The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-07-31
GOVERNOR HASTINGS
FAVORS MERCHANTS
Refuses TO Sign the Mercantile Tax
Measure.
THE BIRD DAY" BILL ALSO SHARED
The Governor Sees No Reason Why
Additional Burdens should BE
Placed Upon Merchants at This
Time--Items OF the Appropriation
Bill That Are Disapproved.

Bill That Are DlsnpprOVeus
Harrisburg, July 30.-Governor Hast
ings cleared his desk this afternoon OF
the remaining six bills left with him
by the legislature and then started on
an overland trip to. Bellefonte. The
mercantile tax measure, several items
in the general appropriation bill and
the Simon electric light and bird day
bills were disappfoved and the appro-
priation of 100000 to Jefferson Medi-
cal college, Philadelphia, and the liquor
license bill were signed. In approving
the latter the executive states he does
so notwithstanding section contains
a provision as to advertising applica-
rions for liquor licenses, which in
separate bill was disapproved by him.
Governor Hastings says in his veto
of the mercantile tax bill that 1t would
receive his approval were it not for
the fact that the constitutionality of
the proposed enactment is more than
doubtful; that if permitted to become
law it would be unjust and unfair to
large class of merchants and that
ultimately it would prove detrimental
to the best interests in the state. For
several years the business depression
has been SO great that almost every
industry has struggled to exist" he
concludes, "and I am unwilling to i'm
pose further burdens upon these inter-
ests for the reason that l have stated
therefore withhold my approved from
this bill"
In disapproving the Simon bill the
executive says he cannot agree to i'm
pose uron the municipalities OF this
commonwealth the burden of paying by
taxation for all the electric light plants
that may be in operation in the mu-
inequalities respectively as a condition
precedent to the exercise of the func-
ton of municipal lighting" FIe also
states that he is not convinced by the
arguments made In favor of the meas
lre, looking to the interests of all the
people in all the cities and boroughs of
the state that it should receive execu-
tive approval and that he can see no
reason for departing from the position
taken upon the bill of similar import
which failed to receive his approval at
the session of 1895.
ITEMS DISAPPROVED.
The following items in the general
appropriation bills are disapproved: ST.
800 for night watchman in the state
department; $1,000 for the attorney
general as a member of the board of
public accounts at the request of At
torney General Mccormick, the item
having been inserted without his
knowledge $4,000 for the superintend-
ent Of the bureau of railways; $1,S00
for an elevatorman in the capitol; $685.
600 for the construction of a new quar-
antine boat for the health officer of
Philadelphia $4,000 in favor of Will
1inftn FTaxv
Comfy, Samuel Collins and Daniel
Ahearn, tpstaves, 70 services rendered
the Superior court during 1897; $500 for
the jantor of the apartments of the
lieutenant-governor; 81, $50 for the en-
gineer of the capitol, and 81 $50 for the
cellar fireman of the senate; 81, 900 TO
pay Lucius Rogers, Of Kane, clerk of
the senate appropriation committee;
the Item of three dollars a day for a
house watchman and the pages, a total
of $ll, go, so far as it relates to the
watchman; 81 $50 for a cellar fireman:
= $500 for Henry HUM, of PHILADELPHIA,
" clerk to the house rules committee:
$500 for John Horner, of Harrisburg.
janitor of the Supreme court rooms:
Sl65O for Josiah Higgins, of Harris
burg, for keeping in order the bath
room In the executive building; $2,150
~ ~ - NiObuIIld1l lOT service on the
committee to ascertain the number of
allen paupers quartered upon the state:
10000 for the expenses of the commit
tee to ascertain the best methods of
utilizing convict labor in state insti
tutions; $3.50 to purchase portrait
OF Thaddeus Stevens; $40l so for
the funeral expenses of eX-Rep-
resentative William II. Cassin. of
Philadelphia, and S625.50 for the
iuneral expenses of the late eX-Rep-
resentative ID. d. Phillips, of Schuvl-
kill; S3,234.S0 for clerical assistance and
stenographic work for the state treas
ury investigating committee; $3.50 80 to
Charles Ettla and a like amount to
George Baker for car fare and services
as secretary and doorkeeper for the
renitentiary investigating committee:
500 Tor Jacob kerler, of Centre county.
Tor state taxes, alleged to have been
improperly paid; 81 900 to pay ex
penses of delegates of the coast de-
Tense congress, which met in Tamna
Fla, last January; regarding the an
propriations for the state normal
schools the governor signs the appro-
priations, the thirteen schools sharin o
In the appropriation having filed with
the state treasurer an abatement of
$4,000 each.
OFFICERS PAY REDUCED.
The governor knocks s9,45O off the
Item of $45,526 for the pay of the Of
ficers and employees of the senate, and
$l6,4S4 off the item of $75, ,404 for salaries
of employees of the house. The execu-
tive says:
i."The amounts approved represent the
senate and salaries of the officers and
employees of the house of representa- =
tives authorized by law, and the
amount disapproved represents the sal
aries. of such officers and employees as
are not provided by any act. of as
sembly."
All other items in the bill are ap-
proved.
MERCANTILE TAX.