Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-04-06
THE SOLONS' RETURN,
Business at the Legislative Stand 10
Be Resumed To-Day,
WITH PLENTY OF WORK AHEAD.
Prospects of the Many Bills Loading Down
the Calendars.
MEASURES THAT WILL PROVOKE FIGHTS
rFRoM A STAFF CORRESPONDENT

TFROh A STAFF CORRESPONDENT
HARRISBURG, April Sit is to be hoped
that the Senators and Representatives will
return tomorrow invigorated and refreshed
by their ten days vacation, for there is a
big lot OF work ahead OF them.
The Senate calendar has sc bills on third
and 63 on second reading, saying nothing of
those on first reading, for they, outside of
such as come from the House, have but a
limited chance of ever seeing legislative
daylight.
Senator Flinn's street bills are all on for
third reading, but, with the exception of
No 81, are well down on the list. "Sena-
torial courtesy" will doubtless permit of
their being taken up out of order, should it
be deemed best TO push them. Senator
Dunlap's bill to prohibit the depositing Of
county, city, borough or township funds
with uuincorporated banks and bankers is
among the first to be disposed OF, and will
likely pass. Some of these Institutions are
not In good odor just now, at least not as
Repositories of public funds.
Pensions for Judges.
One measure which Will likely provoke
lively discussion if it ever reaches the House
is Senator Penrose's bill to pension judges. II
proposes to pay the full salary for life to such
judges as resign, or whose terms expire, after
they have reached the age of 20 years and
served 25 years on the bench. A civil pension
list is not in high favor with the people, most of
whom think, too that the judges are well
enough paid to be able to take care of them
selves when age incapacitates them for further
service.
Another bill over which there will be con-
test before it passes both Houses if it ever does,
is Senator ShowaIters measure for the forma-
tiOn of a State Board of Medical Examiners.
This is the bill favored by the "old school,
physicians, and, of course. opposed by the
homeopathic and eclectic doctors. 1t provides
for a board of nine physicians. appointed by the
Governor, who, for fee of Sl0. shall examine
all persons desiring to practice medicine in
the state, and license such as shall be deemed
capable. Persons practcing without such
license are TO be liable to fine ranging from
500 to $500. Similar bills have been here be-
fore, but found the path they had to travel
difficult one.
Another Old-Time Bill.
Senator Ross bill, for the government of
county jais and prisons is another 'old-timer"
1t provides for board of nine prison inspectors
in each county, four to be appointed by the
court and three by the County Commissioners
These inspectors shall have practically COM
plete control of the jails employing
wardens and keepers. purchasing supplies
dlscharglng prisoners under the insOlvenI laws
etc. This bill will hardly pass. There is
growing sentiment against the formation of
boards state or local Considering the COM
paratively few prisoners kept in the county
iails, the proposed method of management
does not seem cumbersome. As one Western
Senator said: IF this bill passes We won't be
able 10 get our prisoners into The jail for in
speCtorS."
The House calendars are overcrowded The
third reading calendar is formidable one but
does not compare with the second reading, on
which there are I'll bills Jones' employers
liability bill is up for third reading. 1t is not
so strongly opposed by the employers as is Sen
ator Hines measure. and may pass the House
but its chances in the Senate are not worth
much CAPTAIN Nesbt's board of tax revision
bill is or the third reading list and will doubt
less pass
On the second reading list is Wherry's con-
stitutional convention bill. 1t won't pass or if
it does, 1t will be so amended that the gentle
man from Cumberland won't be able to recog-
nize ii. Ellwood's free textbook bin NAV be
reached this week. and will likely go through
all right. Whether the bill to distribute the
State school appropriation on the basis Of
school population instead of taxabIes will pass
IS question. 1t certainly seems to establish |
the talrer basis.
Tax on Corporations.
Treasurer Boyers bill, changing the method
of taxing corporations for State purposes, by
leyying a uniform tax of four mills upon the
appraised value of their capital stock, instead
of the present rather cumbrous system, is also
on the second reading calendar Ordi
narily this bill would pass without
much trouble, but just now the grangers are a
little dubious about it. They fear that this
bill is intended as sort of salve for the defeat
OF the Taggart tax bill, a result not within the
bounds OF probabilities. 1t is said that in that
event the rate OF taxation in this bill will likely
be increased. some placing it as high as eight |
mills. This would be Diling 1t on pretty steep,
but the companies would infinitely rather pay |
this amount in State tax than have the hand of |
the local taXCathereT laid upon them.
It Is no secret that this is the plan preferred |
by the Republican leaders, and many of the |
Democrats as well, but the country element is |
strong in support of local taxation so strong |
that their leaders refused to accept proposition
OF this character, coupled with promise that |
the next Republican State Convention would |
declare in favor of the States paving the entire
cost of the schools during the SIX months they 1
are by law required to be open annually.
HENRY HALL,