Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1897-12-31
HARRISBURG LETTER.
Compendium of Important
News of the Past Week.

Writes on Matters of Vital Impor
tance 20 Every Citizen of the Key
stone State.
HARRISBURG, DEC 27, 1897
This has been an exceptionally dull
week about the State offices nearly all en-
ployes and officials on Capitol Hill having
deserted their oil ,5s in order to spsnd the
holidays with their families. Immcdi-
ately upon his return last week from Hot
Springs, Governor Hastings transacted inn
pcrtant business which had accumulated
during his atsencs. and all important
matters to date have been disposed Of At
torney General Mccormick says he has
been greatly benefited by the trip and
fully demonstrated that fact by clearing
up the large amount of work that awaited
his return. A matter Of great Importance
to all mining htmlsts-the company OF
''pluck-me" store complaint - will be
heard by the Attorney General this week,
The defendants in the case are McElhoe &
Cu., Of Portage, anl the hearing was to
have been held last week, but at the re-
quest of all parties intsre+tsl was post
ponel until this Wednesday, From what
can be learned thsre will b. a great legal
fight and the hearing continue several
days, requiring careful consideration by
General Mccormick. aud eventually the
case will get into the courts 1t has been
ntimated that the act of assembly unls L
which action was brought is defective, and
its constitutionalty may be questioned.
WHAT CAUSED TIP
There is not week passes that we do
not hear of law enacted by the Leglsla-
ture of 1897 being declared unconstitutional
by the oldest and best versed judges on the
bench. No less than ten acts have been
dissected and each section and clause Wig
or1usly attacked, thus leading us to be-
n3ye that proper precautions were not ex-
erclsed ia til, drafting of measures Th en-
ag lin it will b5 rem,mb5rel how several
important bills were railroldel through
both branches, the only object apparently
being to dispose of ths matter rapidly, re-
gardless of the cost TO taxpayers which re-
suited in litigation through the courts
If any act is to be passed why not have its
constitutionality decided previous to its
endorsements and thus saves the drainage
on the public treasury
THE STATE CONVENTION.
At it's meeting held in Philadelphia last
week the Republican State Committee de
cided upon Thursday, June 3, 1898, as the
date for holding the next State conven
ton. At that time candidates will be
chosen for Governor. Lieutenant Gov
ernor. Secretary Of Internal Affairs an d
Congressman-at-Large. One of the great
est political struggles in the history of the
Republican party will be fought from now
on, and when the convention is called to
order in the opera house in this city on
June 2, men of all classes will be repres-
ented there. If all the candidates who have
thus far announced themselves remain in
the field it will be one of the longest con-
ventions ever held, but from present indi-
cations it looks as If the aspirants will
gradually drop out, their forces concentra-
ting on Col. VIM. A Stone, of Allegheny,
who has already done more campaign
work than the candidates OF all parties
combined. That Stone will be the nomi
nee is a foregone conclusion, and it is need
less to say that he will command enor-
nous support for his influence that has
blen so keenly felt ON certain measures
passed by Congress, especially the pension
appropriation BILL has won for him a vast
multitude of constituents.
ABOUT TRADING STAMPS.
A number of informations have been
ma le In this State against merchants who
gave their patrons trading stamps, and it
is likely that proceedings will soon be in
stltuted against the promoters of the
scheme under the lottery section OF the act
of assembly of 1885. Prominent attorneys
have expressed their opinions on the sub
jeot, and say there is nothing unlawful in
the business, and 4 there is a desire to sup
press the Issuance of the stamps special
act will have to be passed by Congress or
the State Legislature. Attorney John g.
johnson, of Philadelphia, says; " am
most clearly and decidedly of the opin-
ion that this system is not directly
or indirectly lottery There Is
no element of chance in it. The pur-
chase OF goods to deanite extent en-
titles the purchaser to certain number Of
anps suffi,ient to buy at selection arti-
cles OF designated value. 1t is within
the words of the act of 1885, but by reason
Of defect in the title Of this act, even il its
provisions would otherwise be legal, 1t is
clearly unconstitutional
DEPARTMENT NOTES.
The working drawings for tbs new CAPT
t0l building have bsen completed aud in a
short while contracts will be asked for
Ths CON mission still claims the building
will be ready for the next Legislature.
Adjutant General Ste wart has asked
Secretary of War Alger for permission &
have the United States inspecting Officer
at the Schuylknl Arsenal inspect the new
caps to bs issued Co ths National Guard OF
HenasylyAnia, for which the contract will
be awarded early In January.
Only few charters were granted neg
corporations last week, and employees a
the state department said this is living ul
TO the old time custom, for it Is rarely tina
IA corporation applies for a charter 50 nea
the close Of the year. Secretary Martin "a
pecta boom in his department after JAM
AIRY lst.
The Board Of Public Buildings an
Grounds has rejected the report Of tl
Board Of Viewers In the matter Of th
Birmingham bridge, which will be erecte
by the State. The Board has notified Oh
Commissioners Of Blair and Huntingdo
no,1ntfac ~ meat than, On ha site fo III y a