Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1897-04-05
STATE CAPITAL LETTER.
THE BUSINESS THAT PENNSYLVANIA
LEGISLATORS ARE DOING.
A Number of Important Bills Introduced
and Considered-Manag of De-
partments Declared All Right-Schooi
Term and Libel Bills Killed.
Harrisburg, Pa, April 2, 1897.

Term and Libel Bills Killed.
Harrisburg Pa, April 2, 1897.
The principal topic of conversation
about the capital last week were tn,
suits against DR.. S. C. Swallow. Tho
first suit of the soldiers orphan commits
sioners, the verdict acquitted Mr., Swal
low, but placed upon him the costs
The second trial was that of John c.
Delaney, uperintendent of public
grounds, against DR.. Swallow. In this
the preacher-editor was convicted. A
motion for new trial has been made
and if that is lost the case will be ap.
pealed to the supreme court. Opinion
is very much divided over the result.
One thing is very evident, and that is
that most of DR.. Swallows testimony
was hearSay, and much of his informa-
tion has been secured after his arrest,
showing that he had not fully prepared
himself for the result. before his libel
Gus article was published.
Steps towards final adjournment have
been taken by the adoption of resolu-
tion from the rules committee limiting
all speeches to five minutes. The house
now holds only one session day, from l
to 6p. m.
A bill to prohibit members of the legis-
lature from receiving mileage while
serving on committees under penalty
of $500 for the first offense and 81 900
for every subsequent offense was intro
duced by Mr. Rhodes, of Berks. Mr.
Campbell, of Fayette. presented a bill to
require every candidate for public office
to file sworn itemiZed statement of the
election expenses within ten days after
the election. Statements of candidates
for congress, state senator, legislature,
Judge and other offices to be filled by the
electors of the state are to be filed with
secretary of the commonwealth and all
other candidates with prothonotaries.
The statement shall give the names of
the persons who receive money, specify
the nature of each item and the purpose
for which it was expended or contrbut-
ed. Violation of the act is punishable
more than one years imprisonment.
Senator Mitchell, of jefferson, has
struck blow against the public exhibi-
ton of Photographic reproductions of
prize fights. This is to prohibit the ex-
hibiting, more expressly, the fight be-
tween Corbett and Fitzsimmons.
The committee to investigate the state
treasury and auditor generals Office has
made its report. 1t says the manage
ment of the treasury and auditor
generals departments are all right. The
latter Office is in need of clerical assist
ance and the recommendation is made
that the Legislature enact law, author
izing the appointment of delinquent
clerk whose duty it shall be to look after
the delinquent corporations in the mat
ter of taxpayers. About the state treas
urer, the report finds that the state is
amply protected by the full amount of
the state treasurer's bond; that under
the PRESENT law he and his bonds
men are responsible to the common
wealth for any loss that may occur by
reason of the failure of any banking
institution where state funds are de-
posted. He has unlimited power, in
the matter of selecting repositories in
which to place state funds. An exami-
nation of the bonds held by the treasurer
shows them to be properly executed and
that the principals and sureties to fully
protect him.
During the early part of the session a
bill was presented changing the mini
mum school term from six to seven
months. This measure has been up at
every session, for the past ten years,
and has always been knocked out by the
rural members. Twelve years ago the
term was increased. from five to six
months and no legislation on this sub
iect has since been able to get through.
1t was shown during the argument that
twenty-seven other states in the union
have longer school terms than Pennsyl-
vania and that 2S per cent of the schools
in this state are kept open only six
months, the required time. The dis
cussion lasted two hours, when the bill
was again defeated by a vote of 92 to rs.
The libel bill adopted by the Pennsyl-
yania State Editorial Association, upon
which several meetings were held and
addresses made by Col. A. X. Mcclure
and Charles Emory Smith, has been
killed and buried out of sight A right
eous indignation of the newspapers of
the state should be called down upon
this legislature for thus wilfully defeat
Ing the just demands of the press.
A new legislative apportionment bill
has been introduced by Mr.. Patterson,
of Blair. Allegheny county gains four
members, Cambria, Lackawanna, Blair.
Jefferson, Clearfield and Luzerne one
each while the counties OF Adams. Cbes-
ter, Crawford, Lawrence, Somerset. Bed
ford, Clarion, Huntingdon, Mercer.
Wayne, Bradford, Columbia, Lancaster