RECENT LEGISLATION.

AID TO PUBLIC LIBRARIES.

AN ACT entitled "An act for the establishment of free public libraries in the several school districts of this Commonwealth, except in cities of the first and second class," approved the twenty-eighth day of June, A. D, one thousand eight hundred and ninety-five, authorizing school districts to aid free public libraries otherwise established.

Section 1. Be it enacted, etc., That in any school district, except cities of the first and second class, wherein there is or shall hereafter be established, otherwise than under the provisions of the act to which this is a supplement, a free non-sectarian public library, the school directors, boards or organization having control of the common schools of said district may instead of establishing another public library and providing for its government, extend aid to such library on such terms as to control and management as shall be agreed upon between the managers thereof and the school authorities, and for that purpose may levy the taxes provided for in the act to which this is a supplement in the manner provided therein.

Sec. 2. The managers of any public library receiving aid under this act shall annually report to the school board furnishing such aid, an account of the expenditure of the money so received, under the oath of the managers or their secretary and treasurer, and such account shall be subject to the jurisdiction of the auditors, by whom the accounts of the school board are audited in like manner as their accounts. Approved March 30, 1897.

DANIEL H. HASTINGS.

FREE KINDERGARTENS.

AN ACT authorizing the school directors or controllers of the several school districts of this Commonweath to establish and maintian, out of the public school treasury, free kindergaartens for children between the ages of three and six years residing in their districts Section 1. Be it enacted, etc., That the school directors or controllers of the several school districts of this Commonwealth may establish and maintain, out of the public school treasury, free kindergartens for children between the ages of three and six years, residing in their districts.

Approved April 14, 1897.

SMULL'S LEGISLATIVE HAND-BOOK.

AN ACT authorizing the Superintendent of Public Instruction to place in each public senool of this Commonwealth one copy of Smull's Legislative Hand-book fʊllowing each decennial census, and biennially one copy of the School Law and Decisions.

Section 1. Be it enacted, etc., That on the passage of this act, and thereafter following each decennial census the Superintendent of Public Instruction shall cause to be placed in each public school of this Commonwealth above the primary grade, one copy of Smull's Legislative Hand-book, and biennially one

copy of the Sehool Laws and Decisions, for the use of said public schools.

Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, that on the passage of this act, and for the purposes named herein, the Superintendent of Public Instruction shall be allowed a sufficient number of Smull's Legislative Hand-books and School Laws and Decisions for the purpose of carrying into effect the provisions of this act. Approved April 29th, 1897.

ABOLISHING INDEPENDENT DISTRICTS.

AN ACT providing the manner by which independent school districts may be abolished.

Section 1. Be it enacted, etc., That in all cases where an independent school district has been created by any of the courts of quarter sessions of the peace of this Commonwealth, or by act of Assembly, it shall be lawful for said courts upon the application of the majority of the taxable citizens of any school district, out of which any independent district may be created by petition setting forth that they desire the abolition of any district, to hear and determine the application upon its merits, and if deemed expedient the said court shall discontinue the said district: Provided, if any district shall be discontinued, the school property of said district shall be disposed of as is required by the existing laws.

Approved May 12, 1897.

PROTECTION OF SCHOOL HOUSES, ETC.

AN ACT for the protection of public school houses and other buildings used and occupied for public school purposes, out-buildings thereof and public school property.

Section 1. Be it enacted, etc., That if any person shall wilfully and maliciously break or enter any public school house, public school building or other building used for public school purposes, or any out-house used in connection therewith, or shall injure damage or destroy any school furniture, books, papers, maps, charts or apparatus contained in any public school house or other buildings used or occupied for public school purposes, he shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof shall be sentenced to pay a fine not exceeding one hundred dollars, or undergo an imprisonment in the county jail for a period not exceeding six months, or either, or both, at the discretion of the court.

Approved May 19, 1897.

SCHOOL AND BUILDING TAXES. AN ACT to provide for levying school and school building taxes on the city valuation in cities of the third class where the school district comprises the same territory as the city.

Section 1. Be it enacted, etc., That in cities of the third class where the school district comprises the same territory as the city, the taxes for school and school building purposes shall be levied on the assessment made for city purposes.

