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956. C. M. Barr, Aspinwall, Allegheny county, Washington and Jefferson College, A. B., issued February 3, 1903.

957. Arthur A. Smith, Williamsport, Lycoming county, Bucknell University, Ph. B., issued February 25, 1903.

958. Harry A. Oday, Honesdale, Wayne county, Upland University, Ph. B., issued March 9, 1903.

959. Lulu G. McConnel, Allegheny, Allegheny county, Pennsylvania College for Women, A. B., issued March 24, 1903.

960. G. Mason Snoke, Annville, Lebanon county, Lebanon Valley College, A. B., issued April 7, 1903.

961. Lin M. Jaco, Morgantown, W. Va., West Virginia University, A. B., issued April 7, 1903.

962. Arthur W. Phelps, Reading, Berks county, University of Wisconsin, A. B., issued April 7, 1903.

963. A. Roswell Gilbert, Middleburg, Snyder county, Franklin and Marshall College, A. B., issued April 14, 1903.

HIGH SCHOOL REPORTS.

THE attention of Secretaries of School THE attention of Secretaries of School

are two forms for high school reports. One is for the purpose of gathering statistical and other information in regard to all high schools, whether in cities, boroughs or townships. This report is made out by the principal of the school, and should be sent in as soon as can be conveniently done after the close of the term.

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The other form is for Township High Schools alone. On the back of this form are found the words, Annual Report of Township High School," "Application for Appropriation.' This blank must be filled out by the school board and sworn to by the President and Secretary of the same. It is used by boards making application for a share of the appropriation made by the legislature in aid of township high schools. These reports must be on file in the Department of Public Instruction before the first of September following the close of the school term for which the report is made.

Last year-being the first year in which such appropriation was paid out and the provisions of the law not being well understood-we regret to say that some townships lost their share of this appropriation by not filing this report at all, or not doing so until after the expiration of the time designated by law. To prevent a recurrence of this the present year, we have thus early called the attention of school directors to the matter and trust that the officers of such boards as are entitled to a share of this appropriation will see to it that their reports, in proper form, are filed in the Department of Public Instruction previous to the first day of September, 1903.

If any board has failed to receive the proper blank it will be supplied on application to the Superintendent of Public Instruction.

NEW SCHOOL LEGISLATION.

MINIMUM SALARY OF TEACHERS.

AN ACT regulating the minimum rate of salary of school teachers in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, where school districts receive State appropriations.

Section 1. Be it enacted, etc., That on and after the first day of June, one thousand nine hundred and four, the minimum salary of school teachers, teaching in the public schools of this Commonwealth, shall be thirty-five dollars per month.

Sec. 2. It shall be the duty of the president and secretary of the school board, of each school district in this Commonwealth, to make report, under oath, to the Superintendent of Public Instruction, that the requirements of this act have been fully complied with.

Sec. 3. Every school district of this Commonwealth failing to comply with the requirements of this act, shall forfeit its State appropriation for the whole time during which this act has been violated. Approved April 9, 1903.

SAML. W. PENNYPACKER.

EXTENSION OF WARRANTS FOR ONE YEAR. AN ACT to enable city, county, poor, township, ward, school, and borough tax collectors to collect taxes, for the payment of which they have become personally liable, or for which they shall during the year one thousand nine hundred and three become personally liable, without having col ected the same, by expiration of the authority of their respective warrants or by the expiration of their term of office, and to extend the time for the collection of the same for the period of one year from the passage of this act.

Section 1. Be it enacted, &c., That in all cases in which the period of two years, the limitation of the warrants in the duplicate of county, poor, city, township, ward, school, and borough tax collectors, have expired, and in all cases where the power and authority of said tax collectors have expired, or shall expire during the year one thousand nine hundred and three, by virtue of the expiration of their term of office, and said collector or collectors have or shall become liable for the amount of tax on said duplicates without having collected the same, the said duplicates and warrants, and the powers and authority of said tax collectors in all such cases, are hereby revived and extended for another period of one year from the passage of this act; and said collector or collectors are hereby authorized and empowered to proceed and collect said taxes from all persons who have not paid taxes assessed to them, residing in said district within which it may have been assessed, as well as from all persons who remove from said city, ward, township or townships, or boroughs, and have neglected to pay taxes so as aforesaid assessed, with

like effect as if said warrant had not expired by the limitation of two years, aforesaid, or the term of office of said collector had not expired: Provided, That provisions of this act shall not apply to warrants issued prior to the year one thousand eight hundred and ninety-two, and that nothing contained in this act shall release any bondsman or security: Provided, That this act shall not apply to cities having special laws upon this subject: Provided, further, That no collector, nor the sureties thereof, who take advantage of this act shall be permitted to plead the statute of limitations in any action brought to recover the amount of said duplicate so extended and renewed. Approved February 13th, 1903.

