Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1897-05-14

ond reading. II Is said that no further
effort will be made TO pass the bill, but
friends OF Senators Magee and Finn
are OF the opinion that the other side
will push the measure to final passage.
One Of the features Of the fight on this
bill was the alliance OF the Democratic
minority with the Quay people.
Counties Must Pay For Extradition.
One of the bills which Is being push
ed through the legislature with all the
celebrity possible requires counties to
pay the costs and expenses of appre-
hendlng and returning fugitive from
justice charged with or convicted OF
a felony. It has already passed the
senate, and last evening was read
the second time in the house. Today
1t goes to final passage on a special
order. The purpose Of this bill is to
extradite Charles still. who was con-
victed at York three years ago of ad-
ministrating knockout drops to resi-
dent of that city Stlll fed the country
after his conviction, and was appre-
hended recently at Glasgow. He is
now In Jail at London, awaiting ex-
tradition. The commissioners of York
founty have refused to pay the ex-
penses of bringing Still back, which
explains the rush on this bill. Stlll
was formerly a police officer at York,
and was involved in several brutal en-
counters.
Friends Of the proposition to change
the basis of distributing the school
funds among the several counties are
awaiting with much anxiety the dis
position of the bill dividing the ap-
preparation on the basis of one-thlrd
on the number of schools, one-third
on the children In the schools and the
balance on the taxables. Philadelphia
is particularly opposed to any change.
because the suggestion in this bill
would reduce the amount of money
received by Philadelphia to the extent
of over 100000. Pittsburg will also be
seriously affected but the members of
the legislature from that city gener-
ously admit that the country districts
do not get their share.
An interesting question was submit
ted to Attorney General Mccormick by
the secretary of agriculture in connec-
tion with the investigation of bribery
charges against an agent of the dairy
and food commissioner at Pittsburg.
The head of the department of agrf-
culture wanted to know whether his
department would be justified in pay
case of the accused agent of the state,
or whether such fees and expenses
should be paid by the agent himself.
The attorney general says the ques-
tion is one of great Importance and
| deserving of the most careful con-
sideration. He concludes that the COM
monwealth should incur no obligations
and pay no expense either in the way
of counsel fees or costs in such an in
vestlgation. He suggests that to do SO
would be to establish bad precedent.
Suit to Restrain state ON cials.
An unusual proceeding was COM
minced in the Dauphin county courts
last Friday to restrain Governor Hast
Ings and Secretary of the Common
wealth Reeder from issuing a charter
to the Franklin Gas company or any
other corporation for the purpose of
supplying gaslight to the city of Pitts
burg. This is the first proceeding of
the kind in the history of the common
wealth The case will be watched with
much interest by the bar of the state,
as well as by the parties concerned,
for the reason that the right to restrain
the governor from issuing a corporate
| franchise Is a novel legal proposition
in Pennsylvania.
The committee appointed by the
chairman of the Republican state COM
mittee to revise the various reform
bills indorsed by the party organiza-
ton. so as to make them conform to
the views of the majority, has had a
couple of meetings, but its work is not
| yet completed. The civil service bill
seems to be giving the committee the
most trouble. This measure is not pop
ular with the working politicians, and
considerable diplomacy must be used
to make it all acceptable. The present
bill provides for an annual expenditure
of $4,000 in salaries, which the COM
mittee regards as a bad feature. They
think this commission should be self
sustaining, like the state pharmaceuti-
cal board, the revenues to be derived
from the applicants for examination.
The present bill makes applicants for
all positions stand about the same ex-
| aminations, which is regarded as un-
fair, and will be changed. AS the bin
will likely be made to apply to all cities
all the policemen and firemen in the
state may be put under its provisions.
All the other bills VIII be reported prac-
| tlcally in their original form.
Some important changes have been
on direct inheritances. These changes
have been made by the senate commit
tee on finance. and are sure to create
trouble. Two additional sections have
been added, one providing that every
insurance company Incorporated under
the laws of PennsylN ania, except pure
! ly mutual concerns, without capital
stock and purely mutual beneficial as
sociations, shall pay a tax of eight
mills on the dollar upon the gross pre-
miums and assessments received from
business transacted in this state The
tax on foreign insurance companies
is increased from to per cent upon
ali business done IN this state The
amendment that is sure to start buzz
is one repeating the provision of the
| present law giving half the tax on the
foreign fire insurance companies 70
cities and boroughs for the use of dis
abled firemen.
Both senate and house viii adjourn
ON Thursday, so that the lawmakers
may go to Philadelphia TO participate
in the Washington monument ceremo.
nies. Governor Hastings and stan and
all the state officials win also be pres
! ent.
Attorney General Mccormick, under
the direction Of a resolution of the
legislature, approved by the governor
will investigate the claim of the Corn
/ planter Indians to a portion OF the
ground now covered by OIL City.
| vt. n, a. g., =. ..,