Sec. 2. The city clerk or other competent person authorized by city council shall make, for the use of the school board, a true copy of the completed assessment, and shall duly certify the same to the said board.

Sec. 3. All acts or parts of acts inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed. Approved May 25, 1897.

FREE PUBLIC LIBRARIES.

AN ACT to authorize boroughs of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to make appropriations for the establishment and maintenance of free public libraries. Section 1. Be it enacted, etc., That for the purpose of establishing and maintaining free public libraries on a permanent basis throughout the Commonwealth, authority is hereby given to the town councils of the boroughs of this State to make appropriation or appropriations for or in aid of the establishment or maintenance, or either, of a free public library or libraries now incorporated, or that may hereafter be incorporated, for the use of the residents within any of the said boroughs, upon condition that the municipal authorities shall be represented to the satisfaction of the said councils in the management of such library or libraries.

Sec. 2. That said councils may appropriate annually from the taxes levied and collected for borough purposes for the establishment and maintenance of such library or libraries, not to exceed one mill on a dollar on all taxable property in such boroughs.

Sec. 3. All acts or parts of acts inconsistent herewith be and the same are hereby repealed.

Approved May 25th, 1897.

RELATING TO SPECIAL SCHOOL TAX.

AN ACT to amend the thirty-third section of an act entitled "An act for the regulation and continuance of a system of education by common schools," approved the eighth day of May, Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and fifty-four, extending and defining the purposes for which a special school tax, not exceeding the amount of the regular annual tax authorized to be levied by directors or controllers in cities or boroughs when the school property is vested in them, may be applied.

Section 1. Be it enacted, etc., That the thirty-third section of an act entitled "An act for the regulation and continuance of a system of education by common schools," approved the eighth day of May, Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and fifty-four, which reads as follows:

That the board of directors or controllers in cities or boroughs, where the school property is vested in them agreeably to the provisions of section second, may at any time, not oftener than once in each school year, levy a special tax, not exceeding the amount of the regular annual tax for such year, to be applied solely to the purpose of purchasing or paying for the ground, and the building or erection of school buildings thereon, which said tax shall be levied and collected at the same time, in the same manner, and with like authority, as the regular annual tax," be and the same is hereby amended so as to read as follows:

Section 33. That the board of directors or controllers in cities or boroughs where the school property is vested in them agreeably to the provisions of section second may, at any time not oftener than once in each school year, levy a special tax not exceeding the amount of the regular annual tax for such year, to be applied solely as follows: (a) for purchasing grounds; (b) for erecting and furnishing buildings; (c) for the accumulation of a fund for purchasing grounds and erecting buildings; (d) for the payment of a debt contracted in purchasing ground and erecting buildings; (e) for completing improvements in school buildings contemplated at the time of their erection; (f) for fencing and improving grounds in connection with the erection of buildings; (g) for the payment of the expense of fuel used in the heating of buildings; (h) for the payment of the expense of janitors employed to care for school buildings, which said tax shall be levied and collected at the same time, in the manner and with like authority as the regular annual tax. Approved May 26, 1897.

USE OF BOOKS DURING VACATION.

AN ACT to allow the school children to have the use of the books furnished them by the board any time during vacation.

Section 1. Be it enacted, etc., That the board shall allow each child who wishes to attend a pay or select school, any time during vacation, between regular school terms, the use of the books furnished him or her for that purpose: Provided further, That the teacher of said school or schools shall possess a valid certificate issued by a superintendent of public schools: Provided however, That the school directors or controllers shall make such regulations for the care and return of said books as they may deem necessary, and it shall be their duty to see that said books shall be used only when the pay school is held in city, borough, or district school house.

Approved June 7th, 1897.

SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS.

AN ACT to authorize the publication of twelve thous and additional copies of School Laws and Decisions. Section 1. Be it enacted, etc., That the Superintendent of Public Instruction shall have published, biennially, twelve thousand copies of the school laws and decisions in addition to the number provided for under existing laws for the use of the several school districts of the Commonwealth. Approved June 14, 1897.

TRANSPORTATION OF SCHOOL CHILDREN.

AN ACT to authorize school directors and controllers to provide transportation for school children, at the expense of the district.