SAML. W. PENNYPACKER.

NEW SCHOOL DISTRICTS.

AN ACT relating to school districts in townships, and boroughs erec ed therefrom.

Section 1. Be it enacted, &c., That whenever a borough has been or shall be erected out of a portion of a township, leaving the remaining portion of the township without a school house, and with less than ten resident freeholders, and less than twenty five resident children between the ages of six and sixteen years; then, and in such case, the creation of such borough shall not cause a division of the school district of the township out of which such borough was formed; but the school district, as it existed in such township before the creation of such borough, shall be and remain as theretofore: Provided, however, That whenever it shall be made to appear to the Court of Common Pleas of the proper county, by petition of at least twenty freeholders of such undivided school district, and proper hearing, that the portion of such school district outside the borough has at least ten resident freeholders and twenty five children, as aforesaid; then the said Court, in its discretion, may decree that said school district shall be divided into two districts, one consisting of the territory within such borough, and the other to consist of the part of the original township territory not included within such borough lines.

Sec. 2. All laws or parts of laws, whether general or special, in conflict with this act, are hereby repealed.

Approved February 5th, 1903.

SAML. W. PENNYPACKer.

NEGLECTED OR DEPENDENT CHILDREN. An Act relating to institutions, associations and societies having the care of delinquent, neglected or dependent children.

Section 1. Be it enacted, &c., That the institutions, associations and societies, into whose care the custody of delinquent, neglected or dependent children may be committed by order of the courts of this Commonwealth, shall be subject to the same visitation, inspections and supervision of the Board of Public Charities as the public charitable institutions of this State; and the

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courts of common pleas of this Commonwealth may require such information and statistics from such institutions, associations or societies as said judges deem necessary in order to enable them to exercise a wise discretion in dealing with children. Every such institution, association or society shall file with the Board of Public Charities an annual written or printed report, which shall contain a statement of the number of children cared for during the year, the number received, the number placed in homes, the number died, the number returned to friends; also, a financial statement, showing the receipts and disbursements of such institutions, associations or societies. The statement of receipts shall indicate the amount received from public funds, the amount received from donations, and the amount received from other sources, specifying the several sources. The statement of disbursements shall show the amount expended for salaries and other expenses, specifying the same; the amount expended for lands, buildings and investments. The secretary of the Board of Public Charities shall furnish to each of the said courts of common pleas a list of such institutions, associations and societies filing such annual reports, and no child shall be committed to the care of any such institution, association or society which shall not have filed a report, for fiscal year last preceding, with the Board of Public Charities. Approved March 5th, 1903.

SAML. W. PENNYPACKER.

CHILDREN IN HOUSES OF REFUGE, ETC. AN ACT to provide for the payment of the expenses of the maintenance and instruction of children, committed to Houses of Refuge which are not exclusively under State control, jointly by the State and by the counties from which they may be sent; and providing a method for determining the amount due, and collecting the same from said counties.

Section 1. Be it enacted, &c., That whenever a child shall be or heretofore shall have been committed to any House of Refuge which is not exclusively under State control, and shall become or shall have become an inmate thereof, one-half of the expense of maintaining and instructing such child hereafter shall be borne by the county from which such child shall have been received, and the remaining one half shall be paid out of the appropriations made to such House of Refuge, from time to time, by the State. The method of collecting the amount due by the several counties from which children have been sent, shall be by orders drawn by the treasurer of any such House of Refuge on the treasurers of said counties, who shall accept and pay the same: Provided, That the said orders shall be presented quarterly, on the first days of May, August, November and February, in each and every year, or as soon thereafter as may be convenient. And provided also, That the treasurer of such House of Refuge, on or before the first Monday of the preceding month, shall transmit, by the public mail, to the commissioners of

