Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1898-01-28
HARRISBURG LETTER.
Compendium of Important
News of the Past Week.
Our Special Correspondent at Harrisburg
Writes on Matters of vital Impor-
tanee to Every Citizen Of the Key
stone State.
HARRIsBuRa, Jan. "a. 1s0s.

stone State.
HARRISBURG, Jan. "a, 1898.
With the beginning of last week
Governor Daniel H. Hastings en-
tered upon the fourth year of his
reign as the chief executive of this
Commonwealth and this fact alone
gives thought for number of re-
flections of the past and predictions
for the future. That Governor
Hastings has thus far served his
constituents faithfully is not dis
puted and credit must be given him
for the economic measures employed
in disposing of the States business.
1t will be remembered how, during
the last session of the Legislature,
he vigorously fought everything
that savored of extravaganza and
even went so far as to offend some
of his warmest political associates
by vetoing measures that he did not
think were calculated for the benefit
of those who belr the burden of
taxation. Again it will be remem-
bered of the Capitol Building Com
mission, he opposed any unfairness
or impartiality, whether imaginary
or not, in the selection of an archi-
tect, and when, according TO his
Judgment proper consideration was
not given the contestants, he refused
to further deliberate with the Com
mission. His last official act of
great importance was that of follow
ing President Mckinley s example in
issuing proclamation calling for
aid for the starving and suffering
Cubans, which was so generously
responded to and which has so plain
ly portrayed how the governor sym
pathizes with suffering humanity in
general. Governor Hastings has an
nounced that at the expiration of his
term next year he will retire from
politics and again resume the
management of his business in
terests up in Center county. This
is in direct contradiction to the an
nouncements frequently made that
the governor was desirous of being
sent to the United States Senate
Now the question arises: "Who
will succeed Hastings?" As a mat
Il
date who has q vestige of a show
for the nomination on the Republi-
can ticket and that person is Colo
mel William A Stone, of Allegheny.
He has been in the field for months,
thus thoroughly familiarizing every
body with his views, and the i'm
portant legislation at Washington
in which he has been an important
factor, stands out boldly as a recon-
mendation for him. He has already
been endorsed by countless political
and other organiza tions as the GU
bernatorial candidate, and that he
will secure the nomination next
June is a practical certainty OF
course, as is always the case, he has
opposition, and that is coming by
way of the estate bosses" they
fully realizing that Stone is the pso-
pies candidate and that he can not
be used as tool in the furtherlnce
of any schemes that they may con-
coct. That the fight from now on
will be interesting is assured, for the
leaders are getting desperate and
are employing all sorts of tactics to
get ''swaying" candidate in the
field.
ANONYMOUS MATTER.
The State having been flooded
with anonymous communications of
late it is we'll that every person
should be familiar with the following
act passed by the last Legislature
THAT every person who, without
appending his or her proper sigma
ture thereto, shall send or cause to
be sent to another any written
or printed communication or mat
ter, the nature of which is either Ii
belous. defamatory, scurrilous or
opprobrious, shall be guilty of a
misdemeanor, and on conviction
shall be sentenced to pay a fine OF
not more than five hundred dollars,
and undergo an Imprisonment OF
not more than one year"
READY FOR PROPOSALS.
The State Capitol Building Com
mission is down to business at last
Plans aud specifications are now on
exhibition in the Supreme Court
room and advertisements requesting
proposals for the erection of the
capitol have been sent out. Bid.
will be opened February 2. Eaci
bid must be accompanied by a certi
fed check for $15, 900 and the right
is reserved to reject any or all bids
The person receiving the contrac
will have to furnish bond in the
sum of $3.50, 900 that he will com
plete the work by Nov. Is. 1898.
DEPARTMENT NOTES.
The thirty-ninth annual session
of the State Horticultural Societ,
was held at Lancaster last week, re
presentatives being present from
every county in the state.
The pure food commission wC.
again unsuccessful last week. Som
time ago a number of bills charging
the alleged sale by dealers of oleo
margarine were ignored by the AL
legheny county grand jury, AM
Agent Terry again presented then
to the jury for action last Tuesday
With equal promptness all the in
diotments were thrown out, and no,
the commission is devising a plan {
get the cases before the court 70
trial.
WILL F. HEEDRIcKsoN