The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1897-05-19
HARRISBURG LETTER.

HARRISBURG, Pa, May II, 1897.
The past week has been one of consid-
erable activity in both branches of the
legislature, not merely fruitful in the
number of bills passed finally, but in the
character and quality of those passed and
killed.
The Hamilton good roads" bill went
through on final passage in the House
on Wednesday with but seventeen votes
against it. The great fight on this measure
came ON the day previous, ,however,wh
position of the rural number of the citv
people attached an amendment to the biil
stipulating that the law should 90 into
effect as soon as the State should annro-
pirate one million dollars toward good
roads. This is the principle for which
the country has been fighting for many
years. and is the one thing that is going
to bring about good roads. Prof Hamtl-
ton has repeatedly declared himseIf
against "State aid" for public roads until
asystem of road making was put in
vogue that would insure a good use of
the money which the State might he ahIe
to appropriate; or in other words. until
the townships come to that point where
they could properly and economically
eApend that money which they already
raised by local taxation. Practically he
Is the father of the bill which has passed
the House, and if it embodies such a svs-
tenn then the millinn dollar elause will
go right along with the Introduction of
the system, and there need be no delav
IN putting it into operotion. If tbe hill
was good thing when first introduced
IL Is Just one million dollars better now
Ihe lear OF a lack of money need not
stand IN the way of the Immediate intro.
duetion of the system. If the States
s'rong box is opened up the cash will be
forthcoming.
ihe OIL taxing inheritances was acted
on hnally in both brancheson "Wednesday
ana That same day Governor HASTINGS
aIlached his signature to the measure. II
Is estimated this law will bring a million
ana half of additional revenue into the
state treasury, and with the bill vet to be
put through, any deficiency now existing
WIZ De Iully made up, and no institution
need suiler for lack of fair appropria-
tlohs, not even public roads.
The probabilities are that from this
on there Will be no grass growing under
the ieet Of the legislative mill, and that
Tue grist will pass through the hopper
very rapidly. The appropriation bills
VIII be reported from committee tbi,
week, and will have the fright of way,
over all others until finally passed Thi,
means that final adjournment is not :
great ways oil. Three sessions daily will
De The order, and it is thought the I7tl
OF June will wind up the session, which
at that date, will have been the lonpes
since the new constitution was adopted
made so principally by the delay of fully
one month occasioned Ly the burning o
the Capitol building.
The Pittsburg classification bill, KNOW
IN legislative parliance as the "Lyol
ripper bill, which passed the House OF
second reading, furnished a few prett
little fights, and gave the solons no en-,
OF iun while il was in progress, but repor
says II is doomed to defeat, for the reaso
that Philadelphia has "lined up" agains
it, The "Philliesn claim that to pu
Pittsburg, with only about $4,000 of
population in the same class with them
with 100000 is maniiestly unfair for th
reason that Philadelphia needs and musl