such of the counties as may have become indebted for the maintenance and instruction of inmates in such House of Refuge, an account of the expense of maintaining and instructing them, which account shall be signed by the treasurer, and sworn or affirmed to by him, and attested by the superintendent of the department of such House of Refuge in which each of such inmates may be living. It shall be the duty of said commissioners, immediately upon the receipt of said accounts, to give notice to the treasurers of their respective counties of the amount of said accounts, with instructions to collect and retain money for the payment of said orders when presented. For the purpose of fixing the amount to be charged for the maintenance and instruction of each inmate, the per capita cost of maintaining and conducting such House of Refuge for the year terminating on the preceding thirty-first day of December shall be taken as the rate to be charged, and one-half of such per capita cost, so calculated, shall be charged to the respective counties for each child from such counties.

Sec. 2. All laws and parts of laws inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed, so far as the same apply to the future maintenance and instruction of children committed to such Houses of Refuge.

Approved March 27th, 1903.

SAML. W. PENNYPACKER.

COMMITMENT OF CHIldren. AN ACT to regulate the commitment of children under the age of sixteen years to institutions of correction or reformation.

Section 1. Be it enacted, &c., That no child under the age of sixteen years shall be committed by any magistrate or justice of the peace to any institution for the purpose of correction or reformation, but all applications for such commitment shall be made to the court of quarter sessions of the county. Sec. 2. All acts or parts of acts inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed. Approved March 26th, 1903.

SAML. W. PENNYPACKER.

BOARDS OF VISITATION.

An Act providing for the appointment of boards of visit. ation for institutions, societies and associations caring for dependent, neglected and delinquent children. Section 1. Be it enacted, &c, That it shall be the duty of the court of common pleas in each county within this Commonwealth to appoint a board, consisting of six or more reputable citizens, who shall serve without compensation, to constitute a board of visitation, whose duty it shall be to visit as often as once a year all institutions, societies and associations into whose care and custody dependent, neglected or delinquent children shall be committed under the provisions of the laws of this Commonwealth. Said visit shall be made by not less than two of the members of the board, who shall go together, and make a joint report. The said board of visitation shall make report to the court,

from time to time, of the treatment the children receive by or in the charge of such institutions, societies and associations; and shall make an annual report to the Board of Public Charities, in such form as the board may prescribe. The said board of visitation shall be entitled to receive from the county in which they shall be appointed, such sum or sums of money for actual and necessary expenses as may be approved by the board of county commissioners.

Approved February 26, 1903.

SAML. W. PENNYPACKER.

INCREASING CHARGE OF MAINTENANCE. AN ACT to amend the first section of an act, entitled "An act to amend the first section of an act, entitled A further supplement to an act, entitled 'An act to incorporate the Pennsylvania Training School for Idiotic and Feeble-Minded Children,' approved the seventh day of April, Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, as amended by a supplement approved the twenty-seventh day of March. one thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, and amending the first section thereof, approved the first day of May, one thousand eight hundred and eighty-seven, increasing the charge of maintenance from one hundred dollars to one hundred and seventyfive dollars per annum, per capita," approved the twenty-sixth day of June, one thousand eight hundred and ninety-five, increasing the charge of maintenance from one hundred and seventy-five dollars to two hundred dollars per annum, per capita."

Section 1. Be it enacted, &c., That the first section of an act, entitled "An act to amend the first section of an act, entitled A further supplement to an act entitled 'An act to incorporate the Pennsylvania Training School for Idiotic and FeebleMinded Children,' approved the seventh day of April, Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, as amended by a supplement approved the twenty-seventh day of March, one thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, and amending the first section thereof,' approved the first day of May, one thousand eight hundred and eightyseven, increasing the charge of maintenance from one hundred dollars to one hundred and seventy-five dollars per annum, per capita," approved the twenty sixth day of June, one thousand eight hundred and ninety five, which reads as follows:

Section 1. Be it enacted, &c., That in cases where the limitation of seven years maintenance of indigent inmates as now provided for by law shall be found inadequate, or where the discharge of the individual may work injury to the society, the same may be retained in the institution for an indefinite period at the discretion of the Board of Directors and Superintendent of said institution: Provided, The charge of maintenance of this class of persons shall not exceed one hundred and seventy five dollars per annum, per capita; said money to be derived from the appropriations made biennially for the maintenance and support of the beneficiary cases at said institution: And provided, All individuals so continued shall be registered with the Board of Public Charities," be and is hereby amended so as to read as follows:

Section 1. Be it enacted, &c., That in

cases where the limitation of seven years maintenance of indigent inmates, as now provided for by law, shall be found inadequate, or where the discharge of the individual may work injury to society, the same may be retained in the institution for an indefinite period, at the discretion of the Board of Directors and the Superintendent of said institution: Provided, The charge of maintenance of this class of persons shall not exceed two hundred dollars per annum, per capita; said money to be derived from the appropriations made biennially for the maintenance and support of beneficiency cases at said institution: And provided, All individuals so continued shall be registered with the Board of Charities.

