The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1897-05-12
Down at Harrisburg.

The libel bill which passed the house
is as follows:
Section l-Be it enacted by the senate
and house of representatives of the COM
monwealth of Pennsylvania, in general
assembly met, and it is hereby enacted
by the authority of the same that in all
criminal prosecutions of indictments for
libel the truth may be given in evidence
10 the jury, and if it shall appear that the
matter charged as libelous is substantial
ly true, and was published with good
motives aud justifiable ends, the defend
ant shall be acquitted, the jury shall
have the right to determine the law and
| the facts.
Section 2-In no case can the defendant,
i'm any prosecution for libel, be indicted
for the printing or publication of the
same libel upon the same individual in
more than one county of this state.
Section 3-All laws or parts of laws in
consistent with this act are hereby re-
pealed.
These bills were defeated: Fixing the
width of public roads at thirty-two feet;
providing for the publication of the cata-
logue of the State Library and providing
for the payment of school directors while
in attendance upon the convention for
the election of a county superintendent
of schools and providing penalty of s.
for non-attendance.
Representative Heagy's bill making it a
misdemeanor for superintendents or any
one in charge of an asylum or hospital
for the insane to refuse the attorney, ply
sician or relative of any inmate permis-
sion to visit him or her while confined
therein within certain hours daily, pass
ed finally.
Governor Hastings has approved the
resolution creating a woman's auxiliary
to represesent the State at the Nashville
Exposition, and the resolution asking
him to declare May 18th as public holi-
day. He has also signed the following
bills: Extending power of Common
Pleas Judges to appoint elections officers
to fill vacancies; prohibiting and punish
ing persons representing themselves 10
be detectives; authorizing County Com
missioners to appoint Successors when
Assessors neglect or refuse to qualify or
TO receive books; increasing pay of sec
ond-term National Guardsmen, and au
thorizing the continuation of publication
of the Pennsylvania archives.
The Lyon Classification bill, including
what is known as the Ripper" passed
second reading in the House last Thurs
day. The yea and nay vote
on the first section, which provides for
the change of Pittsburg from a second to
first class city, was loo to IS in its favor.
Without call of the House, it is inn
possible TO gauge the feeling toward the
Ripper, but the impression prevails that
this section will have to be eliminated be-
fore the measure can be passed finally.
The final vote will be taken in two
weeks. Should the bill go through GOV
ernor Hastings will appoint the next
Mayor of Pittsburg.
At a special session of the Senate
Thursday afternoon the Finance Commit
tee made special report on the House
bill providing for tax on direct inherit
ance. This point was mysteriously
made and nobody was given an opportu
nifty to see it, the excuse being given that
it was in the hands of the printer. So
many amendments have been made to the
bill that it is practically a new measure.
The main effect of the alterations and
additions is to double the tax on foreign
insurance companies doing business in
this State.
There is talk now of final adjournment:
of the Legislature on the 10Th of June.
II may be a few days earlier or later, but
this may be counted on as the approxi-
mate date for the dissolution of the law
making branch of the State Government.