Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1899-04-10
WITH THE LAW MAKERS.
NOTES AND COMMENTS FROM THE
PENNSYLVANIA CAPITAL.
In Less Than Two Weeks the State Legis-
lature Will BE "A Thing of the Past-No
Prospects of Electing II Senator-Treas-
ury Lower Than for Thirty Years.
Harrisburg, Pa, April :, 1899.

Harrisburg, Pa, April Z, 1899.
The session is now rapidly drawing to
a close, and revenue and appropriation
bills have the right of way. These
bills will occupy the attention of the
legislature from this on. During the
past week a large number of revenue
measures passed the house, and should
these succeed in passing the senate,
they will provide enough money to meet
expenses for the next two years and
pay part of the So, ,50O.O 900 deficit 1t
looks now If adjournment would he
made on the Goth az originally intended.
Should this occur many bills will fall by
the waysde.
The normal school authorities of the
state are making a strenuous effort to get
their bill through before adjournment.
1t is to grant them permission to place
a mortgage on their properties which
shall be prior in lien to all liens of the
commonwealth for the money appro-
| priated to such schools. The bill is on
third reading and gives any normal
school the right to place a mortgage not
/ tACtcblilS IJo'bbOs IL 10 uoubbluli noN
ever, if the bill will pass.
The bill authorizing the construction
| and completion of the state capitol
building and appropriating $4,000, 900 to
do the work was up on final passage in
the senate last week, but had to be
postponed
TO SAVE IT FROM DEFEAT.
The fight was centered on the con
tinuance of the present capitol building
commission, as well as the 100000 900
appropriation. 1t was also contended
that at this time the building of a new
capitol could be postponed so that the
institutions which must be supported
need not suffer. There is much feeling
among the lawmakers that the building
commission has not done its duty as laid
down regarding the erection of the new
state house. The most favorable plan
is to delay the completion for few
years until the finances get in better
shape and get rid of the present COM
mission.
The members and senators partic-
pating in the daily ballotng for United
States senator derive considerable
| fun while going through the routine of
casting their ballot. The other day one
of the members voted for penn
sylvania's Favorite Son Hon. M. S.
Quay" another for That Brilliant Con-
gresham and Republican, John Dal-
zell," and the third for THAT United
Party Candidate George A. jerks"
THE SITUATION HAS CHANGED
little from what it was at the opening
of the session. The independent Re-
publicans vary the monotomy somewhat
by punching their votes. This had no
| effect on the general result however.
The seven months school term bill
has passed the senate by large ma
iority, but in the house is where it will
encounter bitter opposition. A bill
similar to this has been presented to
every session for the past ten years, but
always defeated. This term, however,
the members fighting the measure must
give exceptionally good reasons for their
opposition. These same members are
also opposed to the cutting down of the
school appropriation, yet their school
term has not been heightened, nor their
teachers better paid since the appro-
priation to the schools has grown to its
present tremendous amount.
The bill increasing the number of
employees around the legislature has
passed both branches of the legislature
and is in the hands of the governor. 1t
will be of interest to know what the
executive will do with this measure
1t calls for additional
DRAIN ON THE TREASURY
and Mr.. Stone has repeatedly declared
that he will not approve bills of this
nature unless additional revenue is pro-
vided by the legislature.
Every session of the legislature, local
politicians come here and secure posi-
tions about the legislature halls, and
then employ substitutes from this city
to do the work. In some cases these
employees do not come only to draw
their salaries This led Representative
Coray, of Luzerne county, to offer a
resolution investigating these condi-
tions. He stated that he knew posi-
lively that one of the janitors of the
committee rooms and several pastors
and folders had not performed their
work. He could furnish their names,
bnt desired not to at present. The
resolution, however, was defeated and
the ward heelers can continue to draw
pay for which no services were rendered
At the end of March the balance on
hand in the state treasury was but
$515, 362. .43. This is said to be
THE SMALLEST BALANCE
that has been in the state depositares
since the civil war. During the month
of June the state is expected to pay out
the school appropriation of S.. 500 ono