Approved March 27th, 1903.

SAML. W. PENNYPACKER.

CHILDREN AWAITING TRIAL.

AN ACT regulating the confinement of children, under the age of sixteen years, awaiting trial.

Section 1. Be it enacted, etc., That it shall be the duty of the board of county commissioners, in each county of the Commonwealth, to provide in the county a separate room, or rooms, or a suitable building, to be used exclusively for the confinement of any and all children, under the age of sixteen years, who may be in custody, awaiting trial or hearing in the courts of the county. Approved April 3, 1903.

SAML. W. PENNYPACKER.

LIBRARIES FOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS.

A Supplement to 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, Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and ninety-five, authorizing school districts to join in establishing and maintaining free public libraries, or to join in aiding those otherwise established.

Section 1. Be it enacted, etc., That when any township surrounds or immediately adjoins any borough within this Commonwealth, the school directors, boards, or organizations having control of the common schools of said borough and township, may join in the establishment and maintenance of a free, non-sectarian public library in said borough or township, or partly in both, the expense of such establishment and maintenance to be borne by said borough and township, in such proportions as may be agreed upon by the school authorities of said respective school districts, and for that purpose may levy taxes provided for in the act to which this is a supplement.

Sec. 2. When any township surrounds or immediately adjoins any borough within this Commonwealth, within either of which there is or shall be hereafter established, otherwise than under the provisions of the act to which this is a supplement, a free, non-sectarian public school library, the school directors, boards, or organizations having control of the common schools of said districts, may, instead of establishing

another public library and providing for its maintenance, join in extending aid to such library, already established, guaranteeing such aid, in such proportion, and on such terms as to control and management, as shall be agreed upon between the managers thereof and the school authorities of said respective districts, and for that purpose may levy the taxes provided for in the act to which this is a supplement in the manner therein provided.

Sec. 3. The managers of any public library receiving aid under the provisions of this act, shall annually report to the school boards furnishing such aid an account of the money so received, under the oath of the managers, or of their secretary and treasurer, and such account shall be subject to the jurisdiction of the auditors by whom the accounts of their respective school boards are audited, in like manner as their own accounts.

Approved April 2, 1903.

SAML. W. PENNYPACKER.

PUPILS FROM NEIGHBORING DISTRICTS. AN ACT permitting children residing in school districts having graded public schools, or graded courses of study, to attend public schools of higher grades or courses of study, including high schools, in other districts, under terms and conditions to be agreed upon by the school directors of the districts interested.

Section 1. Be it enacted, etc., That children residing in school districts in which graded public schools, or graded courses of study, are or hereafter may be maintained, may attend the public schools of higher grades or courses of study, including high schools, in other districts; the cost of tuition which shall not exceed that of the tuition of children in the same grade or courses in the districts maintaining said higher grades or courses and high schools, to be paid to the districts receiving such children, out of the moneys raised by taxation for common or public school purposes in the districts in which said children reside: Provided, however, That such attendance shall not begin until after provision for the same, and its duration, and for the expense of tuition according to the foregoing restrictions, has been made by the boards of directors of the districts interested, by security as required by existing laws.

Approved April 3, 1903.

SAML. W. PENNYPACKER.

ENLARGEMENT OF SCHOOL DISTRICT. AN ACT to provide for ascertaining whether an undue proportion of real estate and scnool houses is within a school district which has been or shall be hereafter enlarged by the annexation of a part, or parts, of a township or townships to a borough, and how much money shall be paid therefor by the enlarged district to the old district, or districts.

