Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1897-05-17
Harrisburg, Pa, May II, 1897.

More Attention to Their Work.
Harrisburg, Pa, May II, 1897.
The legislature transacted more bust
ness last week than any week since the
beginning of the session. The members
realize that work must be done if any
thing like fair record is to be left be-
hind at the end of the term.
Governor Hastings has signed a reso-
luton authorizing the attorney general
to investigate the claims of Solomon
O'Bail, the descendant of Cornplanter,
the Seneca Indian chief to portion of
the ground now covered by Oil City.
The old chief has been regular visitor
to the legislature every two years seek
ing to have this resolution passed.
The libel bill framed by the Pennsyl-
vania State Editorial Association passed
the house by a vote of 13l to 80. The
bill will very likely now become u law.
1t is as follows:
Section LIN all criminal proSecu-
tionS or indictments for libel, the truth
may be given in evidence to the jury,
and if it shall appear that the matter
charged as libelous is substantially true,
and was published with good motives
and iuStliab bic ends, the defendant shall
be acquittcd; the jury shall have the
right to determine the law and the facts,
Section I'm no case can the defen
dant, in any prosecution for libel, be in
dicted for the printing or publication of
the same libel upon the same individual
in more than one county of this state.
Section 3.-All laws or parts of laws
inconsistent with this act are hereby
repealed.
The capitol commission held pro-
longcd session last week. 1t was de-
cided to advertise at once for proposals
to tear down the ruins of the old build
ing. Sealed proposals will be received
up to l2 o'clock noon on the 25th of
May. While this work is being done
the commission will arrange for the cree
tion of the building. The names of the
six architects asked to furnish plans
will not be announced until they accept
the invitation of the commission.
Governor Hastings last week vetoed
two bills, one providing for suitable
places for holding elections, and the
other authorizing and empowering courts
of common pleas to direct and decree
the sale of real estate of insolvent debt
ors by their assignees, for the payment
of debts and the discharge by such sales
of the right of dover, by which such
real estate is, or may be, charged or en-
cumbered.
The 'LeXow" committee appointed
May s, 1895, to investigate the opera
tions of the law under which the city of
Philadelphia is governed, known as the
Bulitt bill, presented its report to the
senate last week. The report covers
100 pages of closely typewriter matter,
and is estimated to contain between 42,
600 and 45, 000 words. In connection to
the report are five bills, which are to
remedy the abuses cited. The city has
been at the mercy of the electric light
combine, and as to gas, about $500, 900
per year is lost under the present sys-
TEN, and various other abuses are named
in the voluminous paper presented by
the "LeXowers."
These bills passed the house: Pro-
hibiting the discharge from public posi-
tions of Union soldiers, except for good
reason; senate bill authorizing county
commissioners to appoint assessors in
cases where the assessor refuses or ne
elects to qualify or refuses or neglectS
to receive the precept and books at the
time designated by the commissioners to
begin his duties; senate bill amending
the act of April IA, 1895, relating to the
care of female insane patients in transit;
to prevent the wearing of the badge or
! button of any labor or fraternal organ-
zaton by other than members; amend
ing the act of July 5, 1895, decreasing
| the number of terms of enlistment for
which enlisted men of the national guard
of PENNSYLVANIA shall be entitled to an
additional pay of twenty-five cents per
day; senate bill ratifying and confirming
all paving done in cities of the third
class since May %, 1895, without petit
tion of the property owners under any
ordinance passed in compliance with the
provisions of article s. section 8, clause
10, of the act of May %, 1895; authoriz-
ing the ascertainment, levy, assessment
and collection of the costs, damages and
expenses of municipal improvements, in
cluding the paving, macadamizing or
otherwise improving of any street, lane
or alley, or parts thereof, completed OF
now in process of completion, and also
the costs. damages and expenses of the
construction of any sewer, completed OF
now in process of completion, and au.
therzing the completion of any such
improvement, to provide for the contin.
uation of the publication of the Penn.
sylvania archives; amending the act ol
June, 1895, providing that all principal,
or other persons in charge of schools art
required to refuse the admission of any
child, except upon certificate signed