Section 1. Be it enacted, etc., That from and after the passage of this act the school directors of any district, by the affirmative votes of a majority of the board duly recorded on the minutes, may provide trans

portation for the children, at the expense of their respective districts, to and from any school in the district in which the children have their residence, or of neighboring districts: Provided however, that the provisions of this act shall apply only to the pupils of schools which, in the discretion of the board of school directors, have been closed by reason of small attendance: And provided further, That it shall apply only to pupils that have a greater distance to travel or are placed at greater inconvenience than before such schools were closed: And provided further, That the cost of transportation per pupil shall not exceed the cost of maintaining per pupil the school thus closed.

Sec. 2. The expense incurred providing for transportation of school children under this act, and the tuition for education when admitted to the schools of other districts, shall be paid by the treasurer of the district in which the children have their place of residence, upon the order of the school board of directors; and no member of the board or other official of the township, borough or school district, shall be a party to any contract or agreement with the board, or receive any remuneration for services rendered to the district in conveying children to or from any school.

Approved June 22d, 1897.

TEACHING STENOGRAPHY AND TYPEWRIT

ING.

AN ACT to authorize the employment of 'teachers of stenography and typewriting in the common schools, without requiring them to possess teachers' certificates in the usual form.

Section 1. Be it enacted, etc., That hereafter it shall be lawful for the board of school directors and school controllers in any common school district in this Commonwealth to employ teachers of stenography and typewriting, without requiring the person employed for this purpose to have a teacher's certificate from the county, city or borough superintendent of public instruction as now required by law; but no such person shall be permitted to teach any other branch than those herein expressly named, and no such employment shall be permitted until it shall have been approved in writing by the county, city or borough superintendent, as the case may be, and shall have been submitted to and approved in writing by the State Superintendent of Public Instruction. Approved June 23, 1897.

SMALLER SCHOOL BOARDS.

AN ACT authorizing the courts of quarter sessions of the peace to decrease the number of members of town council, and the number of school directors in wards or boroughs.

Section 1. Be it enacted, etc., That the several courts of quarter sessions of the peace shall have power and authority, on the petition of twenty or more citizens of any borough in which, by virtue of any act of Assembly or decree of court, there are now three members of town council and three mem

bers of the school board to be elected in each ward, after due notice to such town council or school board, to decrease the number of members of town council or school directors, or either, to be elected in each of said wards to two; and from and after the making of such decree there shall be no election in any ward of said borough for any person to serve as members of the town council or as school director, until the number in each ward shall have been reduced to two by the expiration of the terms of office of those in office at the time of making such decree; and thereafter, upon the expiration of the term of office of each member of the town council and each school director, there shall be elected in each of such wards one member of the town council to serve for the term of two years, and one school director to serve for the term of three years.

Sec. 2. Vacancies in office of members of town council and school director shall be filled as now provided by law. Approved July 9, 1897.

MONTHLY RETURNS OF TAX COLLECTORS. AN ACT requiring the tax collectors of the several boroughs and townships of this Commonwealth to make monthly returns of the taxes collected by them, and the amount outstanding upon their repective duplicates, to the several authorities legally authorized to receive the said taxes and to borough councils, and to pay over monthly the amounts so collected by them, and providing a penalty for the violation of the same. Section 1. Be it enacted, etc., That the tax collectors of the several boroughs and townships of this Commonwealth, elected pursuant to the provisions of an act of Assembly, entitled "An act to authorize the election of tax collectors for the term of three years in the several boroughs and townships of this Commonwealth," approved the sixth day of June, Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and ninety three, and all other tax collectors of state, county, township, road, school and borough taxes, elected or appointed by or under existing law, shall hereafter make monthly returns in writing to the several persons to whom the tax collected by said tax collector is by law required to be paid, showing the amounts collected by them during the preceding month, and the amount of uncollected taxes upon their respective duplicates, or exhibit the duplicate showing the said uncollected taxes, at the close of each month during their respective terms of office, and shall pay over to the said persons to whom by law the said taxes are made payable, the amounts so collected by such tax collectors, monthly, less the commission or fees to which they are by law entitled for the collection of the same: Provided, That in the case of collectors of borough taxes, they shall also be required to file with the councils of their respective boroughs duplicate returns for the taxes collected monthly by them as aforesaid, and duplicate receipts from the respective borough treasurers for the amount so paid over to them.