Section 1. Be it enacted, etc., That whenever, heretofore, a common school district has been, or hereafter shall be, enlarged by the annexation of a part or parts of a township, or townships, the court of quarter sessions of the proper county shall determine, on hearing, whether an undue proportion of

the real estate and school-houses belonging to the old district, or districts, is within the bounds of such enlarged district, and, if so, how much money shall be paid therefor by such enlarged district to the old district, or districts; and if any money be on hand, or debt unpaid, or any tax or other claims be uncollected, after the settlement of all such accounts prior thereto, the said court shall divide said money or debt amongst the districts in such proportions-and shall make such order as to uncollected tax or other claims-as shall be just, and any sum thus decreed to be due by any district to any district or individual, shall be entered in the nature of a judgment against the same, and shall be subject to execution, in the manner prescribed in the twenty-first section of the general common school law, on the eighth of May, one thousand eight hundred and fifty-four.

Approved April 3, 1903.

SAML. W. PENNYPACKER.

ITEMS FROM REPORTS.

BEDFORD -Supt. Wright: The schools of Morrison's Cove, most of which were visited during the month, were found to be in firstclass condition. The good attendance of the pupils is especially to be commended, indicating not only an honest effort on the part of the directors to enforce the compulsory law, but also zealous work on the part of teachers and a healthy school sentiment among the patrons. In that section of the county there is a meeting of a literary society every night in the week but one. On the evening of March 11, a well attended and interesting educational meeting was held at Woodbury. Other educational events of the month were the lectures given in the county by Prof. F. H. Green. He spoke on successive evenings at Bedford, Saxton, Riddlesburg and Everett, his subject being "Life's Musical Scale."

BERKS-Supt. Rapp: At the ten central examinations for township diplomas, 94 were successful and 44 failed. The examinations were largely attended. Most of the outlying rural schools closed the latter part of March.

BUTLER-Supt. Painter: At one time during the month twenty-eight different schools were closed on account of small-pox. This was a great hindrance to school work in Washington, Parker and Allegheny townships. We held our last local institute for this year March 14th. I have been well pleased with the success of these meetings throughout the year. The Bear Run school of Cranberry township was burned down, but the school was re-opened the following week in a vacant house near by. March 28th was examination day for public school diplomas. The class was large, and showed good work. It is with sorrow that I report the death of Mr. G. D. Swain, president of

the Harmony borough school board. He had been a school director for upwards of thirty years, and I feel safe in saying that but few, if any, more faithful men have served in that capacity. He was a regular attendant at the meetings of the State Directors' Association, and a Vice President of that body. In his death our schools at large, and especially those of Harmony, have suffered a great loss.

CAMBRIA-Supt. Jones: Many schools in the country districts have already closed. It gives me pleasure to state that our schools have done efficient work. A two-room school-house at Benedict was recently destroyed by fire; it was not insured.

CARBON-Supt. Bevan: The most interesting event of the month in school circles was the educational meeting at Weatherly, Friday evening, March 20th. This was well attended, enthusiastic, and successful in every way. The programme included a paper on "Home Study " by Miss Nina Rosenstock; an address on Local Schools by Dr. W. P. Long; on the "Schools of the People" by Rev. R. M. Snyder, and on the Common School of the Future by Supt. Bevan. The music was by the Weatherly Glee Club. The new Schawb building at Weatherly and the new building at Lehighton are nearly finished, and will be ready for use at the opening of the schools in the fall. The boroughs of Lehighton, Weissport, Packerton and Parryville have combined for the systematic study of the books on Teaching and English that were recommended by the superintendent last fall. These joint meetings have been very successful and profitable. The plan here followed could be adopted to advantage in many of the other districts where little or no work of this kind has thus far been done.

CLINTON-Supt. McCloskey: The season of local institutes closed with a grand educational rally at Renovo on Saturday, March 21st. Fifty teachers were present. Several prominent school men of adjoining counties joined with us in making the meeting a success. Four more schools have added libraries of excellent books to their equipment.

CUMBERLAND-Supt. Green: I had the privilege of attending three educational meetings during the month. These have done much to keep alive the work in the different districts. Most of the rural schools have closed. Their work has, in a general way, been satisfactory, but there is plenty of room for improvement. The minimum salary bill will introduce a new era of educational work, enabling us to retain the most successful teachers.

ELK-Supt. Sweeney: The subject of drawing is receiving much attention in our county through teaching it in our district schools and State normal schools, and also as a consequence of having a practical instructor in the subject at our normal county institute. Some of our teachers in rural

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