The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1897-03-25
HARRISBURG LETTER
Measures Which Have Passed
Both Houses.
FIGHT AGAINST THE POOL BILL
shoufA 1t Pass tho Senate 1t VIII Prob
ably Meet Death in the House-some
of che New Measures Jntroduced-A
Record Breaking Session Probable.

Of che New Measures Jntroduced-A
Record Breaking Session Probable.
Especial Correspondence.)
Harrisburg, March 23.-The record of
the legislature at this period of the ses-
sion is 743 bills introduced in both houses
and 2S4 petitions presented praying for
all sorts of legislation. OF the bills In
troduced into the house 2s9 are out of
committee and on the calendar and 209
bills have reached the governor, and
three of the house bills have been
signed by him and become a law.
One of these is known as house bill
No IL, which provides for the classi-
fication of real estate and other prop
erty for purposes of taxation and elec-
ton of assessors In cities OF second
class for hot more than five nor less
than three assessors; also house bill
No. L. providing for the election of
prothonotaries, recorders and registers
and the manner of filling such offices
in case of death or vacancy, and house
bill No. 90 authorizing the burgess and
town council of the borough of Sharps-
burg, Allegheny county, to levy a tax
not exceeding Is mills on the dollar on
the assessed county valuation for the
wear Among those now in the hands
of the governor which have not
been approved. as they but recently
came into his hands, is an act author
izing the courts of quarter sessions to
declare the seats of councilmen va
cant when they fail to organize for ten
days. A number of bills which have
passed the house and senate have been
sent to the governor this week.
There has been very considerable
work done during the past week, and
the majority of the bills on the cal
endar have been disposed of on second
and third reading, and with the same
industry expended during this week
they will have a number of bills ready
for the governors consideration.
Fight Against tho Pool Bill.
What is known as the pool BILL which
was introduced in the senate some
time ago and reported from commit
tee, was pushed forward last week, so
as to pass third reading by vote Of
20 to 49, 1t gives six months license
to the race track gamblers, to inaugu-
rate a feature that will, according to
it's opponents, be productive of more
evil and do more to demoraliZe society
than almost anything else that could
be named. If it should pass the senate
the house WILL by good majority, kill
it. 1t is, they say, a bill that should
be protested against by all good think
ing people, to prevent, If possible. the
Inauguration of pool racing and other
forms of gambling in Pennsylvania.
Among the resolutions offered dur
ing the week was one asking for an
investigation of the repairing Of Grace
church, the building now occupied by
both branches of the legislature. In
this resolution it was charged that the
state paid for thousands of feet of
lumber that was never used. and that
in some instances the price charged
for the lumber was $55 per thousand,
when it is claimed that the same lum-
ber could be purchased at SIS per
thousand. Investigations have become
so frequent and unpopular that the
house decided to dispose of this case
by referring it to the public buildings
and grounds committee. This will be
taken up during this week, and an eff
fort made to ascertain IL there has
been any fraud perpetrated.
Among the features that have de-
veloped since my last letter in legis-
lative circles were the introduction Of
three more reform bills in the house
and senate. These prohibit city Off
cials and corporations from interfer-
ing in politics, prevent political assess
ments and compel every man to pay
his own taxes. The punishment in
the political assessment bill is a fine
Of $500 or one year in prison, and in
that in relation to the payment Of
taxes for another person than the cleo
tor against whom the tax has been
assessed the punishment Is a fine of
5000 or six months imprisonment
The civil service reform bill, which
applies only to the counties of Phila-
delphia, Allegheny, Schuylkill and Lu-
zerne, passed the senate within the
past few days. This bill will meet with
considerable opposition in the house,
as 1t is denounced by those who are
opposed to it as unjust and unfair.
| and capable of being manipulated by
the bosses.
| The house bill authorizing the SUI
perintendent of public instruction to
furnish every school In Pennsylvania
with a copy of Smulls Legislative
Handbook, after a spirited debate,
passed finally by a vote of 10S to 55.
The Amended Capitol Bill.
|
material used In the construction of
the proposed capitol building shall be
furnished by Pennsylvania firms and
corporations, and that none but citi-
zens Of Pennsylvania be employed in
the construction of the building, was
amended by striking out the word
Pennsylvania and substituting in It's
stead United States" and will now
no doubt pass both houses in It's pres
ent form. In the discussion of this
measure the opposition to Governor
Hastings plan to construct new
capitol building at cost of $3.50, 900
took advantage of this occasion to de-
nounce the absurdity of his estimate
There seems to be disposition to pro-
long the settlement of the construction
of a new capitol building, although
a resolution was offered recently to
that effect. Something should be done
very soon to pass bill designating
the kind of a capitol to be built, and
the cost, so as to have 1t completed
and ready for use by the next legis-
lature.
Among the bills that passed the