The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-03-30
PENNSYLVANIA LEGISLATURE,
Senate.


HARRISBURG, March 3O.-Mr. Connell presented
petition from Philadelphia for the repeal OF the COL
lateral inheritance tax ON bequests to religious, edu
catiOnal, and charitable Institutions.
Also, petition from the Twenty-second ward OF
Philadelphia praying that citizens of that ward may
elect superintendent OF Highways.
Mr. Kerr, the petition OF members Of the bar Of
Butler county, praying the postponement Of action
the next meeting Of the Legislature.
large number OF petitions were presented for the
passage OF the House local option liquor law.
A bill was reported creating the office OF General
Interpreter of foreign languages in the courts OF
Philadelphia favorably.
House.
Before the opening OF the House Hon. ]. g.
Thomas, chairman OF the committee OF citizens to
protest against the erection OF public buildings,
took the Speakers stand, and urged the views OF
the committee. He was followed by John G. Boil
litt, who declared among other things that there
lion dollars in the city finances at the end OF 1871;
that the debt was accommodating rapidly; and that
the attention OF citizens had been necessarily called
Mr.. iliiam F. Smith urged the repeal of the
commission, and said that the original proposition
of vote in 1870 had been simply a "catch."
Mr.. Mann, OF Potter, said that all his sympathies
were with the committee from Philadelphia, but he
could not give them much encouragement for a
repeal OF the law this session.
Mr. Josephs said that the bill authorizing the vote
OF 1910 had been passed after full notice. and after
it had remained in the hands of the Governor for
nearly six months, open to any protest. and yet
none of any importance had been presented.
Hon. j. X. Findley argued at some length against
the principle OF delegatlng such high powers to
irresponsible commission. Various questions were
asked by the country members, among others one
by Mr. StTang viz. How the Legislature was to
obtain the views OF the citizens of Philadelphia on
any question except through the country delegation?
This delegation Ia 1870 had been unanimously in
favor OF the voting bill.
Mr. Bunitt replied that the country members were
not sitting local attorneys for their own counties,
but had both the right and duty, as a matter Of
principle, to refuse TO delegate any such extended
powers to an irresponsible commission, whether for
Philadelphia or elsewhere.
The hour OF ten having arrived, the committee
retired ana the House organized.
Mr.. Elliott asked leave 10 present petitions from
1900 citizens of Philadelphia in favor or the repeal
OF the Building Commission, but there were OBJ
jections.
The following bills were considered
Anact TO com pensate persons injured in person or
otherwise by the sale giving away OF intoxicating
liquors by a suit for damages was urged by Mr..
Smith and Mr.. Miller. Mr.. Dumbell was not pre-
pared TO 90 to the length indicated by the bill.
Mr. Marshall said that the bill was not adapted TO
meet the exigeneies Of society Mr. Ellis took the
same view.
MT Hager and Mr. Ellis moved to strike out ali
after the enacting clause. rms would Kill the ol
Agreed uo-ayes 81, nays 40
An act to prevent the sale OF intoxicating liquors
on election day was amended so as not TO apply
after the closing OF the polls. IL punished any viola
tion with a fine of not less than twenty dollars and
not over i've hundred dollars and with mprson
meEt 1t was passed by 81 ayes to &c nays