Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1897-06-11
HARRISBURG LETTER.
Revenue Raisers Puzzled by a Re-
cent Court Decision.
THE CASE WILL BE APPEALED
State Omeiais wnl Lose No Timo in
Bringing the Question Before tho
supreme Court-Adiournment May
BE Reached In tho Middle Of July.

AaafIldburB, June b.-JuSt when the
state administration leaders and the
revenue raisers in the legislature were
concentrating themselves on the fact
that at least one bill for railing reve-
nue. was a law, and practically sure OF
raising at least 81 .OoO,O 600 a year. Judge
Hanna, Of Philadelphia, comes along
with a constitutional club and knocks
out the Elldn act taxing direct inheri-
tances. He bases his decision on the
ground that the act is IN conflict with
the constitution, which prescribes that
all taxation upon the same class OF
subjects shall be uniform; that the leg
islature has no power for levying a tax
upon a class, or TO exempt any part Of
that class from taxation, because the
constitution prescrlbes that when a tax
is laid nc power to exempt shall be
vested in the legislature for other prop
erty than that exempted by the con-
stitution. and that as to the estates OF
persons who died before the passage OF
the act its provisions are retroactive
ana therefore illegal. The exemption in
question permits all personal property
below the value Of $1,000 to go free.
Governor Hastings. Attorney General
Mccormick and other state officials are
still Of the opinion that the bill is con-
stitutional. and no time will be lost in
getting case before the supreme
court, go that the higher tribunal may
pass upon the constitutionality of the
act
Discussing the unexpected decision
on the direct inheritance law State
Treasurer Haywood drew attention TO
the fact that the points of law TO which
Judge Hanna takes exception were all
discussed before the bill was passed,
and it was thought there were deci-
sions Of the supreme court to sustain
them. He said that the exemption and
retroactive features were all gone over
and were thought to be constitutional.
He added: IF it is decided that there
is doubt about their constitutionality
there will have to be additional legisla
tion, for we must have revenue, We
can pass another bill in six days. If
this decision is sustained It will affect
the collateral inheritance tax, and be-
side the 81, 100000 we would lose through
the alleged unconstitutionality of the
direct tax law we would also lose
81. .0O0 900 year on the collateral inher-
ltance law, which also contains an ex-
emptlon clause"
Puzzled over the Revenue.
The whole question of revenue has
been one that has caused the legisla-
ture no end of trouble. One proposi-
tion after another has been made with
view to increasing the revenue to
meet the demands upon the state treas
ury, but the objections are as frequent
as the propositions, and the result is
that no substantial progress has been
made during the past ten days in the
way of solving the problem. There has
been good deal of talk about taxing
oleomargarine, but the farming ele-
ment in the Legislature, with few ex-
ceptions, are unalterably opposed to
thus legalizing the sale of what they
nre pleased to term bogus butter" 1t
is believed that a tax upon the sale OF
'oleo' would bring in a large amount
of revenue.
| A few days ago Senator Grady Of
fered a resolution in the senate request
ing the governor to communicate to
| the general assembly whether a de-
| felt would exist at the close of the
present fiscal year, and whether the es-
/ timated revenues for the two ensuing
years would be sufficient to meet the
| deficit # any exists, as well as the
ordinary. expenses of the state govern
ment and If in his judgment existing
laws are not sufficient, then what sub
| jects of taxation he would recon-
mend that Will sufficiently increase the
revenues so as TO prevent financial
! embarrassment. This resolution passed
the senate and. being concurred in by
the house with practical unanimity
was sent to the governor. Unless al
signs fail there will be some fun in the
senate when his reply is received. The
friends Of the governor believe that this
resolution was conceived in the camT
Of his enemies and seht to him as g
sort OF challenge because of his wei
known policy to cut down all unneces.
sary expenses.
A move was made In the house las
week towards final adjournment. Ger
tain changes in the rules were adopted
which provide for the dropping from
the calendar of couple hundred bill
on second reading, which could neve
be reached unless the legislature re
mains in session all summer Tn
complications over the revenue prob
lem have delayed work on appropria
tion bills. and as 1t stands now fna
adjournment cannot possibly be reach
ed before the middle Of July
The Weller Labor Law.
One Of the most important bills con
sidered at the present session was on
introduced by Representative Weile
to protect employees OF corporations II
their right TO join and form labor or
ganizations. This bill was Tough
through both the senate and house an
finally reached the governor, who CAV
both sides hearings before he took ac
tion. He approved the bill on Frida
last. This measure had the support o
he labor organizations throughout tn
state, and the leaders have been 4
Harrisburg since sthe opening OF tn
session helping II along The act pro
vides briefly that II any officer, agen
or employe of any corporation sha
coerce, or attempt to coerce any EN-
ploye for connection with any lawfl
labor organization, or shall exact frof
any applicant for employment an
promise or agreement not to form, jOi
1r belo' TO such organization. or sha
in any manner endeavor to prevent a
smploye from exercising his iawfl
right ia this respect the percOn of
tending shall be guilty Of a misdemea
nor and liable TO a fine. on conviction
OF not more than $4,000. nor less tina
$1,000, and imprisonment not exceed
Ing one ear, either or both.
Another attempt was made a day
two ago to place upon the calendar Il
Greasy bill fixing a uniform passeng
fare on steam railways at two cents p