Republican News Item CHAS. LOREN WINQ, Editor. THURSDAY, MAR. 21, 1901. "FIRST OP ALL—THE NEWS." The News Item Fights Fair IT IS A PATRIOTIC HOME NEWSPAPER Published Every Friday Morning. By The Sullivan Publishing Co. At the County Seat of Sullivan County. I/APOBTE, PA. SUBSCRIPTION —$1.25 per annum. If paid in advance SI.OO. Sample copies free. All communications should be ad dressed to REPUBLICAN NEWS ITEM, Laporte Pa., Kntered at the Post Office ai Laporte, as second-class mail matter. Philadelphia, March 17. —While the matter will ultimately have to come before the supreme court, and arrange ments are already being made to take it there, the constitutionality of the so called "ripper" bill has been favorably p-issed upon by a unanimous opinion of three judges on the Lackawanna county bench. The matter came before them on a test case in Scranton and all the objections made by the Flinn men were presented in the arguments before this court. So elated are the reformers in Alle gls"ny county over this decision that tliry are already preparing plans to as sume the management of the municipal affairs in Pittsburg and Allegheny City.' OPINION OF THE COURT. Judge Archbald, president Judge, filed the opinion of the Lackawanna court. it will be remembered that the case here arose upon a writ of quo war ranto commanding James Moir to show by what right he exercised the office iif city recorder of Scranton. Court says that the principal contention upon which the claim that the act was un constitutional was based that it was local and special. Extended reasons were presented in supportof this claim, but the judges could not find that they were in any respect sustained. Such a (laim loses sight of decision by the courts of this state, and notably the case of Wheeler vs. Philadelphia (77 I'a. 388). which declares that classifi cation by population of the cities of the commonwealth is entirely justified. CITY CLASSIFICATION IS PROPER. The court refers to the fact that one of the objections to the "ripper" act was that it introduces unusual and un necessary provisions for the govern ment of cities of the second class not justified by any difference in condition between these and other cities, par ticularly in that it abolishes the time honored office of mayor and substitutes a new and unknown chief executive railed a recorder, who is vested with extraordinary if not dictatorial pow ers. But. says the court, this argu ment loses sight of the very purpose of classification, which is to give place for different legislation for each class. Population, moreover, is recognized as the basis, and, in fact, the only basis for a division in case of cities, the larger cities by the very circumstance of their having' a greater number of people presumed to require a govern ment of a different character from those which have less. A great com mercial metropolis like Philadelphia, with over 1,200,000 inhabitants, cannot be governed and does not want to be like Pittsburg, Allegheny or Scranton, which have a population ranging from a half to a twelfth as much. Nor, on the other hand, is a scheme of govern ment adapted to these populous and thriving centers likely to prove ac ceptable or suitable to the remaining cities of the state which have material ly less. The law recognizes this and the legislature, acting upon it in the exercise of their discretion, have es tablished three classes of cities with the limits which have been named. This is not open to question, the court says. NOT OBLIGED TO HAVE A MAYOR. In pursuance of this there may, therefore, be one set of officers for one and another for another, and the pow ers and functions of each may vary. They are not obliged to have a mayor any more than they are to have a treasurer or controller or collector of delinquent taxes, however much It may be necessary to lodge the duties usually performed by these well known city officials somewhere. No doubt there liimt be u chief executive of some sort, ->nd some one to handle and be re sponsible for the city funds or super vise and control the accounts. But names amount to but little, and we may have these several municipal functions separated and distributed anion* a number of newlv elected of ficers or consolidated and conferred i pon one or more without occasioning comment or calling the other In ques tion. All these are municipal mat t:*™. and so long as an act Is passed to ipply to any one of three established • lasses