Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1897-06-21
D0INGS AT HARRISBURG.
LEGISLATORS AGREE TO ADJOURN
ON THE FIRST OF JULY.
However, Less Than One-HaIf the Neces-
sary Work of the Session Is Completed,
and the Date May BE Changed-The
Revenue Muddle.

cision of Judge Hanna, of Philadelphia,
on the new direct inheritance tax. He
bases his decision on the fact that the
law eXempts $4,000 of inherited property
from taxation and holds that this eX-
emption is an nfraction of that clause
of the constitution which declares that
''all taxes shall be uniform upon the
same class of subjects" To overcome
this defect in the bill, a new measure
was introduced in the house. 1t strikes
out the IS, 900 clause and makes all in
herited property taxable. The bill
comes up for final passage in the house
this week, then goes to the senate, where
it will be hurried through as fast as pos
sible, so that the governor can sign it.
This amendment, it is thought, will set
tie definitely the constitutionality of the
measure. The former measure was OK
pected to raise a million and half of
revenue annually and this amendment
added will increase it to two millions.
Last Monday evening a resolution was
offered in the senate, setting July as
the time for final adjournment The
resolution passed and was sent to the
house, where it was promptly passed.
Later in the evening it was seen that a
mistake had been made, and resolu-
tion was offered reconsdcring the mo-
tion, but it was lost. As it stands now
July will be the end, but it is generally
understood this will be changed to July
10.
The senate, as usual, on Thursday
adjourned, with leave of the house.
until Monday; when the request was
made of the house it unanimously OBJ
iected. The house followed this up
by refusing to concur in the senate
amendment to the Hamilton road bill,
reducing the appropriation from II ,OOO,-
600. to S500,00O. 1t the senate does not
recede from its former decision, the bill
will be sent to a conference committee
for adjustment.
Since the governors message has
been received, in which he opposes in
creased taxes, the question naturally
arises where is the increased revenue to
come from. 1t is the thought of those
who are expected to suggest and conduct
revenue legislation that the state income
could be materially increased by passing
laws that certain taxes now turned into
county treasures be diverted entirely to
the state treasury. For instance, there
is the personal property and interest
taxes and the license fees. If these
formed part of the state revenue the
income would be very considerable and
would relieve the state very much. In
all probability something of this nature
will be tried during the remaining
weeks of the session. This would raise
revenue for the state, without incrcas-
ing state taxation, but the money return
ed to and used by the counties would
have to be replaced and more than like
ly by increased taxes from other sources.
The counties would then be held respon-
sible for increasing taxes and not the
state.
Unless the session is extended beyond
the time fixed, many important bills will
have to be dropped. None of the appro-
priation bills have been reported and
experienced legislators say it is absolute
ly impossible to bring them out in time
for final consideration before July /.
Both bodies are anxious to get away,
they agree that final ad djournment should
be postponed, yet neither body is anxious
to assume the responsibility.
Governor Hastings has signed the act
of assembly to prevent wearing of any
badge or button of any labor or fraternal
organization without right to do so by
membership. The act provides that any
person who shall do so shall be subject
to fine of 500.
The governor has also signed the bill
to prohibit the adulteratiou or colorfng
of milk or cream by the addition of So
called preservaliness or coloring matter.
The penalty for this is fine not exceed
ing 500. He has also signed the acts
regulating lunacy commissioners au-
thorizing state banks to pay interest on
demand certificates; regulating location
of hospitals, cemeteries and pest houses
in second-class cities regulating time of
suits against sureties Of constableS; vail
dating certain school district debts, and
the act requiring that all corporations,
associations, companies, firms or indi-
viduals employing persons who are not
citizens of the United States shall. upon
the receipt of written notice from tho
tax collector of the district, deduct from
the wages of such employees sum suf1i-
cient to pay the respective amounts of
taxes assessed against each and pay it to
the collectors of the district in which
said aliens are employed within sixty
days after notice; also the amended dog
tax bill, the act amending the sclrool law
to allow use of school books in vacation
and providing for the ascertanment of
damages for streets taken for opening.
Nissley,
Delicious, wholesome pies can be made