The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1897-06-10

ly from the house committee on rail
roads a few weeks ago. Some such
measure bobs up at every session o.
the legislature. but It rarely gets be-
yond the committee to which IL Is re-
ferred Mr.. Greasy. who is one Of the
Democratic leaders in the house, made
a speech in support OF his bill. In which
be took the position that. as the pur
chasing power Of a dollar Is double
that Of few years ago. IL is only falr
that railroad companies should reduce
their charges in the same proportion a,
prices OF food products and other nee.
essaries Of life have been reduced. Rep
resentative Lytle. OF HuBtingdon. op.
posed the bill. saying that the constt.
tuition would interfere with the enact.
msnt Of such a measure. inasmuch al
the act Incorporating the Pennsylvania
Railroad company fixed the rate Of fare
Comparative Veto statistics.
Governor Hastings has not lost his
grip on the veto az He favors the
legislature With one or two veto meg
sages every day. one OF his latest ve-
toes knocks out concurrent resolution
directing the state printer TO print 2 2.50c
copies Of grand aliases TO accompany
certain geological reports. He says
this resolution. II approved. would COM
nit the state TO the expense Of printing
the maps. There Is no provision or
Limitation in the resolution regarding
their cost, and the governor suggests
that the state printer could go on and
complete maps according to his own
taste and judgment, fixing his own
price therefor. He concludes that he
could not give the measure his ap-
proval. even IL the bill was in due form
Of law, guarded by careful restrictions
as to the cost Of the maps. because OF
the present condition Of the public
treasury.
An interesting table has been pre-
pared showing the results OF careful
and discriminating use Of the veto
power b. the last three governors. This
table, in addition to the number Of
vetoes of each governor, also shows the
amount OF money saved by reason Of
the vet"es, as follows: Governor Pat
tison's first term, 1883, SO vetoes, SOS. .6ss
saved; 1855, los vetoes, saved $3.50, ,sS7.
Governor Beavers term. 1887, SO vetoes.
N,e27,s3G saved; 1889. 43 vetoes. s3s1, ,6s7
saved. Governor Pattison's second term.
1881. 81 vetoes, s5s3.44s saved; 1898. so
vetoes, saved sl,O7l.069. Governor Hast
ings. 1876, l23 vetoes, saved s745.56l.
A concurrent resolution has been ap-
proved by the governor urging upon
the Pennsylvania representatives in
congress to work to secure the passage
Of laws looking to the restriction Of
immigration. He has also approved a
resolution urging the representatives of
Pennsylvania at Washington to press
to passage a bill for the retirement of
General d. NJ. Gregg with the rank of
captain, which he held at the time OF
his resignation from the army.
Rapidly the old capitol Is being dis
mantled. and before the close of the
presen. week at least half of the ruins
will be removed. A week ago Contrac-
tor Rorke's men began work, and their
progress has been so satisfactory as to
Justify the belief that the walls and
foundations will be removed within the
time limit Of 80 days. Architects in all
parts Of the country are now at work
on the competitive plans for the new
building, and these will be submitted
about the middle of July. Two or three
weeks will then be given contractors
to bid on the plan adopted by the COM
mission. so that work on the new struc-
ture is expected to be commenced
about Aug. /.
Electric railway measures have met
with all sorts of opposition in the pres
ent Legislature. The steam railroad in
fuences have been too great to over
come, and as a result the Young bill.
giving trolley companies a chance on
hie n ~ I4
Mackey bill, giving them the right TO
carry freight, are still hanging fire in
the house.
Tactics have been employed in de-
laying these bills which are not cred
liable to those engaged in them. These
measures have been attacked on all
sides and under all kinds of pretexts,
but the better element in the legisla-
ture believe that they are fair bills
and ought TO be passed.
Focht's Alien Pauper Bill.
Representative Focht, of Union coun-
~, Is pushing to final passage his bill
providing for the return of paupers and
insane persons, not having a legal set
tiement within this commonwealth. to
any other state or country to which
they may have belonged. Mr.. Focht
is chairman of the special committee
appointed by the Legislature of 1895 to
investigate the question of alien and
pauper inmates of the state institu-
tions, ard he contends that much of
the expense of these institutions is
caused by the maintenance of alien
paupers.
The governor has just approved a
Dill to validate contracts for street i'm
provements and the construction of
sewers that were made under laws and
ordinances declared unconstitutional.
II applies to street paving, macadamlz-
ing and grading, completed or in pro-
cess of completion. and provides the
method of levying assessments and ap-
pointing viewers.
1t is probable that the Hamilton road
Dill, one of the measures that has
caused more talk during the present
session of the legislature than any
other half dozen bills, will likely reach
the governor this week. 1t was sent
to the senate with a ride., providing
that A,OOO,0O0 should be appropriated
Tor the Improvement of highways be-
fore the law becomes operative. This
amount was cut down by the senate to