of cities confines itself to deal lag with affairs of that character, It no more offends against the constitu tion than If It had to do with all the tltl-'S of the state without distinction. POWER OF LEGISLATURE ABSO LUTE. Continuing this llue of argument at considerable length, the court says that in view of the decision cited the only question with regard to city class leg islation is whether the subjects em braced are municipal. If they are, It runnot be disturbed, however peculiar or distinctive. The power of the legis lature wlthiu this limit Is absolute. They may give one system of govern* m< nt. us they have here, to one class and another to another, and It Is not for the courts to Inquire whether either is adapted to the peculiarities of c udltlon to which it Is made to apply. And the subjects embraced In the rip per act are declared municipal. The court dismisses as somewhat trifling the contentions that "the act uudi'rstnkes to deal specially with the powers and procedures of the courts, und Is therefore as special law," aud regarding the provisions in the bill i oncernlng policemen and firemen. I'omliiK under the head of the argu ment also that Is special und local lag- J islatiou Is the attack made on the now era U/ll.M.iu oi» lecvitUDi' ed by the governor under the pro visions of the schedule. These, the court says, it Is claimed, are extra ordinary and differ essentially from those to be possessed by subsequent In cumbents of the office. This may not Indeed be usual, but It cannot be said to be irregular or Invalid, and what ever may be said in the present in stance with regard to its expediency it is entirely within the power of the legislature to do so, and that it may appropriately be so until the people have had opportunity to make a choice is undoubted. The court then dismisses rather briefly the contention that the act deals with more than one subject, that he should only appoint for one year in stead of two. The last contention is set aside by a decision in the case of Com. vs. Gallen, 101 Pa., 375. The ob jection that the legislature had no power to abolish the office of mayor is apparently not regarded seriously by the court. Harrisburg, March 19.—Ballot reform has been one of the most interesting matters under discussion here this last week. It is probable that within a few days this Issue will come to a head and the Republican leaders will deter mine upon the character of the bill to be supported as the Republican meas ure. It is manifest that a combination has been made between the Fllnn insur gents and the Guft'ey Democrats to ad vocate the abolition not only of the party column, but the circle also, through which the members of any particular party can by a single cross mark indi< ate a desire to vote for all the nominees of that particular party. The insurgents and the Democrats have a common purpose to defeat the nominees of the Republican party, and they have argued that the best way to do this is to endeavor to make It as difficult as possible for the Republican party leaders to poll the full strength of the Republican vote in Pennsylva nia. Fllnn, who sees that his control of the party machinery in Allegheny county will shortly be taken from him, has apparently no longer any con cern for the Republican party's nomi nees. He feels that his future lies in combinations with the Democracy on fusion deals. DEMOCRATS WORKING A GAME. The Democrats are naturally for any thing that will be to the disadvantage of the Republican organization, and they have taken up the idea of abolish ing the party column and the party cir cle. A conference was held here last week, at which Col. Guffey, the Dem ocratic national committeeman from Pennsylvania, met members of the Democratic state executive committee, and they went over the whole situation from the standpoint of practical poli ticians. They were working solely for the advancement of the Interests of the Democracy. They agreed upon a bill which Is to be known as the Guffey bill and which groups all the candidates for any office under one heading and at the same time does away with the circle at the top of the column. The bill does not differ in other re spects materially from the other ballot reform bills which have been intro duced. They are all drafted upon the idea of making the ballot secret and the count correct. FOCHT BILL IS POPULAR. Republicans are getting to under stand the provisions of the bill intro duced