The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1897-02-04
HARRISBURG LETTER
The Various Reform Bills Now
Being Pushed.
USELESS EXPENDITURE VOTED.
Both Houses Pass . Resolution Providing
for the Spending OF $40, 900 for Mailing
Legislative Treating and
Other New Measures.
Especial Correspondence.)


law, which has practically abolished
county fairs, a race track bill which is to
be introduced in the house this week will
probably be one of the most interesting OF
all the proposed legislative measures The
bill is intended TO modify the present anti
pool law which is admitted to have over
reached the purpose Of its Legislative sup
porters and blighted important agricul-
tural interests
The new bill Is backed by most OF the
agricultural societies OF the state, as well
as the various racing associations, includ-
ing those of Philadelphia and vicinity,
and McKee's Rocks, Allegheny county
By limiting to twenty five the number Of
days for racing in a year, on any estab-
lished track, and allowing restricted pool
selling on that number OF days, the pro-
posed law is expected to practically pre-
vent the construction Of new race tracks
for continuous racing
The bill specifies that no part OF the
twenty-five days racing, with the pool
selling confined to the grounds and to the
races there in progress, shall be done in
the period from Nov. to April 30, inclus-
i've, and there shall not be more than six
days Of the sport in any one OF the six
months from May to October, included.
1t is argued that this arrangement will
restore the lost vitality of the county fair
grounds throughout the state, while at
the same time barring out the gambling
and other evils which prompted former
legislature to action, the results OF which
may not have been foreseen and were GER
tainly not desired by the farming COM
munities. The bill, therefore, is expected
to receive its main support from repre-
sentstives in whose counties the former
opposition to even such restrictions as are
now to be put upon pools found its chief
backing.
Many Reform Measures.
The Municipal Leagues seven reform
bills recently introduced include one
aimed against political assessments on Of
flceholders' salaries or wages. bill for
the same purpose is among the several
Quay reform measures. which will be in
troduc ed this week. Another Municipal
League bill on civil service applies only
to Philadelphia, while the Quay project
is for a state commission and would be .
general law. A third bill from the
League puts increased restrictions around
municipal contracts The other League
bills, in addition to putting the tax office
and city treasury under civil service
rules, would bar out city councilmen
from holding public office Of profit, and
would require an income from franchises
and reduce the number Of members in
councils, electing the select councilmen at
large.
The Quay lieutenants say they are ready
to take from the Municipal league bills or
elsewhere any suggestions that may i'm
prove the Quay bills, although the latter
are claimed to be moro radical than any
hos INT dnn nad ov, tho n
subjects. All the league bills, as we'll a.
other municipal reform plans, including
those of Senator Quay, will be acted upon
by the house municipal affairs committee,
In which there are two Wanamaker vot-
ers, and the municipal corporations com.
mittee of the senate, in which all the Re-
publicans were Penrose voters.
Representative Keator's bill to create q
salaried commission, with qualifications
of supreme court justices, for the purpose
Of scrutinizing all bills as soon as reported
from committees and again just before
sending them to the governor, Is not re-
ceived with much favor among Quayites
This fact is attributed by anti Quay men
to the circumstance of Mr.. Keator's hav.
ing been the original Wanamaker can.
didate for representative in Philadelphia.
Representative Crothers, of Philadel.
phia, has bill which he will soon intro.
duce to repeal the law passed In 1895
through the efforts of Senator Charles A.
Porter, to facilitate the consolidation oi
corporations.
Extravagsnce in Expenditure.
There was resolution passed by the
senate recently, as well as by the house
which means q useless expenditure OF $8O,.
900 Of the peoples money. There was but
one dissenting vote In the senate, and
mono in the house. The resolution pro
vidss that hereafter forty copies of ths
Legislative Record shall be allotted Il
each member Of the Legislature daily, Il
be mailed to their constituents
1t costs just about two cents each day
to mail these Records. This is an unneces
sary expense Of $500 per day. For 100 dayl
of q session 1t means just CSC, 900, exclu
sive Of the increased cost Of publishing.
The Legislative Record In the past hal
been one of the superb flakes" OF every
legislative session. 1t has frequently beer
an unending source Of annoyance to ths
members. Not only has 1t been notoriously
inaccurate at times, but 1t has rarely sp
peared with regularity. At one time
several sessions ago, The Record was oveI
week behind time. Already this session
have there been two members In the house
who have found 1t necessary to correct the
publication.
; The anti-treating bill, offered by MI
McElhaney. Of Allegheny, does not oarry
in its provisions any reference to the WORD
treating" Its enacting section provides
that 1t shall be unlawful for any person
holding license for the sale of liquor tc
allow any person OF persons to drink upon
or around the premises Intoxicating IL
quors, except such have been paid for by
the person who proposes to drink 1t. The
penalty imposed Is o fine of not more thar
. $500 nor less than $50, with optional i'm
prisonment for not more than one year OF
less than one month, by order Of the court
Bills to Protect the Flag.
There have been two bills introduced
which provide for penalties for dishonor
ing or dessorating the American fiag
Representative Farr, of Laokawanna, ant
Represen tative Keator, of Philadelphia
5 are the authors of these bills. Strangely
enough neither provides for the desecra
ton Of the flag by advertisers. They sim
ply make provision that 1t shall DO unlaw