The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1897-05-05
The Flag Bill Signed.

The treatment of Representative kea-
tors ballot reform bill. which wipes cut
the circle at the top of the column, in the
house presages its defeat.
1t is understood that a resolution will
be offered in the house this week provid-
ing for final adjournment on the first of
June. The senate will amend by making
the date June Goth.
Francis ]. Terrence, Of Allegheny. a
member of the state board of charities.
has prepared four bills 10 relieve the
crowded condition of the penitentiaries
and obyiate the necessity of building a
new penitentiary. His first proposition
is to confine all criminal insane in the
eastern penitentiary because there is
more room there than in the western
penitentiary; second, To keep all women
in the western penitentiary, because
there are GO cells in the female ward there
and only 10 inmates; third, TO increase
the maximum age for first grade prison.
ers at the Huntingdon reformatory from
- TO 20 years, there being many unoccu-
pied cells at that institution; and fourth,
a system OF parole for prisoners after they
have served half their sentence. This
would be an incentive for n convict to lead
better life and be productive of better
conduct i'm prisons. Mr.. Terrence has
had conference with Gov. Hastings re-
garding his plans, and hopes to get fav-
orabIe consideration for them from the
general assembly.
The only liquor legislation that is
probable at this session is the passage of
the bill TO license clubs. The State Ii
quor League has had several bills intro
duced in the interest of its members, but
ali have been practically abandoned ex-
cept the one favoring a license for social
and political clubs to sell intoxicants to
their members, and it is said that this is
likely to pass. The license fee is fixed at
$50 for clubs in cities of the first class,
$50 in other cities, 500 in boroughs and
SO in townships. All the restrictions
which now apply to saloons as to the sale
of liquors to minors or persons of intem m
perate habits apply to licensed clubs,
which are also forbidden to sell to nom
members. All unlicensed clubs selling
liquors are held TO be nuisances and dis
orderly houses and may be proceeded
against as such. and persons found drink
ing therein shall be deemed disorderly
and may be fined from 81 10 S25 and COM
mitted to the county Jail or house OF cor
rectiOn.
Governor Hastings has affixed his sig
nature TO the legislative act ''to protect
the American flag from insult and de-
gradation.''
This act, which was introduced 10y Mr..
Farr in the house on January q, had the
support of all of the patriotic societies in
the state and was generally endorsed
throughout the commonwealth.
It provides that any person who shall
wilfully and maliciously damage or de-
| strny any American flag or flagstaff
which now or hereafter may he erected
on any private or public building or place
or or any public or private highway or
any public or private grounds or use the
flag for advertising any business or trade
shall he guilty of felony and upon con-
viction shall pay fine not exceeding
500 or suffer imprisonment not exceed
ing six months or both.
The governor also signed the measure
known as the factory inspectors bill"
which is TO better provide for the health
and safety of men, women and children
employed in manufacturing establish
ments the bills authorizing constables
to arrest without first securing a warrant
persons suspected of breaking timber
land laws; requiring copy of Smulrs
handbook to be placed in all public
schools and amending the law so that a
separate orphans court may be created
in counties of over 10000 population.
The resolutions providing for the at
tendance of the legislature at the Wash
ington monument unveiling i'm Philadel-
phia and the Seyfert resolutions for in
vestigaiion into the penitentiaries were
also signed.