in the senate by Senator Focht, of Union county, which Is based upon the Australian system, and which adopts all the features of that ballot that can properly be employed in Penn sylvania. Under tills bill the names of all the candidates are grouped together under the title of the office for which the said candidates have been nominated, and his party appellation follows the name of each candidate. The bill will not permit any man's name appearing more than once upon the ballot. This plan reduces the size of the bal lot, puts all names In one column and would save many thousands of dollars in the matter of the expense of print ing. The Focht bill recognizes the right of the members of any party entitled to a column under the present law to at least have an opportunity of indicat ing with one mark the desire to vote for the full picket of such a party. This feature, many Republicans say, must be included in the provisions of any bill that shall be supported by the members of the Republican organiza tion. PARTIES MUST BE RECOGNIZED. The argument is made that a very large percentage of the voters support the straight ticket, whether It be of the Republican. Democratic or Prohibi tion or some other well organized par ty. They should not be put to the Inconvenience and annoyance of having to mark each candi date for whom they desire to vote. In some cases they would have to make as many as a dozen or more marks. While this plan would be to the advan tage of the independents, who would be Interested probably In but one or two of these candidates, the regular party man who wished to vote for all the candidates of his party would be put to unnecessary trouble In making many marks on the ballot. In the em barrassments thus following many vot er*. through mistake, would overlook marking some of the candidates, and thus they would unwittingly be aiding their opponents. DEMOCRATS OPPOSE GUFFEY'S SCHEME. It has been discovered that some of the Iteinocruts who believe In party organization are vigorously opposed to the Fllnn-Guffey Idea of forming a new ballot law. Among the.ie Democrats Is P. Gray Meek, of Centre county, one of the best known men in the party. He was the Democratic candidate for audi tor geuerul last fall, and was formerly chairman of the Democratic state com mittee Ex-Senator Meek, a member of the state Democratic executive committee, strongly condemns the proposed ballot la«v. He so ltiforliied Col. Ouffey and the members of the committee before the executive session began. Division Chnlriuan W. J. Hrenuen, of Pittsburg, showed Mr Meek a aamnle of the pro posed ballot. It - .. I ( ~ShortTalks on ~ Advertisind The first insertion of an advertisement very seldom pays. That is to say—if you have never advertised before in a certain paper it will take some little time for its readers to get acquainted with you, and until they do, don't expect much return. There are occasional exceptions, of course, but they are few and far between. It is the systematic, persistent effort that pays in advertising as in everything else. In taking medicine the regularity of the dose is almost as important as the drug Itself. For that reason the columns of the newspaper offer the very best medium for business announcements. For that reason, programs and wall hangers and schemes of all ™1 sorts, from an industrial write-up I i I of the town to a picture card, are fl ,\ \l7 \ never effective. It may be well „ Vu-g3-/ S enough to indulge in a pretty " |JK/ using all the space you need in \u\ — I have been a publisher of programs and of other " schemes" ff t \ —1 have advertised in them, and raEßff Bpfyj BA J J\ in my whole experience on both, jKOT J ■V/'Oi VII] sides of the fence, I have never NriM « y V4 MT I heard or known of a single adver- I J| I tisement in a medium (?) of that kind that. paid. "Tkt Ucal nrwsf»f*r t°" i*t» tkt ktmt hrittKng mitk The local newspaper goes into <«(«%«««. the house bristling with intelligence, brimful of the news of the world, sparkling with the daily doinga of the community, n 0, Jl-J If its advertisers are awake to their oppor- tunities it contains business news of value /&/'*, fa to every reader, for it pays to read adver jfjifc tisements. Advertisements are becoming v&i more truthful every day. Business men tTjwfflpgffiSM rtyt-sC', know that their news must be true, or it # # will fail—they remember the story of the f\\ jm boy and the wolf. I think it is safe to say that any woman who makes a business MNEf aPBB of reading business news—ads.