The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1897-06-10
HARRISBURG LETTER
Revenue Raisers Puzzled by Re-
cent Court Decision.
THE CASE WILL BE APPEALED

Be Reached in the Middle OF July.
! Especial Correspondence)
Harrisburg. June s-Just when thi
state administration leaders and tht
revenue raisers ia the legislature wer,
congratuiating themselves on the fac
that at least one bill for raising reve.
| nue. was law. and practically sure ot
raising az least ii.o.)0. 900 a year. Judge
/ Hanna. Of Philadelphia comes along
I with a constitutional club and knocks
| out the Elkin act taxing direct inheri-
/ tances. He bases his decision on the
ground that the act IS in conflict with
Z the constitution, which prescribes tha,
all taxation upon the same class OF
subjects shall be Uniform that the leg
isisture has no power for ievying a tax
upon z class, or 70 exempt any part Of
I that class from taxation. because the
constitution prescrSes that when a tax
Is laid no power to exempt shall be
vested in the legislature for other prop
erty than that exempted by the con-
stitution. and that as TO the estates Of
.
the act, its provisions are retroactive
and therefore Illegal The exemption in
question permits all personal property
below the value Of 5000 to 60 free.
Governor Hastings, Attorney General
Mccormick and other state officials are
still Of the opinion that the bill is con-
stitutional, and no time will be lost in
getting a case before the supreme
court, so that the higher tribunal may
pass upon the constitutionality Of the
act.
Discussing the unexpected decision
on the direct inheritance law State
Treasurer Haywood drew attention to
the fact that the points Of law to which
Judge Hanna takes exception were all
discussed before the bill was passed.
and it was thought there were deci-
sions of the supreme court to sustain
them. He said that the exemption and
retroactive features were all gone over
and were thought to be constitutional.
He added: If it is decided that there
is doubt about their constitutlonality
there will have to be additional legisla-
tion, for we must have revenue. We
can pass another bill in six days. II
this decision is sustained it will affect
the collateral inheritance tax, and be-
side the 81 900, 900 we would lose through
the alleged unconstitutionality Of the
direct tax law We would also lose
$1,000, 900 year on the collateral inher-
itance law, which also contains an ex-
emption clause"
Puzzled Over the Revenue.
The whole question Of revenue has
been one that has caused the legisla-
ture no end of trouble. One PROPOSE
tion after another has been made with
view to increasing the revenue to
meet the demands upon the state treas
ury, but the objections are as frequent
as the propositions, and the result Is
that no substantial progress has been
made during the past ten days in the
way of solving the problem. There has
been good deal of talk about taxing
oleomargarine, but the farming ele-
ment in the Legislature, with few ex-
| ceptions, are unalterably opposed to
thus legalizing the sale Of what they
| are pleased to term bogus butter" II
Is believed that tax upon the sale Of
| 'oleo" would bring in a large amount
Of revenue.
A few days ago Senator Grady Of
fered a resolution in the senate request
ing the governor to communicate to
the general assembly whether a de-
| ficit would exist at the close of the
present fiscal year, and whether the es-
timated revenues for the two ensuing
years would be sufficient to meet the
deficit. IL any exists, as we'll as the
ordinary expenses Of the state govern
ment, and If in his judgment existing
laws are not sufficient, then what SUBJ
! jects of taxation he would recon-
mend that will sufficiently increase the
revenues so as to prevent financial
embarrassment. This resolution passed
the senate and, being concurred in by
| the house with practical unanimity,
was sent to the governor. Unless all
| signs fail there will be some fun in the
| senate when his reply is received. The
| friends Of the governor believe that the
resolution was conceived in the camp
Of his enemies and sent to him as a
sort Of challenge because of his well
known policy to cut down all unneces-
sary expenses.
| n WAS Ildut III the mouse ldSl
week towards final adjournment. Ger.
tain changes in the rules were adopted
which provide for the dropping from
the calendar of couple hundred bills
on second reading, which could never
be reached unless the legislature re.
| mains in session all summer. The
complications over the revenue prob,
lem have delayed work on appropria
ton bills, and as 1t stands now fina
adjournment cannot possibly be reach
ed before the middle of July
The Weller Labor Law.
One of the most important bills con.
sidered at the present session was one
introduced by Representative Weller
to protect employees Of corporations ir
their right to join and form labor or,
| ganizatIons. This bill was Tough
through both the senate and house ano
finally reached the governor, who CAV,
both sides hearings before he took ac
ton. He approved the bill on FRIDAY
last. This measure had the support o.
the labor organizations throughout tn,
state, and the leaders have been In
Harrisburg since the opening Of tn,
session helping 1t along. The act pro
vides briefly that II any officer, agen
or employe of any corporation shal
| coerce, or attempt to cOerce anv ON