Ink Slings.
—If you didn’t have spring fever, on
Wednesday, you must certainly be an im-
mune.
—There were a few trout and a great
many of ANANIAS’ kinsmen caught along
Spring creek on Saturday.
—A few gleams of sunshine, a balmy
zephyr, or two, gives the average man
spring fever, and makes him wish he’d
nothing to do.
— The “‘old man’ has had a very bad
week of it, but doctors SHIELDS, SHAPLEY
and WATsoN think they will be able to
pall him through.
—It ought not to become necessary to
resort to the draft to secure men to make
up the 100,000 that LAWTON says will be
necessary to pacify the Philippines, so long
as there are so many expansionist editors in
the country.
—The famous ‘‘red book’ of the Key-
stone bank promises to shed as much light
over the QUAY proceedings as did the red
volume of Spanish government on the
conduct of affairs at Madrid during the
late unpleasantness.
—We hope the congressional committee
that is in Atlantic City talking over the
currency question didn’t go down there to
hear what the wild waves are saying; par-
ticularly if those waves are wafting any of
that foreign nonsense about monometal-
lism.
—They can talk as they please about
BRYAN'S being a back number, but the
crowds are still going to hear him speak
and they are listening until he has finished,
too. The masses are not slow to discover
when a man’s days of usefulness are over
and the fact that they are still following
BRYAN comes pretty near being evidence
that they want him still.
—The citizens of Potter county, In-
diana, are doing a good bit of bragging
these days because they have a public
school teacher out there who has no arms.
She holds her books with her toes and does
the finest kind of pen work with the same
organs. They didn’t say so, but we imag-
ine that she must either be a crack-a-jack
contortionist or else she has to stand on her
head when she starts putting sums on the
black-board for her classes.
—Boss CROKER has certainly been the
boss witness, up to date, in the Tammany
investigation that is going on over in New
York. His evidence showed very conclu-
sively that it is personal jealousies that
have prompted the investigation and the
way he shot replies into Mr. Moss was cal-
culated 15 get even a slower thing than a
Moss back up. The people of New York
are satisfied with the Tammany rule, be-
cause it is the best of any city on the globe
and they regard this investigation, more as
a joke than anything serious.
—The Philadelphia girl who is suing her
former beau for $15,000,000, which trifling
sum she demands as a balm for her shat-
tered heart, says he squeezed her hands un-
til they are likely to be permanently in-
jured. The poor, silly, dough head; he
needs to be arrested. Any fellow who
don’t know that it is a girl’s waist, not her
hands, that is to be squeezed ought to be
made pay for the information. Why some
girls squeeze themselves until their eyes
are almost popping out of their sockets and
they can’t take a breath more than one-
fiftieth as deep and long as it ought to be.
—It is not good policy for BRYAN or
any other Democratic leader to talk about
organizing a new Democratic party any-
where. There can be no new Democratic
party. There is but one Democratic doc-
trine, that of JEFFERSON and JACKSON
and talk of a new party comes dangerously
near to the mark of political socialism.
What ought to be done is to stir the old
party up, wherever interest is flagging, and
weed out the fellows who imagine them-
selves bigger than it is and who do not
seem to know that the Democratic party
won victories and made for good gov-
ernment long before they were even heard
of.
—England puts to flight thousands of
Chinese with a force of three hundred men
and almost at the same time that message
came another was received to the effect
that we must send one hundred thousand
men before we can expect a pacific condi-
tion in the Philippines. Of course we do
not intend to make comparisons that
would be disparaging to our arms, nor
could we, for the conditions in China and
the Philippines are different, but might we
not be led to believe, if it is going to
require so many men to conquer the Fili-
pinos now, that there have been some con-
siderably doctored reports cabled home
about the absolute conquests we have al-
ready made over there.
