The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1897-07-21
HASTINGS
GUIAA0TINE.
1t Descends on the 0rme Bill TO Tax
Store orders.
EMPLOYEES WOULD PAY The TAX.
The Governor Says the Pinched Wages Of
the Laboring Man Would be the Source
Prom Which the Tax Would Come.
other Bills Vetoed.

Harrisburg, July 21-The Orme bill
was yesterday vetoed by Governo
Hastings. The measure imposed a Il
! per cent tax on the face value Of al
orders checks. dividends. coupons
| passbooRs or other paper representing
1 the earnings Of any employe not paie
In cash to the employe or member ot
MS family, and provided a penalty foi
failure to report annually to the audi.
tor general. These bills were also dis.
approved; Providing for the commit
ment and treatment of persons in asv.
lums addicted to the use Of cocaine
morphine or other stupefying drugs,
directing the publication OF the lists of
applicants for liQuor license i'm first
class cities to be made in three news.
papers, one of which shall be a German
newspaper; repeating the act Of Apri
8, 1850, for the registration of mar
rlaEes and deaths in the city of Phila-
delpha
Tho bill to tax store orders was introduced
by Representative Orme. of Sebuvlk I'M
county. 1t met with considerable onposi.
tlon, but the labor leaders managed to pu1
1t through the Legislature only to be vetoed
py the Governor who gives the following
reasons why the measure did not receive his
sanction ''''
This bill, should it receive Executive an.
proval would be in direct coutravention or
oectlOn l OF Article 9 of the Constitution
winch provides that all taxes should be ppi.
FORM upon the same class Of subjects within
the territorial limits Of the authority levy
ing the tax. The territorial limits of tho
authority levying this tax embrace the limits
OF the state. The class of subjects boro
sought to be taxed are orders cboct,s
dlViders coupons passbooks or other pancrs
representing the amount of wages or earn
ings of any emplOye given, made or iss,ied
Tor payment of labor aud not redeemed in
lawful money of the United States
The trainers Of this bill evidentlv intor
ded that 1t should relieve the laboripe man
from the pernicious company store order
system which, wherever and under whatever
1lsgulSe 1t is practiced, has proved a curse
DuU TINS measure fails to meet the evil
Inc owner of company store who seel,s
10 compel his employees to purchase any nor
uoh oil his earnings in store goods bv tbe
issuing OF store orders, coupons or other de-
wees, all of which are forbidden bv law
could not be hindered in placing. bowever
unjustly, this additional tax of ton Nor
centum on the amount of such orders unon
his employe. The laboring mans capitai is
his daily wage. The only collateral he can
oher to secure credit is his character for hon
esty and industry and his monthly nav
account. If he should be deprived of either
of these he is left without the means of spn-
porting his family. This bill deprives him
Of the means of obtaining credit. either from
his employer or from anybody else. and |
would make him in addition thereto nav tbe
tax sought to be imposed by said measure
II the bill should become a law he must
slther pay cash for his coal, meat clothing
ma other necessaries of life, or go without
them, or pay ten per centum above what apv
other man would have to pay TO get credit for
such necessaries.
II he received check upon bank in
payment Of his wages and used that cbeck
or the payment Of his debts or sent IL 10 a
orelgn country so that it could not reach the
'ank for payment within thirty davs from
he date it was issued 70 him, tax of 10 ner
entum under this bill would be- imnosed
'nlch eventually would come Off the man
yho earned the money If HE EMPLOYER
houla give him check upon private bank
hg institution and it were paid in lawful
money OF the United States on presentation
he amount thereof would still be subject In
he 10 per centum tax.
II the purpose Of the measure is 10 raise
eVeuue fof the state it has selected tbe
'hched wages of the laboriug man from
winch to derive portion of its income. If
ne purpose be to make the several employers
u labor described in the bill pay the tax.
hen the purpose is entirely mistaken be-
ause IN its practical operation the laboriug
nan ahd not che company must eventually
pay the tax"