The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-03-25
ONLY EIGHTEEN
SENATORS PRESENT
BUSINESS BEFORE THE STATE
LEGISLATURE.
New Measures Introduced-Many
Bills Passed ON Second Reading.
Mr.. Schoffstall Refused a Special
Order for His Bill Concerning
Railroad Switches.

Harrisburg, March 24-There were
eighteen senators present at today's
session Several Appropriation bills,
not duplicated in the house, were re-
ported from committee in order to have
them passed quickly and sent to the
house.
These bills were introduced:
Mr.. Meredith of Armstrong, for the
regulation of mutual insurance COM
panies.
Mr.. Scott. of LuZerne. to provide for
the compensation of election districts
composed of two or more counfles
Mr.. Brown. of Philadelphia. repeating
the local option laws in the Fifteenth
and Nineteenth wards of Philadelphia.
Mr.. Washburn, of Bradford. to regu-
late navigation on inland waters and
requiring the inspection of boilers OF
steam boats on lakes. the deputy fac
tory inspectors to do the work.
Several bills were passed on second
reading.
In the house today Mr.. Fow, of Phil
adelphia, introduced a bill making the
license to sell liquors, spirituous, vim
Gus or malt, either at wholesale or re-
tail. personal property and subject to
levy and sale and providing for the
transfer thereof to the purchaser.
Mr.. Abrams, of Philadelphia, read
in place a bill TO prevent the sale of
spirituous, vinous Ur malt liquors at
places where groceries or food are sold
Mr.. Hosaclt, of AllC gheny obtained
a special order for the senate bill! re-
lating to the bureaus of police and fire
in Allegheny and Pittsburg. constitute
ing a civil service board in relation
thereto. providing for and regulating
examinations. the manner of appoint-
ments and the manner and power OF
removal of employees in such bureaus.
The bill will be taken up next Tues
day morning for second reading and
Wednesday for third and final passage.
Mr. Abrams of Philadelphia, obtain
ed a special order of the senate bill
creating several additional offices in
the senate and house and it will be
taken up on Monday evening for Sec
ond reading, and on Wednesday for
third reading and final passage.
For Uniform Textbooks.
Mr.. Squier, of Wyoming, offered a
resolution which lies over until Mon
day evening that the bill creating a
board to establish a uniform system
of text books for the public schools Of
the commonwealth, which was Mega
tived by the committee, be placed on
the calendar.
Mr.. Schoffstall, Of Northumberland,
asked for and was refused a special or
der for his bill requiring railroad COM
panies to fill in their switches and
frogs, to keep them free from snow.
Chairman Marshall, of the appropri-
ations committee, made a statement
that the committee had reported all
bills for state and Semi-state institu-
tlons. amounting TO $j,799, 900, and that
the general appropriation bill, which
would be reported by April 4, would
carry about $16,000,0 900 more. This
would amount to more than the rev.
enue in sight and Mr.. Marshall sug-
Gested that the committee be not re-
Quired to report private appropriation
bills until more revenue be provided.
\ motion was made by Mr.. Bliss, of
Delaware, and adopted, resembling that
part of the resolution which required
immediate report on private bills.
The house took recess and listened
to an anti-eXpansion address from
Senator William f. Mason, of Illinois.
He said he was confident that Amer
lean liberty would not be injected, hy-
podermically into the people of other
countries with 13-inch guns. After
clearing the calendar of first reading
bills, the house took a recess to ballot
for United States senator.