec-
ton of health of domestic animals;
providing for the collection of amounts
due the state for purchase money, in
terest and fees due on unpatented
lands; senate bill to continue in full the
act of May is, 1898, to extend the time
which corporations may hold and con-
vey the tile to real estate heretofore
bought under execution or conveyed
to them in satisfaction Of debts and
now remaining in their hands unsold.
For Establishing Poor Farms.
OF the bills introduced and on the
calendar that are Of special import
ance, and are likely to be disposed OF
during the session, is senate bill No
iS9, which was read in place in the
senate March TO- and has since passed
finally in the upper house. This is
now in the Judiciary general committee
of the house. II provides for the court
a poor farm in any of the counties not
having such institutions on a petition
of a majority of the overseers Of the
poor. instead of a two-thirds vote, as
now required. Several bills have been
offered for the enactment of laws fo1
the establishment of poor farms, and
of those INTRODUCED the senate bill re-
ferred to is likely to be the most popu-
lar since il is very short and plain in
its construction. The Gould bill, as
prepared by the Poor Directors asso-
citation, embodies some very good feat
ures, but is so long and comprehensive
in it's scope that there is a fear ex-
pressed that its enactment might in
terfere with the poor farms now es-
tablished. The temper Of the house is
very averse to omnibus bills or those
that contain so many different sec
tions.
The bill. however, which is not gain.
ing much progress, in the senate a.
least, is the one authorizing Interest
to be paid on state deposits. This bill
will receive favorable consideration IL
the house, and that within the mex
week or ten days. The opposition il
the senate does not come so mucl
from a desire to prevent its passage
but more TO prevent its author from
getting prestige. All parties and fac
tions -concece that this bill must be
come a law at this session, and the!
dare not oppose its final passage.
Raines Tax Law Bill Signed.
Albany. April Ex-Governor Black has
signed the Raines liquor taxlaw amend
l unanf hill The prfupfpaI auoauIp,api