—will in crease the buying power of her husband's dollars as much' as twenty-five percent. ""I am not sure but that the percentage is "1»~ even greater at my house. Semrmkrr tkt sttry of tkt koy anJ tkt uiolf. Cofyrifkt, Ckartts Austin Balls, Ntw Yrrh. We are now Ready for the Spring Trade. Bedroom Suits in Oak, Mahogany and Maple, in eith er four or eight pieces. These goods were bought in a large quantity for cash, so that we can give you a high grade suit at a low grade price. HOLCOMBE & LAUER, Undertaiking," 2>ll*bor C . Telephone call, Hotel Obert. Spring Goods. Bright Bargains for Bright Spring Days. HERE THEY ARE IN ABUNDANCE. s Selling Spring goods is our specialty. We want your business. The early buyers gets the choice. You don't have to haggle about the price, you can use the dollar we save you. Don't wait if you want a careful selection, p A OLI Wo will do a strictly cash business, which will allow us to noil vnOili sheaply and give our customers the beneflt. If Shoe Fits, j pair, and walk out of the THE NEW LAPORTE CLOTHING STORE. HAYMAN HERR, Proprietor. HARRY ZAX, Mgr. Williamsport & North Branch Railroad TIIMIIE TABLE. In effect Monday Nov. 20, moo. Head down Read up P. M. AM P. M.PMPMP M A. M. A M BTATIONB. AMAMA.M.PM pMpM AM H M . I 16 30 432 110 800 . HliKlit'SVillt'... 720 t) 41 11 45 345 4;t > 543 4 40 1 IN 810 Pifluie Korks '.133 ;j n; 4 •»", | 1444' 112 122 ft 17 ...Lyons Mills... f'.i3o 333 4 15 440 1 24 821 ...Chamounl...; a 28 331 411 14 53 1 31 8 30...u1en Muwr... 9 22 825 4 03 ;f5Ol 112 1 39 839 ..Strawliridge.... f',113 f3 15 355 112 1 45 f8 45 ...Beci'hGU'li f9 09 350 5 10 1 48 8 50; ..Mllllty Valley. 9 00 3 07 3 45 5 10 1 55 000 ... Sonestowii... 9 00 :i 00 337 531 19 22 Noixlmont... 841 314 a J f5 48 f9 47 Mokouia f8 27 249 » >. •g ! "g I 1 550 #SO Lajxirte : 824 244 % § 5 ! f«o7i 1010 Kingiliili- fS 12 220 5 £ to Si I .1616 1025 ..KernleeKoud.. f8 01 205 5 2 P.M. I'M j P.M. A.M. I'M 1 111111 1 1 I 1 i I j I I I STAGE LINES ll le conductors. Stage leaves Hughesvill nostoftice for Pliijadelphia & Reading, Lehigh Valley Lairdsville, Mengwe and Philipxdaledaily and New York Central mileage will lie Wilson, Heaver Lake and .Fribley on accepted only tor through passengers trav- Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at 11.30 eling from Halls to Satterfleld Hatter- Stage leaves Glen Mawr tor Uillsgrove field to Halls and Forksville at 11 02 a. in. The general offices of the company are Stage leaves Muncy Valley for Unity- located at Hugheeville, Pa viUe, North Mountain and Lungerville u. HAHVKY WKLCH daild at 11 19 a. m. ... President. HuKhsvilie. Pa. Passengers taking trains at flag stations s Gen. Mgr., Hughesvlile.Pa. can secure train excursion tickets from A KE YOU GOING TO BUILD A NEW HOUSE i; OR LAY NEW FLOORS IN THE OLD ONE ? If so, it will pay you to get some of our Ibarb HXHOO6 Kiln dried, matched sides and ends, Hollow backed and bored, MAPLE and BEECH. It will out wear two ordinary floors and is much smoother, nicer and easier to put down than soft wood flooring. All sizes kept in stock by Jennings Bros., Lopez, Pa. Also all sizes in hemlock lumber, siding, ceiling, lath etc. I £$ § 1 In a Pretty 1 Pickle „ I i- s the woman who must entertain i unexpected company—unless she ! ® s we " supplied with canned and bottled groceries. If her pantry 11 1 ' shelves are nicely lined with our AiA . V, famous brands of pickles, soups, | * \ S '<■ canned meats and fish and j crackers she is completely ready for any emergency. What s ill we send you to-day ? ON DRY GOODS WE ARE iN THE LEAD WHY ? Because we'earry the Largest ind Best line in the county *™ 11 Because we.have only new an J attractive patterns to.sliow Because you will find no old gc ods on our shelves, We have justjopenedj* new line of Qinghauu Shirtings, muslins etc. or the springjtrade,fwhich we would be pWsed to have you inspect. Perfecty Shaped for women and men. We hav JMBIBIS a stock of women's shoes that is in equaled herealtouts. The shad's are dainty, the leather fine, the wtrkman- Cash Paid for Country Produce. E G. Sylvara dushore, ® Shoes! Big Reduction Sale of Shoes. $3.00 Shoes for 2.75; $2.75 Shoes for 2.50 Remember all new Goods At This Rate. ALL GOODS 25c OFF THE DOLLAR A1 THE RED STAR SHOE ST OE J. S. HARRINGTON. OPERA HOUSE BLOCK. DUSHORE, PA.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers