The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1897-05-20

making an Appropriation OF N,OoO,ooo
for good roads. The sentiment In favor
of better roads has been largely slim
ulated through the enthusiasm and
organized effort of the wheelmen of
the state.
One of the most important bills de-
feated in the house requires county
commissioners to advertise for pro-
posals for the erection Of any county
building of bridges, or for any alter
ations or addition thereto, involving
an expenditure of 81 ,000 and to award
the contract to the lowest and best
bidders under a penalty of $4,000
There are indications now of an earl
fer adjournment Of the legislature than
most people here had reason to exSTJ t
three weeks ago. It is stated that ehe
leaders are so arranging the calendars
that the legislators will be able to ad-
journ finally about the second week in
June.
SdO,OOO,OOO in Appropriations.
Mr.. Marshall. chairman of the house
committee on appropriations, says the
revenue bills once out of the way his
committee can get down to business
and report such bills as are likely to
pass. Appropriation bills have been in
trodueed aggregating over $40. .00O, 900
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. Chairman Marshall Gays 1t
Will be impossible to give the usual
hearings on appropriation bills. All
that the committee can hope to do is
to go over the bills as carefully as pos
sible and distribute the money Of the
state as equitably as may be. 1t is
very evident that the charitable insti-
tutions throughout the state not di-
rectly under the control Of the COM
monwealth will fare badly in the dis
tribution. First the state institutions,
after those the semi-state hospitals and
other institutions will be taken care Of
What is left will be distributed among
the more deserving private charities
or 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 Pittsburg 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
ract 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 filing 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.
me insurance Bribery Investigation.
The insurance committee appointed
to investigate the $4,000 insurance
scandal met today for organization.
This 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 a 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
Tor $4,000 to wipe from the calendar
certain Objectionable bills.
bill has been introduced in the
senate during the last week providing
Tor the selection of a site and the erec-
ton of a state hospital for the insane
Tor the counties of Luzerne, Lack
awanna. Bradford, Carbon Monroe
Pike, Sullivan, Tioga, Wayne and WV
oming, to be called the state hospital
Tor the insane for the northwestern
part OF Pennsylvania. The bill car
ries an appropriation Of $40, 900 for the
necessary preliminaries.
A strong effort is being made bv 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 It is being SO Wig.
orously fought by the steam rivals OF
the electric companies Before the ad.
1ournment Of the house on THURSDAY
Mr.. Young attempted to have the vote
by which his resolution giving the bill
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. 1t carried, and the
efforts to advance the trolley bill were
again blocked. 1t is probable that an.
other attempt will be made to get thi.
Dill in position for prompt considera
tion. Should 1t ever reach a vote it 1.
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 lev,
per capita tax of from 81 to 50 an
nually for school purposes on alien,
over 2l years of age. This measure /.
intended to be enforced particularly II
the mining regions of the state, wher,
there are many alien parents who's,
children go to school, and who do no
contribute to the support of the schools
During the discussion of methods O
raising additional revenue for the stat,
hneT