The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1886-12-17
New Legislation.

New Legislation
The Philadelphia Times says as fol.
lows in reference to the probable work
at Harrisburg this Winter:
The large number OF new members
sent to each Legislature as result of
the principle of rotation in office gen.
orally brings with it corresponding
food of new Legislation, and the ap.
preaching session promises to furnish
an excellent example of this. The
liquor laws, the tax laws, the railroad
laws, the game laws and the laws gov.
erniDg county aud city officers are liza
BILE to be tinkered with from every pos
sibe direction, and the usual number
of private jobs is confidently expected
by those who have closely scrutinized
the personnel of both branches of the
new Legislature.
| 1t is about as certain as any future
event can be that bill will be intro
duced at an early date in the session
looking to the submission of liquor
prohibitory constitutional amendment
to the popular vote. The Republicans
have such an overwhelming majority
in both branches that some of them
confess that they see no way TO avoid
at least the appearance Of an effort to
keep their platform pledge on this
question. Some of the leaders do not
disguise their belief that this plank
saved enough prohibition votes to the
Republican party to elect Beaver and
they antici pate that if the loyal mem
bers of the party who want prohibition
fail to get united party action in its ia
vor they will leave the party never to
return. The high-license advocates
will go Ito Harrisburg armed with
an arsenal of facts and figures to show
that prohibition does not prohibit,
while a high license will be either pro-
hibitory or will handsomely compen-
safe III revenue for the failure to get
prohibition. The whole liquor ques-
ton is likely to be exhausliveiy dis
cussed, with Providence on the side of
the heaviest artillery in the shape of
brains and tact.
| The enforcement of the railroad sec
tions of the Constitution will doubtless
be taken up a. early date, but 1t is likely
that nothing will be done with it till
after the adjournment of Congress in
March. There is general disposition
TO wait and see what comes of Senator
Cullom's bill for the national regulation
of interstate commerce. If Mr.. Rea.
gan accepts it as good enough for his
school of craftsmanship until it can
get something more radical enacted
the local Legislature may do nothing.
On the other hand, if Congress leaves
the subject open at its adjournment a
vigorous attempt may be made through
an anti-discrimination bill at Harris
burg.
The new law enforcing the tax on
personal property has not entirely won
the good opinion of the tax-dodgers
Oh whom it has drawn the halter, aud
probably an attempt will be made to
repeal it. Its friends, however, will
doubtless defend the provisions which
have made the collection of such taxes
easier han it was before last year, and
if any modification is made they will
try to see that such features as are OBJ
jectionable to honest taxpayers are
done away with and the burdens of
taxation made lighter by more even
distribntion. 1t is possible that the
capital stock tax on corporations may
be repealed so as to afford an excuse
for taxing their enor nous amounts of
money at interest, which the Supreme
Court lately decided to be untaxable
under the circumstances.
The committee appointed by the late
County Commissioners Convention to
revise and suggest modification of the
laws relating TO their Office will prob
ably propose some amendments to the
personal tax law and other statutes re.
lating to the collection of public reve.
nues In particular they will try TO
secure an alteration Of the law govern.
ing the election of assessors, SO as to
provide that the triennial assessment
shall be held not Immediately after the
|
expiration of their terms, when they
have acquired the experience needed
for an intelli gent reassessment of prop
erty The Commissioners committee
is unanimous for the repeal of the act
of June %, 1885, fixing bounty or
the destruction of hawks, owls, minks,
weasels, wildcats, foxes and wolves
These bounties have been a serious
drain on the Treasures of some count.
les.
The members from Pittsburg viii
i. urge the passage of revised charter
for cities of the second class, some
thing like the Bullitt charter for cite,
of the first class, which goes into full
force in Philade phia next spring. Sena
: tor Aull s bill which was before the Leg
/ islature last year, may be revived anC
amended as needed to secure its pass
age. Cities of the third, fourth an,
fifth classes will hold another conven
!, tion early in January for the purpos
q of agreeing on the charter reform leg
. islation for which they will ask. The
will probably seek to have the appoint
! ing power concentrated in the hand
E of the Mayor, and will at least ask fo
the removal of tie clause in the act
+ passed forH them last year, which mad
% the acceptance of those acts optiona
and caused their notification by tn
y Supreme Court this year as unconstitl
v tionai.
n A great deal of legislation in tn
!, supposed interest of labor will
4 brought forward. An attempt wi
certainly be made TO abolish the cor
pany store system by some leg
10 method that will not impair the vail
!, ity of contracts, and there will also
"a bills for the establishment of cooper
tive concerns under such lepislati