Sec. 2. Any tax collector failing to comply with the requirements of this act shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof shall be sentenced to pay a fine not exceeding one hundred dollars.

Sec. 3. All acts or parts of acts inconsistent herewith be and the same are hereby repealed.

Approved July 9, 1897.

AMENDING COMPULSORY SCHOOL LAW.

AN ACT to amend sections one, two, three, four and five of an act entitled "An act to provide for the attendance of children in the schools of this Commonwealth and making an enumeration of children for that purpose: also providing compensation for the assessors making the enumeration, and providing penalties for the violation of this act," approved the sixteenth day of May, Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and ninety five, increasing the age within which children shall be subject to its provisions to sixteen years, and making certain exemptions, subjecting principals and teachers to certain penalties, conferring upon the directors or controllers power to designate schools for those who fail to attend schools, to establish special schools for truants and other offenders, providing for the restraint of truants and other offenders, and registration by the attendance officers and report of absentees from school.

Section 1. Be it enacted, etc., That section one of an act approved the sixteenth day of May, one thonsand eight hundred and ninety-five, entitled "An act to provide for the attendance of children in the schools of this Commonwealth and making an enumeration of children for that purpose; also providing compensation for the assessors making such an enumeration and providing penalties for the violation of this act,” which now reads as follows:

"Sec. 1. That every parent, guardian or other person in this Commonwealth having control or charge of a child or children between the ages of eight and thirteen years, shall be required to send such child or children to a school in which the common English branches are taught, and such child or children shall attend such school during at least sixteen weeks of each year in which schools in their respective districts shall be in session, unless such child or children shall be excused from attendance by the board of the school district in which parent, guardian or other person resides, upon the presentation to said board of satisfactory evidence showing such child or children are prevented from attendance at school, or application to study, by mental or physical or other urgent reasons: Provided, That in case there be no public school in session within two miles of the nearest traveled road of any person within the school district, he or she shall not be liable to the provisions of this act : Provided, That this act shall not apply to any child that has been or is being otherwise instructed in the common English branches of learning for a like period of time: And provided further, That the certificate of any principal of any school or educational institution, or of any teacher, that any child has been or is being so instructed, issued to such child or its parents or guardians, shall be sufficient and satisfactory evidence

thereof," be and the same is hereby so amended as to read as follows:

Sec. 1. That every parent, guardian or other person in this Commonwealth, having control or charge of a child or children between the ages of eight and sixteen years, shall be required to send such child or children to a day school in which the common English branches are taught, and such child or children shall attend such school continuously during at least seventy per centum of the time in which schools in their respective districts shall be in session, which period of compulsory attendance shall begin at the beginning of the school term or at a time fixed by the board of directors or controllers when they meet to organize, unless such child or children shall be excused from such attendance by the board of the school district in which the parent, guardian or other person resides, upon the presentation to said board of satisfactory evidence showing that such child or children are prevented from attendance upon school, or application to study, by mental, physical or other urgent reasons: Provided, That this act shall not apply to any child between the ages of thirteen and sixteen years that is regularly engaged in some useful employment or service: That in case there be no public school in session within two miles of the nearest traveled road of any person within the school district, he or she shall not be liable to the provisions of this act: Provided, that this act shall not apply to any child that has been or is being otherwise instructed in English in the common branches of learning for a like period of time: And provided further, That any principal of any private school or educational institution, or any teacher giving private instruction, shall report as provided in section (5) of this act, and shall furnish monthly to each child under his care, or to its parents or guardian, a certificate duly signed that such child has been or is being instructed as provided by this act, which certificate shall be sufficient and satisfactory evidence thereof.

