The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1897-06-17

states small, upon tne receipt Vi wiz
ten notice from the tax collector OF
the district, deduct from the wages
Of such emplcye a sum sufficient to
pay the respective amounts of taxes
assessed against each. and pay 1t to
the collectors of the districts in which
said aliens are employed. Another bill
ls almost through the legislature pro-
viding for the return Of alien paupers
to the state or country from which they
came.
The legislative insurance tcandal
ls still Q lively matter of interest. An
other meeting of the investigating COM
mittee was held a few days ago, but
the most important witness was not
present, and II was decided to ad-
journ until this afternoon. Frank II.
Leonard, of New York, is the missing
witness. He is said to be tbs person
who knows all about the alleged propo-
sition of certain senators to defeat the
child insurance bill for $4,000.
Governor Hastings has approved the
bill to prevent the wearing of any
badge or button OF any labor or fra
ternal organization without the right
to do so by membership. The act pro-
vides that any person doing SO shall
be subject to a fine of 800.
According to the estimates OF the
states accounting officers, It will be
necessary to raise about $4,000, 900 in
addition to the present revenues to
wipe out the deficiency and take care
of the ordinary demands upon the
treasury.
A bill which Is being watched by
those who appreciate its dangerous
character is one permitting the dam
ming of the Delaware river. Such a
bill has passed the legislature of New
Jersey and been approved by Governor
Griggs. If the lawmakers of this state
pass this bill it is the purpose of GER
tain capitalists to build a dam across
the Delaware river at Trenton, for the
purpose Of furnishing power for a
great electric plant.
The senate has defeated the Clarency
bill defining local mutual savings
funds. building and loan associations.
This measure was intended to open
the way for an attack upon all build
Ing and loan associations not purely
local affairs. but the influence against
it was sufficient to knock it out.
Proposed Tax on Oieo VIII Fail.
There is proposition to tax oleo-
margarine for the purpose of raising
more revenue, but there will be big
fight in the Legislature before such
bill can get through. Already an or
ganization has been perfected in the
house to oppose any bill of this kind.
Representative Young, of Tioga coun-
ty, is the leader of the new movement
A steering committee has been ap-
pointed, comprising Is leading men,
bers of the house, without regard to
party or faction. 1t is contended by
the opponents of such a tax that a law
of this kind would legaliZe the sale Of
oleomargerine, and be in the interests
of the manufacturers of imitation but
ter 1t Is argued that the revenue de-
rived by the commonwealth from this
source will very materially relieve the
depleted condition of the state finances
and that no harm can come through
such license tax to any industry Of
the state. Professor Hamilton takes
the opposite view. He says the late
census gives the number of dairy cat
tie in Pennsylvania at 927,254, and the
amount of butter manufactured from
these dairy cows in that year at 49,
809, ,0H pounds. The amount of cheese
is given at 4S9,06O pounds, and the
milk products at 368, SOC, ,4S2 gallons. If
the ratio Of increase has been as great
from 1889 to 1897 as it was between
1879 and 1889 a fair estimate of the
number of cows at the present time in
Pennsylvania is about 1,1O0, 900 and the
number of pounds of butter manu-
factured about 90OO0,0O0 pounds, and
ha vrat1 oh A
gallons. These cows are distributed
among 211,41 farmers families, con-
sisting of 1.06O,O O26 persons, or one-fifth
Of the entire population Of the state.
He says the income of butter alone to
PENNSYLVANIA last year amounted to
between s16.000,000 and $4,000, 900, and
the milk product at cents a gallon
amounted to $25,000,000. 1t is also
argued that the low price of oleomar-
garine would ruin the dairy business,
and that the legalizing of the sale of
oleomargerine would result in a great
loss Of revenue in the end 1t Is almost
certain that the oleomargerine propo-
sition will fail.
Hamilton Road Bill Hangs Fire.
The Hamilton road bill is still hang
Ing In the air, and whether it will
ever become law at this session Is
doubtful. Only the influence of the
state administration has put the bill
in its advanced position. Many of the
farmers are opposed to it, and their
representatives in the legislature have
adopted all parliamentary tactics to
defeat the measure. Failing in their
efforts, proviso was inserted by the
house requiring the legislature to ap-
propriate $1,000,000 for the improve
ment of highways before the new law
goes into effect. When II reached the
senate this amount was cut in half.
Returning to the house for concur
renee that body refused to accept the
senate amendment and asked for
committee of conference. This has
been appointed, and it remains now to
be seen whether the committee will
be able to put the bill in such shape
as to make 1t acceptable to both
bodies.
The codifcation of the fish laws and
the repeal of f'many acts which inter-
fered with the propagation of fish in
the streams of the state will have the
effect of improving the sport of fisher