—Now that the Democracy of Pennsyl-
vania has a chairman who will prove a
really sagacious and discreet leader, it be-
hooves every member of the party to put
his shoulder to the wheel and make for a
common strength and unification. Many
golden opportunities have slipped by while
one or another faction, disappointed at the
failure of its favorite to rule, has tried to
ruin, or left the successful wing to fight ‘‘its
own campaign.”’ We have no need for
factions in the Democratic party in Penn-
sylvania and if there ever was a time
when a chance to win presented itself it
wasn’t a circumstance to the present op-
portunity. Let Democrats be Democrats,
stick together and fight the common enemy.
Don’t bicker and haggle the party
strength away over who shall be the leader.
®&
A Democratic}
“VOL. 44
The Senatorial Vacancy.
For the first time in many years the
State of Pennsylvania is represented in the
Congress of the United States by but one
Senator. It is not certain that this is a
source of regret, but it is nevertheless a
fact. The Legislature has adjourned, after
a session of more than 100 days and left
unperformed the duty of electing a Sena-
tor. The Republicans had a majority in
both branches. In one body the majority
amounted to more than two-thirds, and in
the other to nearly as great a preponder-
ance. But those who represented that
political organization in the Legislature
were unable to agree on a Senator. They
were of one mind on the question of tariff
taxation. They were seemingly in agree-
ment in reference to expansion and im-
perialism. There was no perceptible divis-
ion in their ranks on matters of ballot and
other reforms, and one faction and the
other was equally assiduous in the interest
of corporations. But on the matter of
dividing the spoils of victory they couldn’t
agree. In that their selfishness asserted
itself and after squabbling for more than
three months, they agreed to disagree.
The question now is what will be the
consequence. As Mr. QUAY said in his
letter to Senator GRADY, of Philadelphia,
under date of April 17th, ‘‘the State has
not perceptibly suffered’’ on account of the
failure to elect a Senator thus far. He
might have added that the fewer Senators
there are of the kind Pennsylvania Repub-
licans have been electing the better for the
State and the country. But it may be
assumed that these perennial place hunters,
avaricious for office and the emoluments of
office, will not allow this vacancy to exist
a day longer than it is necessary. But how
will they proceed to fill the position? Ac-
cording to the accepted interpretation of
the constitution of the United States the
Governor cannot appoint a Senator tem-
porarily, because the vacancy did not
happen during a ‘‘recess of the Legisla-
ture.”” Then if that be true neither can
the Governor summon the Legislature into
extraordinary session in order to elect a
Senator. The constitution of Penn-
sylvania invests the executive with
that power only when the vacancy occurs
“during a-recess of the Legislature,” and
if the Governor can’t appoint hej can’t call
the Legislature to elect.
The only legal course that is open under
the circumstances is to allow the vacancy
to continue until a new Legislature is elect-
ed and convened in the regular and usual
time and way. The Republican adminis-
tration in Washington may not relish this
solution of the problem, but what of that?
News comes from the Philippines that 100,-
000 troops are needed to subdue the natives
of the Asiatic archipelago and rob them of
their inherent and ‘unalienable rights to
life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness,’
and a Senator of the Pennsylvania type
might be of vast service in voting the au-
thority to thus pervert the powers of the
government and the traditions of the coun-
try. We are told that it may be necessary
to throw off the mask of benevolence and
reveal our real purpose to subdue the
Cuban people and take possession of the
‘“‘Gem of the Antilles,”” and a Senator of
the QUAY brand would be invaluable in
such an emergency. But how is the thing
to be accomplished?
If the law is respected there will be no
trouble about the matter at all, for the peo-
ple can elect a Democratic Legislature next
time and that party will choose a Senator
of a character that will guarantee, not only
ability but fitness for the office. During
the prolonged contest in the Legislature
which has just adjourned the proof of this
fact was clearly made. No finger of sus-
picion was pointed toward GEO. A. JENKS.
No man doubted the honesty or questioned
the ability of that man. Even his bitter-
est partisan opponent admitted his trans-
cendent merits, and two years hence the
Democrats will have a majority in the
Legislature to support just such a candidate
and elect him too.
