The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1911-04-12
CAPITOL LETTER &c. A. R. CAMPFIRE
Special Correspondent, N.
E. HauSe, Sends Late
News OF Harrisburg
INTERESTING FACTS OF GOOD
ROADS BILL; SCHOOL CODE;
CHAMP CLARK AND EN-
IRA SESSION.

cut of committee this week with
some important amendments, and an
effort will now be made to push this
proposition through the Legislature.
This bill is not dependent upon the
suggested bond issue of $50,00O,00O,
but carries its own appropriation of
$6,000,0 900 for the coming two years.
OF this amount S4,000,OO0 is to be
used for constructing and maintain
ing roads under the new system, and
$2,00O,000 will be used to aid bor-
oughs and townships, though the
state will pay only fifty per cent. of
the cost instead of seventy-five as
heretofore. While in committee the
bill had 73 new routes added to the
system, making 277 in ALL so that
If the bill becomes a law and the
funds provided for the work to be
kept moving, the state will have in
the course of a few years fine net
work of good roads. Once the people
are accustomed to them they will
wonder at the exercise of their pa
thence for so many years while they
endured the poor roads.
New Road Routes.
Wayne county people will be in
terested in some of the new routes
affecting roads in northeastern Penn
sylvania. One leads from Honesdale
to the York state line via SusQue-
hanna; another from Honesdale to
the York state line, via Lackawaxen;
another from Honesdale to Strouds-
burg, via Poplar Bridge, and another
from Milford to Scranton, via New
foundland. There seems to be no
opposition to the road plans as now
being worked out, and the people of
the country districts seem to be in
fair way to get good roads soon.
With this bill enacted, there will be
reorganization of the Highway De-
partment. Who the new chief will
be seems undecided, but Bigelow of
Pittsburg is oftenest mentioned. Mr..
Hunter will probably remain as Dep
uty Commissioner, as his knowledge
and experience make him too valu-
able man to let go. The present
method of building mile here and
there will be abolished, and large
centres will be connected by good
roads under a regular system.
Fake Interview.
In its April first edition the North
American printed a fake interview
between its editor and Senator Pen
rose at the office of the paper 1t
was clever piece of work and
brought the editor many compli-
ments. Any one reading the article
through might have noted at it's close
that 1t was intended as an April fool
story, but it was evidently taken as
the real thing by several papers
through the state, one of those TAX
en- in being published in a town not
a thousand miles from Honesdale.
Senator Penrose and Editor Van
Valkenbergh respect each others
ability, but there is no love lost be-
tween them, and when either goes
to make purely social or friendly
call upon the other, it will be only
with flag of truce. Remarkable de-
velopments may be expected when
either goes to see the other for any
reason, but it was a good April fool
joke.
The School Code has passed the
House and is now before the Senate.
That body will probably make no
material changes in the bill, so there
is some likelihood of it's becoming
law at this session. The large ma
Jority given the bill in the House in
slcates the popular thought.
Police Salary Bill.
The State Police salary bill was
Killed some days since in the House,
but there is talk of a reconsideration
or the vote inasmuch as many mem
oers voted under a misapprehension
Enemies of the bill had circulated the
report that the privates received high
wages, When the fact is the troopers
get Dut $50 a month, out of which
they must pay $40 a month for their
board, ETC., leaving a small amount
as compensation for their services
Putting up the salary of the Superin-
tendent and Deputy helped to kill
the Dill for many members favored
more pay for the troopers who would
not vote for $4,000 salary for the
CHIEF. The men deserve the increase
for they are very generally a dis
Greet and brave lot of fellows.
champ Clark says the extra ses-
sion will last until the first of Sep-
tember, and being Speaker he ought
to know. That rather indicates that
not all of the time of Congress will
be utilized in the Canadian reciproc-
lty scheme, but that the tariff will
come in for bit of tinkering, with
perhaps some Departmental investi-
cations and some other moves in
tended to give the unterrified mater
aal Tor a campaign to keep them in
power. They don't intend to be
crowded away from the pie counter
so SOON atter an absence of sixteen
lons weary years. Cheap bids for
popularity are being made, like the
abolition of few unimportant com
mittees with clerkships, but they'll
nave to make good as lawmakers.
The people voted them there to do
business and reform some of the
evils the Democrats said existed. and
naturally the party is expected to
make good, but can they do it? They
never have.
Gov. Tener's Administration.
Governor Tener is ranidlv nnn