Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1897-05-21

committee on appropriations, says the
revenue bills once out of the way his
committee can set down to business
and report such bills as are likely to
pass Appropriation bills have been in
troduced aggregating over $40. .000,0 600
for the next two years, but as the es-
timated revenues are only about half
that amount the necessity for whole
soie pruning by the committee is ap-
parent. Chairmaa. Marshall says II
will be impossible to give the usual
hearings on appropriation bills. All
that the committee can hope to do Is
to 60 over the bills as carefully as pos
sible and distribute the money of the
state as equitably as may be. It is
very evident that the charitable insti-
tuuons throughout the state not d.
rectly under the control Of the COM
monwealth win fare badly in the dis
tribution. First the state institutions,
after those the semi-state hospitals and
other institutions viii be taken care Of.
What is left will be distributed among
the more deserving private charities
VI course, the committee is figuring on
million dollars for the building and
furnishing of the new capitol.
Politically the gossip this week has
been centered in the attitude of Sena-
TOR Quay toward his lieutenants in
Philadelphia and his probable attitude
toward the bills providing a new char
ter for Plttsburg and the ousting of
the present administration in that city.
AT the Friday morning session of the
house one of the Quay lieutenants from
Allegheny county moved the postpone
ment of the Rogers charter bill, which
fact gives color to the statement that
Senator Quay has decided to abandon
the reform legislation for Pittsburg at
present
The record of Governor Hastings in
the matter of filling vacancies in the
judiciary of the state surpasses that
or any of his predecessors. Including
the appointment of the new superior
court Justices he has appointed one
judge for every three weeks of his
term. The death of Judge Thomas Ew-
ing OF Pittsburg, has given him an
other opportunity to reward some legal
friend
Ihe Insurance Bribery Investigation.
The Insurance committee appointed
to investigate the $4,000 insurance
scandal met today for organization.
Ihis committee was appointed some
time ago, and there has been consider
able speculation as to the delay in pro-
ceeding with the investigation. 1t is
stated that number of sensational
afiidavits are in possession Of two or
three members of the senate. The story
upon which the present Investigation
was started was In effect that a de-
mand had been made upon a large
Insurance company in New York city
for S5O,O00 to wipe from the calendar
certain Objectionable bills.
A bill has been introduced in the
senate during the last week providing
for the selection of a site and the erec-
tion of state hospital for the insane
for the counties of Luzerne, Lack
awanna, Bradford Carbon Monroe
Pike, Sullivan Tioga, Wayne and Wy
oming, to be called the state hospital
for the insane for the northwestern
part of Pennsylvania. The bill car
ries an appropriation Of $50 900 for the
necessary prelminarles.
"A strong effort is being made by the
steam railroad corporations to defeat
the Young bill providing a method Of
assessing damages to the owners Of
property abutting on highways occu-
pied by electric railway companies
This measure is not exactly an eminent
domain bill, but possesses some of the
features of the right of eminent do
main. That is why II is being so Wig
orously fought by the steam rivals of
the electric companies. Before the ad-
journment of the house on Thursday
Mr.. Young attempted to have the vote
by which his resolution giving the bill
a special order was defeated reconsid-
cred, but the opponents Of the bill were
on the alert, and promptly got in a mo-
tion to adjourn. II carried, and the
efforts to advance the trolley bill were
again blocked. 1t is probable that an
other attempt will be made to get this
bill in position for prompt considera-
tion. Should It ever reach vote 1t is
believed that the bill will pass.
A school Tax on Aliens.
Among the bills which have passed
the house finally is one authorizing
school directors and controllers to levy
a per capita tax of from 81 to 81 an
nually for school purposes on aliens
over 21 years Of age. This measure is
intended to be enforced particularly in
the mining regions of the state, where
there are many alien parents whose
children go to school, and who do not
contribute to the support of the schools.
Dht MS AhI 1A11dSoAOh VI iAlCLnDu5 VI
raising additional revenue for the state
1t has cropped out that many of the
lawmakers favor reduction of appro-
priations for public schools. They con-
tend that S11. .O0o, 900 is too great a sum
to appropriate in this way 1t is also
argued that the generosity Of the state
In this respect has not been appreciated
in many districts, where the minimum
school term is still six months and
where the salaries of teachers. Instead
Of being Increased, are frequently cui
down by the parsimonious and non.
progressive boards of directors. I'm.
less some of the counties change front
in this respect It need not surprise then
te see the appropriations reduced
81, ,OOO 900.
Many Of the boys in the rural dis.
tricts viii be sorry to hear that Gov.
ernor Hastings has vetoed a concurren
resolution authorizing DIR. b. H. War
rem, the state zoologist, to prepare enc
have published in pamphlet form Is, ,OO
copies Of an article on taxidermy an,
zoology. The governor thinks that tn,
money is needed In other directions a
this time.
FASTEST Vessel Of Her Glass.
!