——Among the laws passed by the Legis-
lature, recently approved by the Governor
are the following: Authorizing the courts
of common pleas and the orphans’ court to
enter an order or decree granting to the
proper officers of all benevolent and charit-
able institutions, asylums or corporations
the right to bind out and indenture minor
children who have been maintained and
cared for by said institution, asylum. or
corporation for a period of one year or over
at the expense, either in whole or in part,
of such institution, asylum or corporation;
to provide for the preparation and publica-
tion of names and records of Pennsylvania
volunteers in the Spanish-American war
and making an appropriation of $600 for
the clerical work in connection therewith;
making an appropriation of $5,000 for the
payment of the expenses of the inaugura-
tion of the Governor; extending the benefits
of the soldiers’ orphans’ industrial schools
to the children of the honorably discharged
soldiers, sailors and marines of the Spanish
war.
STATE RIGHTS AND FEDERAL UNION.
BELLEFONTE, PA., APRIL 21. 1899.
The Legislature of 1899.
The Legislature of 1899 has become a
matter of history, and whether it will de-
velop into a pleasant or horrid memory de-
pends on the view point from which it is
regarded. The session was short and that
is a virtue and so far as the public is in-
formed, it has added no really vicious leg-
islation to the statute books already over-
burdened in that respect. Fewer scandals
have grown out of its proceedings than
came from its immediate predecessor, it
may also be said, and that is in its favor.
But after all these are negative virtues ab
best, and positive ones are more to the pur-
pose, as well as more deserving of commen-
dation. The merits of this type which will
occur to the mind lie in the fact that an
unworthy candidate for Senator in Congress
was defeated, notwithstanding he had the
caucus endorsement of the dominant party,
and that a vigorous and fairly well-directed
attempt was made to expose the villainies
which had been attempted.
But the fact cannot be denied or con-
cealed that the Legislatures of the State
are degenerating, viewed from the stand-
point of morality, and the session just
ended has emphasized, rather than obscured
the fact. In other words the Members of
both branches of the Legislature are grow-
ing, yearly, more careless of their obliga-
tions to themselves and the public. For
example, the oath of office to which each
one solemnly subscribes, binds him to
‘‘support, obey and defend,’’ the constitu-
tion of the Commonwealth, and the consti-
tution prescribes certain forms of procedure
in enacting legislation. But as a matter
of fact these forms are almost entirely dis-
regarded. Morally, if not legally, every
such offense is perjury on the part of every
Senator and Member who permits it. It
may be reasoned that it is the duty of the
executive officers of the bodies to enforce
these provisions of the coustitution. But
when a Member permits the violation of
any of them he fails in the ‘‘defense’’ of
the organic law which he is sworn to make
and becomes as culpable as those who act-
ually commit the outrages.
But such complaints may seem hyper-
critical to the average mind, and a waste of
time, when there are more obvious faults
to criticise. The Legislature which has
just closed was derelict in these matters
but it was culpable in others. That is to
say it failed in its pledges of reform and
that is a sin of commission. Both parties,
and all parties for that matter, have been
promising ballot reform for some years.
Yet during the session which ended this
week every opportunity, and there were
plenty of them, to put those promises into
practice have been neglected. The blame
is on the Republican party, it is true, and
mainly on the QUAY or regular faction of
that party, but the fact stands as a charge
against the Legislature and the people will
hold it responsible. The Democrats in the
body were willing and vigilant in their ef-
forts to fulfill this sacred pledge, but they
had not the power to achieve the result by
themselves, and the others failed in the as-
sistance which should have been given. In
the house the KEATER bill had a majority,
but it would have been of little value
without the personal registration bill, and
that failed even in the House.
Moreover the Legislature of 1899 de-
faulted in its promises in other important
particulars. It was an essentially reform
body, according to the platforms on which
it was chosen. But when its work is passed
in review, what substantial reforms have
been accomplished? No bills were passed
which will afford better municipal govern-
ment. No serious attempt was made to
equalize taxation, or put upon corporations
and wealth a just share of the burdens of
administration. No blow was struck or
even aimed at profligacy in public affairs.
