The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1900-11-21

ur 1884. IN aGdltlop, however, 10
these laws, we favor such legisla-
tion as will enable the courts to
open the ballot boxes upon the pc
tition of citizens, duly presented,
in all cases where complaint sprop-
erly made, alleging fraud in the
holding of an election or the count
ing of the vote cast, so that il
fraudulent ballots are placed in the
boxes or q false count has been
made ii can be exposed by the
courts with expedition and all Of
tenders against the purity of the
of the ballot detected and brought
to speedy justice"
The subject of ballot reform will be
among the first taken up by the stall
wart Republican leaders.
REFORM OLEO LEGISLATION.
Another matter which will receive
prompt attention from the Republican
leaders will be the proposed amend
ments to the laws covering the sale
of oleomargarine. The Republican
party is committed in the most posi-
tive manner by the speeches made by
Governor Stone and his subordinates
in the department OF agriculture to
urge legislation which will remedy de-
;ects in the present law on that subject.
fhe fact is that the law makes it diff
cult to suppress the traffic in oleo col
ored as butter, as 1t places but small
punishment upon Violators of The law
and it is deficient in other respects.
Despite these facts, Governor Stones
administration has done great work in
the suppression of the "oleo" traffic. It
is known that prior to the Inauguration
of Governor Stone the enormous guam
tity of II ,433,341 pounds of oleo was
sold in Pennsylvania In one year. The
sales have been reduced to less than
100000, as many dealers who have sold
lleo colored as butter have been ar
asted and convicted through the oper-
ions of the state officials. The pres
law, the act Of May 5, 1899. was
ed at the instance OF The Dairy
mems Union and the State Grange as
the outcome Of a meeting held at Will
Transport in December The bill was
taken to Harrisburg by the secretary OF
the Dairymens Union and by the leg
islative committee of the State Grange
The weak points in the measure have
been demonstrated by practical expe-
rience of the state officials, and they
will undertake to recommend amend
ments to the present act which will
make the prosecution of the men ac-
cused of selling oleo in imitation OF
butter less difficult and which will
make the punishment quite severe.
SCHOOLS TO BE CARED FOR.
The matter of the appropriations tc
the public schools has been the subject
Of much newspaper abuse of the state
administration. It is manifest thai
these attacks have been for purely par
tisan purposes and were without justi
| fication.
| When Governor Stone was inaugu
| rated he sent a message to the legis
lature explaining the conditions of tn,
state finances and setting forth thu
fact that there would be an estimated
| deficiency of three millions of dollar
unless appropriations were greatly re
duced or some new sources of revenu
were procured. He made several rec
concentrations regarding means t
raise more money, but the insurgen
and Democratic combine in the hous
defeated the bills which were intende
to meet this contingency.
This combine not only prevented tn
passage of legislation to raise money
but it failed to reduce the appropria
tions, and the governor, in order
protect the credit of the common
wealth, felt obliged to cut s500,00
year from the item for schools.
STONES PROMPT ACTION.
Less than two years have elapse,
and owing to the extraordinary acti'
ity of the state officials in collectin
back taxes from delinquent corpori
tions and making other corporation
pay their full share of taxation, the al
parent deficit has been changed to
magnificent surplus, and Goyernt
Stone has publicly stated that with Il
opening of the next legislature he wi
at once forward a message calling II
the immediate passage of deficient
bill which will make up the S50O,OOO
year for the schools, the amount whit
he deducted, so that they will actual
not suffer in the slightest degree I,
any part of the original appropriate
of s5,500,000 a year made by the la
legislature.
The stalwart Republican majority
the legislature will without dou
promptly adopt the suggestion Of Go
ernor Stone and the so-called scho
issue will have been disposed Of to L
satisfaction Of the people, and no dou
to the disgust of the Democrats al
the insurgents, who. with nothing
kick about, will accordingly be u
! happy.