Sec. 2. That section two of said act which reads as follows:

'Sec. 2. For every neglect of duty imposed by the first section of this act, the person in parental relation offending shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and shall, upon conviction thereof before a justice of the peace or alderman, forfeit a fine not exceeding two dollars on the first conviction, and a fine not exceeding five dollars for each subsequent conviction: Provided, upon conviction the defendant or defendants may appeal to the court of quarter sessions of the peace of the proper county within thirty days, upon entering into recognizance with one surety for the amount of fines and costs: Provided, however, That before such penalty shall be incurred, the parent, guardian or other person liable therefor, shall be notified in writing by the secretary of the school board, or by the attendance officer, if there be one,

of such liability, and shall have opportunity | by compliance with the requirements of this act then and thereafter to avoid the imposition of such penalty. The fines provided by this act shall, when collected, be paid over by the officers collecting the same into the county treasury of the respective counties, for the use of the proper school treasurer of the city or school district in which such person convicted resides, to be applied and accounted for by such treasurers in the same way as other moneys raised for school purposes; such fines shall be collected by a process of law similar to the collection of other fines," be and the same is hereby amended to read as follows:

Section 2. For every neglect of duty imposed by the first section of this act, the principal, teacher or person in parental relation offending shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and shall, upon conviction thereof before a justice of the peace or alderman, forfeit a fine not exceeding two dollars on the first conviction, and a fine not exceeding five dollars for each subsequent conviction: Provided, Upon conviction the defendant or defendants may appeal to the court of quarter sessions of the peace of the proper county within thirty days, upon entering into recognizance with one surety for the amount of fines and costs: Provided, however, That before such penalty shall be incurred, the parent, guardian or other person liable there for, shall be notified in writing by the secretary of the school board, or by the attendance officer, if there be one, of such liability, and shall have opportunity by compliance with the requirements of this act then and thereafter to avoid the imposition of such penalty. The fines provided for by this act shall, when collected, be paid over by the officers collecting the same into the county treasury of the respective counties, for the use of the proper school treasurer of the city or school district in which such person convicted resides, to be applied and accounted for by such treasurers in the same way as other moneys raised for school purposes; such fines shall be collected by a process of law similar to the collection of other fines.

Sec. 3. That section three of said act which reads as follows:

"Sec. 3. If deemed necessary for the better enforcement of the provisions of this act, boards of school directors or school controllers in cities, boroughs and townships, may employ one or more persons to be known as attendance officers, whose duty it shall be to look after, apprehend and place in such schools as the person in parental relation may designate, truants and others who fail to attend school in accordance with the provisions of this act. The persons appointed such attendance officers shall be entitled to such compensation, not exceeding two dollars a day, as shall be fixed by the boards appointing them, and such compensation may be paid out of the school fund;

boards of school directors or controllers may set apart school rooms in public school buildings for children who are habitual truants or who are insubordinate or disorderly during their attendance upon instruction in the public schools," be and the same is hereby amended to read as follows:

Sec. 3. Boards of school directors or school controllers shall in cities, and may in boroughs and townships, employ one or more persons to be known as attendance officers, who shall have full power and whose duty it shall be to look after, arrest, apprehend and place in such schools as the person in parental relation or the board of directors or controllers may designate, truants and others who fail to attend school in accordance with the provisions of this act. The persons appointed such attendance officers shall be entitled to such compensation, not exceeding two dollars a day, as shall be fixed by the boards appointing them, and such compensation may be paid out of the school fund; boards of directors or controllers of any school district, or of two or more districts jointly, may establish special schools for children who are habitual truants, or who are insubordinate or disorderly during their attendance upon instruction in the public schools, and may provide for the proper care, maintenance and instruction of such children in such schools. Before such penalty shall be incurred by such child, the parent, guardian or other person in parental relation to the child shall be notified in writing by the secretary of the school board, or by the attendance officer if there be one, and shall have an opportunity to be heard; such person in parental relation may elect to have such child cared for and maintained at his own expense in a private school, orphans' home or similar institution where the common English branches are taught. If such person in parental relation to such child shall not elect to care for and maintain such child in such private school, nor consent to his care, maintenance and instruction in the public special school, then such conduct of the child shall be deemed disorderly conduct, and the child may be proceeded against as a disorderly person; and upon conviction thereof shall be sentenced to such special school for a term not exceeding the remainder of the school term in his district, subject to parole for good conduct by the authorities of such special school after four weeks' attendance. special schools shall be conducted with a view to the improvement and to the restoration, as soon as practicable, of such child to the school or institution elsewhere which he may be lawfully required to attend. The board of directors or controllers of any city or school district not having such special school, may contract with any other city or district having such school for the care, maintenance and instruction therein of children whom such boards of directors or controllers might require to attend such

Such