On the contrary various efforts were made,
some most insidiously, to multiply offices
increase ‘salaries, and they would have
been successful if it had not been for the
vigilance of the Democratic minority on
the floors. These are the facts revealed by
the records of the Legislature and they are
condemnatory alike of the party in the
majority in both branches and the men
who compose it. Taking it all in all, the
Legislature of 1899 has been grievously
disappointing, but the remedy is in the
hands of the people. Vote out the Re-
publican party which, however much its
membership is divided with regard to men,
is a unit with reference to measures that
burden and oppress the public.
——The question of what faction of the
Republican party in Centre county will
control things at the next county conven-
tion is already a much mooted one among
the politicians. It seems to us that there
is no question about it. The QUAY people
have the patronage and if they can’t win
with such a trump card they ought to go
out of business.
——The Blair county fellows who were
hauled up before an Altoona justice, on
Monday evening, for having stolen a stone
fence ought to have been discharged and
rewarded for their unsurpassable nerve.
The Bribery Investigation.
The committee appointed by the T.egis-
lature to investigate the charges of bribery
in connection with the consideration of the
McCARRELL bill, has completed its labors
and made its report. That is to say the
examination of witnesses has been brought
to an end, the summarizing and codifica-
tion of the testimony finished and the find-
ings of the gentlemen who conducted the
inquiry laid before the House and the pub-
lic. All that remains to perfect the work
of exposing and punishing the crimes
which have been attempted, if not perpe-
trated, must be performed in the courts.
As was said in these columns some time
ago, if the courts will be as faithful to
their obligations as the committee has
been, the people will have neither reason
nor right to complain.
It is not surprising that two reports have
been submitted by the committee which
has made the inquiry in question, and it
may be added that the division of the com-
mittee is not a subject of astonishment.
When the matter was first undertaken, the
selection of men to perform the duties was
left to the Speaker of the House. He
named five gentlemen, only one of whom
ought to have been considered. Mr.
KREPPS had publicly denounced the enter-
prise as the product of the brain of polit-
ical guerrillas. Mr. VOORHEES had de-
clared his conviction that no investigation
would investigate and the proposed one,
like its predecessors, would prove a farce.
Mr. TIGHE had nothing to recommend him
for the service, except an unconcealed sym-
pathy with those implicated in the charges
and Mr. SKINNER had previously declared
that he would not engage in the work.
Besides this all of these gentlemen had
supported the measure, the consideration
of which created the scandal. General
KOONTZ, alone, of the men named by the
Speaker was in sympathy with the work
to be performed, and consequently was the
only one eligible to a place on the commit-
tee, if the object was to expose, rather than
conceal, the truth. Subsequently the
Speaker named Mr. McCLAIN of Lancaster,
to fill the place made vacant by the declin-
ation of SKINNER and the House, having
discovered that it had be enbuncoed by the
chair, added Messrs: Fow, Philadelphia;
RANDALL, Chester; DixoN, Elk, and
YouNG, of Tioga. In the reports the com-
mittee divided on the lines created by the
Speaker. That is to say four of the five
men named by the Speaker, after having
hampered the inquiry from beginning to
end, reported in favor of practically nulli-
fying its labors, and the one fit man ap-
pointed by the Speaker and the four select-
ed by the House took the opposite course.
Candor compels the acknowledgment
that there is practically no difference in the
interpretation of the evidence brought out
by the inquiry. Both reports admit the
attempt at corrupt solicitation and fasten
the offense on the same persons. That
much was inevitable for the reason
that the proof was overwhelming.
But the agreement ends there. The ma-
jority report recommends the appointment
of a prosecuting committee by the House
and the other remits it to the uncertain
realm of ordinary criminal jurisprudence.
In other words the majority report would
make the prosecution as certain and the
punishment as sure as the inquiry was
searching and impartial, and the other
would make subsequent proceedings as un-
certain as the investigation would have
been farcical if it had been left to the com-
mittee named by the Speaker.
One Gained and One Lost.
The Pennsylvania State College appro-
priation bill was finally passed by the re-
cent Legislature in its original form, carry-
ing $66,557.90. The bill had been passed
by the House but was cut down in the Sen-
ate to nearly $40,000. The House raised
it to the original figures, however, and the
Senate concurred, so that the Centre county
institution will be among the favored, if
the Governor signs the bill.
The CARNEGIE library bill, unfortunate-
ly was lost. It was a splendid measure
and had the Legislature done nothing more
than aceept Mr. CARNEGIE’S offer, without
making the appropriation binding it, a
great service would have been done the
State. The bill was lost in committee,
however, and State College has lost an op-
portunity for a much needed library build-
ing.
——QUAY’s fight in the Legislature is
ended. He lost his battle, but in doing so
he prevented the election of any one else to
fill his place. He must now go before the
people of the State and win enough Legis-
lators to insure his election at the next
session, two years hence. With all the
patronage at his command through Senator
PENROSE and the leverage that the ap-
pointment of hundreds of census takers
will give him we would not be surprised
to see Pennsylvania Republicanism barter
itself, body and soul, for the spoils he will
have to offer.
Piling on the White Man’s Burden.
From the Pittsburg Post.
The promising expedition to the south
of Manila, to the region about Laguna bay,
does not seem to have met with success en-
couraging its prosecution, and General
Lawton has been ordered back to Manila,
evacuating the territory and the towns he
occupied. This is a reverse, and shows the
Filipinos capable of determined resistance
at all points so far assailed. It is hinted
that General Lawton will be sent to co-
operate with the column under General
MacArthur operating on the north on the
railroad to Malolos. It is pretty clear we
have not enough troops at the Philippines,
and this weakness will be more apparent
when the well-seasoned volunteers leave
the scene of war for the United States. A
dispatch from Manila of Sunday contains
an authorized statement from General
Lawton that it will take 100,000 soldiers
to pacify the islands, because of guerrilla
fighting in a tropical country, a fact that
should have been realized when President
McKinley started the American army on
the warpath and rejected all peace proposi-
tions from Aguinaldo.
General Lawton states, in what appears
to be an uncensored dispatch, that he had
not sufficient troops to hold the places he
occupied and found it necessary to evacuate
the territory. This is a glimpse of truth.
He says he ‘could march across Luzon with
a brigade, but he had not the troops to
hold conquered territory. As soon as the
Americans passed on the Filipinos sprung
into life in their rear. An uncensored As-
sociated Press dispatch to San Francisco by
steamer gives a gloomy picture of the war
a month ago about Manila, with burning
houses and towns, night attacks, the un-
complaining sick and wounded and the
thin line 25 miles long of entrenched sol-
diers. The country is described as the best
possible for defense and the worst for of-
fensive operations.
It is clear in every line of the Manila
news that the gallant American army is
overmatched, not alone in men, but by the
climate and the junglesand swamps. If is
the duty of the administration, having
forced this war on the country, to support
our brave soldiers in the field. Political
considerations should not be allowed to
stand in the way of massing an army of a
hundred thousand men in the Philippines
demanded by General Lawton as necessary
for the work in hand. It may not be pop-
ular in a political, but has been made nec-
essary in a military sense. Let there bea
draft if necessary to a full realization of the
white man’s burden in this crazy, enter-
prise.
The Deserters Were Few.
From the Philadelphia Inquirer.
In the interest of truth the” War depart-
ment should give us the exact number of
deserters among the 100,000 volunteers in
the recent war.
There is a dark side to many a noble
picture, and war has several such. The
commutation by President McKinley of
the sentences of three Pittsburg volunteers
who ran away, has developed the fact that
the military prison at St. Augustine eon-
tained at different times during the winter,
more than one hundred men, mainly under-
going short sentences for desertion, and that
there are about that many there now. But
this could not have been the total number,
nor were these all there for desertion.
