The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1897-05-26
Down At Harrisburg.


wife 10 testify against her husband on
the ground, among other reasons, that it
.'permits the defendant, who may have
destroyed the happiness of the household
To call the wife of the injured husband to
relieve the defendant from liability in
court of justice. The tendency of legis-
lation of this character, in my Judgment,
is open To most serious objection. II
weakens the sacredness of the married
relation and the security of the home.
1t affects not only the husband and the
wife. but may also shield the guilty, and
is likely 10 bring shame aud unhappi-
ness to the children ofthe family Effected.
/ can think of no case whore such legis-
lation would be beneficial, but am clear
ly of the opinion that it would he pro-
ductive of great evil"
The Governor disapproves resolutions
providing for the printing OF ten thoas-
and copies of the report of the Indian
Forts Commission, at a cost not exceed
ing 1900; for the printing of 1900 cop
les of a report by DIR. b. ii. Warren. the
State Zoologist, containing a history of
the game of the Commonwealth, and
another for printing and binding $500
copies of the Lexow report, because of
the uncertainty as to revenue. He says:
| deem il nnwise TO approve any measure
of this character until it can he known
with reasonable certainty whether the
condition OF the Ire tsury will be such as
to justify the appropriation. Our charit-
able and penal institutions must be pro-
vided for with judicious care, and. in the
interest of humanity, we cannot permit
them to suffer by the expenditure of pub
lie funds for any purpose which cannot
be regarded as absolutely necessary"
The libel bill has been materially
amended by the Senate Judiciary Gener-
al Committee. 1t is practically a new
bill. The first section provides that in
no case can any prosecution or civil ac-
tion for libel be instituted for the print
ing and publication for the same libel
upon the same individual in more than
one county of this State. Section two
provides that criminal actions for libel
may be instituted against the writer of
an alleged libe. or any person responsib-
ly connected with the publication, or had
knowledge of and assented to or directed
or publisher who refuses 10 give the
name of the author, and any person con-
victed of criminal libel shall be guilty of
misdemeaner and sentenced to a iiEe not
exceeding two thousand dollars or i'm
prisonment not exceeding twelve months,
or both at the discretion of the court.
According TO section three in civil actions
for libel the plea of Justification shall be
held as adequate when it is pleaded and
proven that the material statements of
the publication are substantially true.
The plea of justification if made in good
all civil actions for libel the recovery
shall be the amount of injury sustained
by the plaintiff.
Chairman A. l.. Martin, OF the house
agricultural committee, is going to push
his bill to license the sale of oleo as a ben
eft to the farmer and a revenue raiser
1t would raise, it is claimed, in the
neighborhood of million dollars year.
The Martin bill provides for the licen-
sing of the manufacturer, wholesaler and
retailer of olel. The manufacturer would
pay 81 900 year, the wholesaler 500 and
the retailer from sl0 to $50 according to
the amount of business he did. The law
of 1895 forbids the manufacture and sale
of oleo in the state. 1t has been on the
statute books for twelve years and in
that time millions of pounds of bogus
butter have been sold on the speak
easy" plan. For the last two years the
state has been keeping paid force at
work to prevent the sale Of oleo, but the
investigating committee shows that the
sale has increased rather than fallen off.
In Pittsburg about 100000 pounds of oleo
are sold monthly and in the last two
years the state has only received $500 in
fines.
Many of the farmers and dairymen of
the state are of the opinion that it is use
less to continue law that can not be ell
forced. They would rather have oleo
sold for just what it is than be compelled
10 compete Win IL III lLt pFtScut uIdii-
ner. Mr.. Martin is farmer and dairy
man, having large farm at Enon VAL
ley, Lawrence county. He says that it
would be TO the interest of the farmers to
repeal the act of 1885. He has written
several hundred letters to the dairymen
and creamery proprietors of the state and
the great majority of the replies are in
favor of a law licensing oleo.
The question of revenues Is causing the
fiscal officers OF the state great a great
deal Of trouble. Auditor General Mylin
is preparing statement showing the
condition of the finances. 1t will he
used at a conference of the legislative
and party leaders to be held Thursd ~
night. General Mylin believes that the
deficit at the close of the fiscal year, No
vember 30, 1887. will be between si,oo0,-
600 and S5O00,000.