The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-05-28

Harrisburg. May 27.-Mr. Smith pre-
sented to the house today memorial
from the Pennsylvania division, League
of American Wheelmen, in favor of a
81 tax on bicycles, tricycles, traction
engines and vehicles drawn by horses.
Speaker Boyer has recovered from his
recent illness and presided at today's
sessions. The order of business was
revenue bills on third reading and local
and special bills on second reading.
The local and special bills were quickly
disposed OF and then the revenue bills
were taken UP. The most important
were considered first at the suggestion
OF Chairman Bolles, of the ways and
means committee, to make sure they
would be- reached. He looked for a
spirited debate on the Bliss beer bills,
but there was very little talk on eth
er.
The first revenue bill to pass leves
a four mill tax On the bonds of corpor-
ations. Mr.. Bolles estimates this meas
ure> will produce $4,000 a year. The
bill levying a four mill tax on the
matured and paid uD stocks of build
ing and loan associations also passed
finally. The bill will produce about
$150,0o0 annually. Mr. Bolles estimates
the bill taxing the actual value of bank
stock four mills will raise not less than
$250,0o0 year. This measure passed
finally after q short discussion. the
beer bills were next considered. One
taxes domestic brew a half-cent gal
Ion and the other foreign brew one cent
a gallon. The first passed by vote
of 125 to % and the second by 1856 to So.
An Informal meeting of the house
was held this afternoon prior to the
regular session to hear addresses by
William NJ. Singcrly and DR.. w. p.
Wilson, of Philadelphia. Mr.. Stewart,
of Philadelphia presided and Introduce
ed the visitors as 1.-TWO of the most rep
resentative citizens of Pennsylvania"
Mr.. Singerly explained that the OBJ
Ject of the visit of himself and DR..
Wilson was to invite the legislature to
attend the opening exercises of the In
ternational Business congress, to be
held at the Commercial Museum of
Philadelphia next Wednesday. No
formal action was taken on the invi-
tation.
BLISS HORIZONTAL TAX BILL.
The house resumed business at
o'clock with Speaker Boyer in the
chair. The Bliss Horizontal tax bill was
reported from the ways and means
committee for printing. 1t places an
additional mill on all the present sub
jects of state taxation and doubles the
tax on the premiums of foreign fire in
surance companies. On the basis OF
the returns the auditor general fol
1896, Mr.. Bliss estimates the bill would
raise S2,500.000 a year. 1t is an en-
ergency measure and only applies fol
three years.
Mr.. Focht, of Union, introduced g
bill providing for the return of paup.
ers and INDECENT insane persons mo-
having a legal settlement within thi.
state to any other state or country
to which they may belong. A bill wal
presented by Mr.. Bentley, of Erie, t
lmend the Baker ballot law to pu
ITO effect the voting system adopted
y j. B. Corey, of Braddock
A motion was offered by Mr.. Moore
Butler, that the house adjourn thi
fternoon until next Monday evenins
$50 O'Clock. A roll call was demand
ID and the motion carried by 66 to 50
Mr.. Coray, of Luzerne, followed will
a concurrent resolution that the leg