Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1893-01-27
Harrisburg.

On Thursday Of last week the gates were
opened for the introduction Of bills, and in
= short time 1877 of them were piled on the
Speakers desk.
There were bills regarding everything
from Constitutional Amendments TO fence
bills. and all referred to their proper Com
mittees. Senator Bakers proposed inves-
tigation of the Reading Railroad Combine.
created considerable comment; as did also
the alleged combination of Members and
Senators from the rural counties.
Rep. Douthett introduced bill to pro-
vide for a State School Book Board to pro-
vide for the furnishing of school books to
all school children at publishers prices, and
also one for an appropriation for the Sip
peryrock Normal, which this year wants
s65, 900.
Regarding tax laws. Harry Hall, CORE
-pondent of the Pittsburg Times has tho
following to say: In addition to the ques
rion of new tax laws, it IS likely tnat the
Interpretation put upon the present one py
the Auditor Generals department may
have no unimportant effect upon tne otate
finances. The Boyer act of 1891 changed
the method of appraising the value OF capi-
tai stocks Of corporations. They must be
appraised at their actual value in cash, not
less. however, than the average price al
which it sold during the year, land not
less than the price of value Indicated or
measured by net earnings or by the amount
of profit made and either declared IN dlvi
dends or carried into surplus or sinking
fund.- The f'net earningsP clause Is new
In settling taxes with corporations TINS
gear, the department hss largely based It's
calculations upon this. clause. AS an ex-
ample of the change, one case may De CIT
I'd where a railroad corporation returns lts
capital stocks at o, 900. 900. its par value
and the rate IL has gold at. At mills
che tar amounts to $4,000. But measnr-
ing its capital stock value upon tne hel
earnings returned, the department h1ss
il at SS, zoe, 900 and makes the tax S43,ooo.
In calculating the tax, the department !
regards the net earnings ss representing
per cent. Of the actual value OF the capltai
stock, that rate having been the divideno
basis fixed by the act OF 1883 ana previous
laws
Although all taxes are being settled on
this basis. the Auditor General and state
rreasurer have not yet fully decided
whether In endeavor to collect them as
TINS settled. wishing first to be sure that
their Interpretation of the met earnings
clause Wilt stand the test of the courts, ior
it ia certain that the corporations VIII ap
peal in almost every instance. Should 1t be
insisted on and sustained by the courts the
State taxes " ill be increased TO hgures
beyond the widest anticipations OF the
fra w, avu af tho law
Monday night. DOuthett's resolution
noted in another place, passed oy
A vote of 81 to SO, and IN the
Senate Goblin started after Gov. Pattison
with a sharp stick by introducing
a resolution setting forth that the nomina-
ton of Robert watchorn for Factory In
spector had been rejected by the Senate
on Nav 27. 1891; that it is alleged that
Watchorn has performed the dutes OF said
Office since that date. and that lie has been
again nominated bv the Governor for that
position, and directing the Judiciary Spe-
cial Committee to inquire and report
whether he is acting in that capacity, aud
if SO. by what warrant of authority. Ths
Democrats seemed unprepared for the reso-
luton, and it was adopted without oppoSi-
lion.
weyand of Beaver, offered resolution
which was aoOpteu, requesllnS ohhSJ
MIA representatives in Congress to vote tor
and advocate the passage of the bill now
pending, requiring the Secretary OF War to
cause a survey to be made for ship canal
connecting the waters of Lake Erie and the
Ohio river.
On Tuesday, SEN Brown Of Westmore-
land Co., introduced bill which assessor
every voter 81 year for cash road tax;
Rep. Mansfield of Beaver, one providing
for elections ON the license question; the
Dontbett resolution regarding the WORLDS
Fair was referred TO the Senate Commit
zee in Vice and immortality; the proposi
ton to saddle the costs Of calling out the
military on the comfy calling for heip
stirred mp hornets nest.