Some were sent thither for insubordination,
or drunkenness and neglect of duty, and
similar army offenses.
Doubtless there are some thin-skinned
persons who believe that this issue should
be closed, but they are mistaken in that
notion. Aside from the fact that the pub-
lic has a right to know how many deserters
there really were, a patriotic regard for the
preservation of discipline in the army makes
it necessary that desertion should be made
as shameful as possible. But there is anoth-
er reason why we should have all the facts,
for we are confident that they will show a
very small percentage of deserters, and
practically none where the men were actual-
ly engaged in warfare.
We Ought Not Do It.
From the Lancaster Intelligencer.
It is curious to note a sudden change of
tone in the British comments upon the value
of the Philippines. Lately they have been
extolling those islands in order that they
might encourage the new American. policy
of expansion, hut the New York Herald and
several other newspapers are kicking up
some dust over a suggestion that the Phil-
ippines shall be traded off for the British
West Indies. The London newspapers take
this very seriously, and the value of the
Philippines at once falls in their estima-
tion. If there is a trade in the wind John
Bull will not be caught napping by brother
Jonathan, and the value of the Philippines
must be talked down, even if the same
papers have been calling them cheap at
twenty millions and a native war.
But, seriously, the swapping of islands
does not appeal to us. We do not want
West Indies any more than East Indies.
The question of the day is simply, shall we
or shall we not enlarge our national domain,
already ample, increasing our troubles of
government, already great?
Bereaved American Mothers Would be
Eager for Such a Trade.
From the New York Sun.
‘Who would surrender the great results of a
little war for the return of what it has cost?
— Dorchester Bacon.
‘Well, Senator Hoar would, for example.
So would the Hon. Carl Schurz. So would
William Jennings Bryan and others. But
that is not the extent of their willingness
to surrender. They would surrender the
great results of a little war, without even
asking for the return of what the war has
cost.
——Now that we have a good state
chairman and a competent executive com-
mittee backing him isn’t it about time for
all Democrats to pull together.
——-Subsecribe for the WATCHMAN.
sSpawls from ihe Keystone.
—Saturday evening in Williamsport, as a
runaway horse belonging to Charles Snyder,
of Montoursville, was rounding a corner it
fell, striking its head on the stone pavement.
The animal was instantly killed.
—W. H. Sweet, one of the leading coal
operators of the Broad Top region, recently
closed a contract with a Philadelphia firm
for 100,000 tons of coal, to be delivered during
the year ending April 1st, 1900, from his
Dudley mines.
—At Williamsport Saturday, a horse be-
| longing to A. S. Winner, after being un-
hitched at the barn, frightened at an ap-
proaching train and tried to run across the
tracks. It was struck by the pilot of the
engine and disembowled. The animal
died in a few minutes.
—John Rohn, aged 80 years, a- wealthy
lumberman, operating a sawmill at Three
Runs, Clearfield county, has been missing for
over a week, and 60 men are searching for
him. He went from the mill into the woods
with considerable money and it is feared that
he has been robbed and murdered.
—The Elk county commissioners have fixed
the salaries of the officials in charge of the
Elk county poor home: Superintendent J. W.
DeHass, formerly of Beech Creek, will re-
ceive 600; Dr. A. Mullhapt, $150; matron
Mrs. J. W. DeHass, $200 and assistant ma-
tron Grace A. Chamberlin, $3.50 weekly.
—The March pay day on the Beech Creek
railroad was one of the largest in the history
of that road. Nearly $50,000 was distributed
among the employes of the company, and of
that amount $35,000 was received by the em-
ployes who are located at Jersey Shore. The
traffic on the road during March was im-
mense.
—At Williamsport, Sunday afternoon, R.
