Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1901-01-17
Republicans Will Pass Reform
Legislation at Harrisburg.
GOVERNOR STONE LEADS.

His Recommendations, Especially
Those For Ballot Reform and the
Preservation of the Forests, Meet
with Popular Favor.
Especial Correspondence)
Harrisburg, Jan. 15.-Now that the
legislature has gotten down to business
the party leaders are shaping their
plans for the fulfllment of the pledges
made by the Republican party in the
last campaign.
There is every reason to believe the
people will be entirely satisfied with
their work. The cause Of ballot re-
form will be among the first matters
considered, and the stalwart Republic
cans intend to take advanced ground
on this issue. Legislation will be pass
ed which it is believed will meet every
requirement Of the situation and that
the most radical reformers will be en-
tirely satisfied with the outcome.
The contentious over the election of
United States senators prompted Gov
ernor Stone to advocate the PROPOSE
senator's by popular vote. This plan
was advocated by the last Republican
state convention, and to a certain ex-
tent has already been put into oper-
alton by friends OF Col. Quay, who
have for years advocated the popular
vote system at Republican primary
elections for instructions to candidates
for the legislature on the United States
senatorship.
TO IMPROVE THE FORESTS.
This legislature will undoubtedly
adopt Governor Stones suggestion for
legislation calculated to extend and
preserve the forests Of Pennsylvania.
The governor, In his annual message,
told Of the recent purchases by the
state of forests lands and on this sub
ject said:
III these titles prove satisfactory.
will increase the acreage owned by tho
state to something over $4,000 acres.
The cost to the state of the 1892
acres and 20 perches already acquired
Is at an average Of about $1.35 per
acre. Some Of this land has increased
in value since its purchase by the state
and could now be sold at an advance.
The purpose in acquiring these
lands 10 to preserve and increase our
forests. Forests exert great influence
on the streams and climate and tend to
preserve the health of the community.
Their rehabilitation In Pennsylvania, IL
only to part Of their former extent, will
be productive Of the greatest good. It
is the purpose Of the present admins
tration to purchase more lands in var
ious sections of the state under the
several acts Of assembly wherever they
can be purchased cheaply. The in
vestment 10 good one, and should the
state acquire large acreage Of wild
lands, 1t cannot under any circum-
stances be a mistake.
WILL INCREASE IN VALUE.
The land will increase In value
through the rapid growth of timber
and. while there will be destruction in
part by fire. yet the average value will
largely increase. These public lands
will become the peoples parks, open
to them at all times for hunting, fish
ing and camping. and the people In
turn will become the guardians and
protectors of the forests. Already they
are quite popular in the vicinities
where purchases have been made.
There should be additional legisla-
tion relating to the forest reservations.
AS the purchase Of large tracts in any
one county withdraws those lands from
taxation. II Is thought that separate
tracts scattered about over the state In
various places would be productive of
better results. Too large bodies of land
should not be purchased in one county
to the exclusion of others. II the pur-
chases were distributed more evenly
over those counties where forest lands
still exist. the reduction of local taxa
ton by such purchases would be
trivial.
In few years the state will receive
large revenue from the sale of ma
tured timber and timber that has been
destroyed by insects. fire and wind
storm. So far the deeds have been
made to the commonwealth of Penn
sylvanta, but In case 1t became desir-
able 70 sell timber that had been de-
stroyed BY nre or wind storm the
power. under the present laws. Is de-
hcient. There are practically three
separate bodies or departments that
have supervision over these forest
lands--the agricultural department, the
board OF property and the forestry
commission. All these bodies give oc-
easion for conflict. although fortunate
ly none has yet occurred"
The governor recommended that an
act be passed which would place the
purchase and the supervision of these
lands under one management.
SENATOR WAsHBURN.
An interesting character In the com
ing struggle for reform legislation viii
be Senator o. n. Washburn, OF Craw-
ford county. who recently announced
that he had Joined the Republican
party. IN his speech In the Republican
caucus Senator Washburn, among
otAss thinSs. said