Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1897-06-28
FARCE Is NEARLY OVER.
LEGISLATORS WORK WILL BE FIN
ISHEO ON JULY I.
Expense Bills That Smack of Dishonesty
Presented for Payment-Charity Appro-
priations to BE Heavily Cut-Toy Sol
diers' Rations Reduced.
Harrisburg, Pa, June 25, 1897.

priatiOns 10 Be heaVlly Cut-Ioy SOL
diers' Rations Reduced.
Harrisburg, Pa, June 25, 1897.
In nine cases out of every ten, cleo
tion contest committees of investigation
are mere money-making schemes for a
favored few of the legislators. Take
for instance the Saunders-Roberts con-
test from Philadelphia. There were
nine members appointed to make this
| investigation The bill of expenses has
been presented and foots up nearly five
thousand dollars. Each member of the
committee, in putting in his bill, itemizes
it as follows: Extra car fare. carriage
hire, kilograms, etc, $294." RepreSen-
tative p. NJ. Lytle, of Huntingdon, is
chairman of this COMMITTEES: his bill is
$294 Mr.. Lytle is also chairman of the
house railroads committee, and of course
| like all other members Of the committee,
travels on passes. If he paid car fare
he is the first chairman of this commit
tee that has ever done so. There is
scarcely member of the legislature
who does not have a telegraph frank
issued to him. Yet in this bill of eX-
penses each member has charge made
for kilograms. Governor Hastings in
his recent message declared strongly
against expensive election contests and
it looks as if he will veto these bills.
1t seems reasonably certain to say
that the legislature will adjourn July /.
fnhic hoe ,,ill
also be no new revenue bills passed.
The plan agreed upon by the leaders is
to cut down expenses to meet the in
come. The appropriation calendar
will be taken up this week. The gen
eral bill, which includes the running
expenses of the commonwealth, will
come first, the appropriations for state
institutions next, and after that the re-
naming revenues will be devoted be-
tween the semi-State and charitable
institutions. In the latter is where the
cut will be made.
Twoyears ago an attempt was made
to scale down the school appropriations,
but the country members would not
stand it, A poll of the house was taken
last week which shows that 1O3 members
are opposed to any reduction. This is
more than enough to prevent the appro-
priation to be tampered with. The
National Guard appropriation comes in
for scaling. Several hundred thousand
cut this $500, 600 at least. The State Co.
lege asks for over $20C, 900. This college
is near Governor Hastings home and is
much admired by him. Yet it is on the
list to be cut off without anything. The
University of Pennsylvania is asking for
over million but is to have nothing.
The governor returned to the house,
without his approval, bill making it
lawful to erect and maintain fences
constructed in whole or in part of wire
along public roads and between adioin-
| ing lands. His objection to the measure
is that it is indefinite in its description
of the character of the fence.
Governor Hastings has signed the
Campbell bill imposing a tax of three
cents a day on all employed unnatural
lied foreigners. The tax to be deduct
ed from the wages of his class, b.
| ginning July /. The bill is expected to
put about 81 100000 year into the
treasures of the various counties of the
state. One-half goes to the school fund
| on the basis of the number of schools
and the balance for the general eX-
penses of the counties. An act of as
sembly signed by the governor makes a
radical change in the matter of pay
ments for charters at the state depart
ment. The bonus is increased from one
fourth to one-third of one per cent on
capital stock and is payable in advance
before the charter is issued. Other bills
signed are as follows: Providing that
illegitmate children should take their
mothers name; authorizing the publi-
and decisions; authorizing labor claim
ants in certain cases to take joint APP
peals; extending mechanics lien law
to include gas and electric light fixtures
and wiring.
Another bill signed is for the better
protection of employees in and about
coal mines. 1t prevents mine superin-
tendents, foremen and assistants from
receiving or soliciting any sums of
money or other valuable consideration
from men while in their employ and
provides Il penalty of not more than
$780, Others are: Authorizing control
lers of cities to appoint probate clerk;
regulating the sale of goods marked
"gold" or ''sold god;" empowering and
directing county commissioners to pay
constables for services rendered in max
ing returns to court of special elections
in each district; providing for the regula-
tion of the manufacture and sale of
vinegars to prevent adulteration; limit.
ing the number of inmates of state
prisons, penitentiaries, state reforma.
tories and other penal Institutions, to be
employed in manufacturing goods there.