W. Wilbur, of Franklin street, delirious from
the effects of typhoid fever and during the
temporary absence of the nurse, attempted to
cut his throat with a pair of scissors. He
was so weak, however, that he only succeeded
in inflicting a small scratch. He was after-
wards removed to the hospital.
—The Clearfield lumber company, whose
immense saw mill on the north branch of
Blacklick creek, at Vintondale, near the old
Ritter furnace, has a capacity of 60,000 feet
per day, will build a railroad spur up the
Blacklick branch to haul the logs to the mill
at Vintondale. By loading the bark on the
cars in the woods only one handling will be
necessary.
—John Hoover, a Zoo keeper, at the gar-
dens in Philadelphia, was badly torn and
bitten by a treacherous tiger as he entered
the cage to clean it out on Monday afternoon.
The beast sprang at him with all fury and
the force of the spring against the side of the
cage saved Hoover's life and enabled him to
escape through the door which was within
reach.
—Miss Minnie Rinehart, a dwarf, daughter
of Jonas Rinehart, of Potter township, Ly-
coming county, died at her home a few days
ago, after a long illness. She was 20 years
old and was only 38 inches tall. Her small
size was due to an injury to the spine by a
fall on the ice when the child was four years
old. The accident incapacitated her from
walking. Her remains were interred at
Jersey Shore.
—J. Frank Gray, a prominent Quay leader
of Jersey Shore, Monday filed a petition at
Harrisburg, for a rule to issue in quo warranto
on sheriff J. A. Gamble, of Lycoming county,
to show cause why he shall not be removed
from office. The charges as filed are that
sheriff Gamble’s election to his office was
tainted with fraud. Attorney General Elkin
has fixed Tuesday, April 25th, as the day for
hearing the argument.
—W. J. Nichols, who is wanted in Jeffer-
son and Armstrong counties on the charge of
burglary, was captured at DuBois Saturday
afternoon. The prisoner was taken to a hotel
to await departure of a train. He there
eluded the officers, and jumping from a sec-
ond story window, escaped. He was, how-
ever, again captured the same evening at
Sabula, six miles east of DuBois, on a train
going east. He is charged with robbing
stores.
—There is a curious old Bible in the pos-
session of C. A. Lamborn’s family at Coal-
port which they prize very highly. It is
known as the ‘Breeches’ Bible and is a very
rare edition, only two others being in exist-
ence, and they were printed in London in
1599. It is called a ‘‘Breeches” Bible be-
cause the word ‘‘breeches’’ occurs in the
seventh paragraph of the third chapter of
Genesis. The word is called ‘‘apron’ in our
Bibles. The book has been handed down
from generation to generation through the
Lamborn family.
—The bill providing the minimum school
term to be seven months will not effect the
present school term, but will go into effect
after the closing of the school year ending
the first Monday in June, 1899. It provides,
however, that the annual term may remain
as at present in districts where the maximum
amount of tax allowed by law to be levied
for school purposes, together with the state
appropriation to which such districts are en-
titled, shall be found insufficient to keep the
schools open a greater length of time than
six months.
—Itis understood that as a consequence of
the recent resignation of general manager
J. D. Layng, general manager of the West
Shore and Beech Creek railroads, and the
complete control of the Fall Brook railroad
by the New York Central. the Fall Brook
and Beech Creek roads will, on May 1st, be
consolidated as the Pennsylvania division of
the New York Central, with headquarters in
New York. The Beech Creek offices will
remain in the Reading terminal, in Philadel-
phia, but will have charge only of the fuel
traffic, while the passenger and merchandise
freight departments will be removed to the
Grand Central Station in New York. F.E.
Herriman, the present general freight and
passenger agent of the Beech Creek railroad,
will be transferred to New York, where his
duties will relate solely to the fuel traffic,
with jurisdiction over the Philadelphia of-
fice. No superintendent, it is said, has yet
been selected for the new Pennsylvania di-
vision of the New York Central, which will
extend from Lyons, N. Y., to Williamsport,
and from Jersey Shore to Patton, in this
State.
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