The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1897-04-29
HARRISBURG LETTER
Prospects of the Bill to Collect In
terest on State Deposits.
NEW BILL GOVERNING RAILROADS

NEW BILL GOVERNING RAILROADS
Corporations Heretofore Exempt Must
Report to the state Railroad Bureau.
The Pool Racing Bill Destined to De-
fcat-An Investigating Legislature.
Especial Correspondence)
Harrisburg, Apriit 2.-The bill to
compel the payment Of interest on
state deposits has given the members
of both houses considerable concern.
but the house has passed the bill al
most unanimously. 1t Is realized that
it's defeat means the development of
great Indignation among the people.
| There Is a disposition manifested In
the senate to amend II so as to restrict
the number Of repositories and limit
them to the cities. This will raise a
howl throughout the country districts.
The country members feel that coun-
try banks have certainly right to
their share OF the state funds II they
can give the necessary bond. There
seems to be an influence at work, how
ever, to prevent this bill from being
enacted into a law. 1t will be very
impolitic for those who oppose 1t. as
there seems to be no question that the
people are so concerned in. A bill
which has been suggested of naming
six banks will by ne means be salts
factory to the people, because this
would have a tendency to concentration,
which Is too much the case under pres
ent conditions.
The passage of the Hamilton road
bill on second reading in the house by
a good majority shows the strength
the supporters of this measure have
and that it is certain to become law
as far as the house is concerned Is
already assured. This bill provoked
more wrangling than any that has
come before this body in years. Every
section was attacked, asa an effort
made to amend in such a way as to
make the bill of no value whatever
but these were voted down. and with
comparatively few changes the bill
was passed. Several members who
were so bitter against this bill have
been antagonistic to a number that
have come before the house this ses-
sion, and have just awakened to the
realization that they have measures
they are very anxious to have enacted
into laws, and that their course will
have q tendency to give them no little
trouble when they come to pass upon
their measures. 1t is thought this in
fiuence Is so marked that 1t will have a
bearing on the passage of the road bill
with a good sized majority. as well as
others they have been antagonistic to-.
Nowhere is selfishness so despised and
condemned as in a body Of lawmakers.
This was very manifest while the
Hamilton road bill was under discus
sion.
The New Railroad Bill.
The governor has approved of the
new railroad bill which requires cor.
porations to report to the bureau of
railroads. This Is a measure Of very
great importance. 1t requires all rail-
roads, canals, telegraph and telephone
companies doing business in or partly
in Pennsylvania. or whether foreign
corporations owning, leasing or con-
trolling railroads in the common
wealth. to report to this department
of the state. This new law brings the
Baltimore and Ohio. the New York
Central and Hudson River railroads
and the New Jersey Central under the
control Of the secretary Of internal af-
fairs. The time of reporting is changed
to June 80, instead Of May 81. as here
tofore.
Among the bills passed finally was
the state fish commission bill amend
ing the act Of May I. 1889. to extend
the period Of Limitation Of liens for tax
es entered of record for three years
authorizing the county commissioners
to rebuild bridges on sites owned by
corporations over streams or rivers
: forming the boundary lines between
counties where they have been destroy
ed by ice. flood or otherwise which may
have been abandoned by the own
ers, and rebuild on another site. which
bridges were used for vehicles or foo,
purposes exclusively. and provide fol
the cost Of their construction; allowing
licensed dealers and their employees
to give testimony in cases relating t.
the furnishing Of Intoxicating liquor.
to minors: authorizing state banks t.
/, | pay luteTtbt Oh ueHldHu uepObltSS per
mitting school directors the authorit,
to grant the use of public school house,
for Sabbath school or religious services
for the preservation of forests. ant
partially relieving forest lands from
taxes; to prevent the adulteration, al
teration and substitution of drugs an,
medicinal preparations, and to pro
hibit the adulteration or coloring o
, milk by the addition of so-ealled pre-
servalines or coloring matters.
The obnoxious pool racing BILL whicl
licenses pool selling, and which Is al
, effort to transfer the iniquities that in
. Tested New Jersey for several years T.
| this state, has passed the senate, an,
the members of that body who favore
, Its passage are somewhat concerne,
as to how they are to explain to thei
constituents their reasons for aidin
In it's being put through. 1t is bein
pushed along by Ats friends In tn
house, but IL the temper of the hous
continues as has been characteristic
during the session the bill is destine