The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-02-11
STATE
LEGISLATIVE
TOPICS.
\D J,EGISI TIVE TOPICS

AID LEGISLATIVE TOPICS
a bill pending at Albany to regulate auc-
tion sales receives an unmerciful scoring
from the New York Sun. The bill pro-
vides, for instance that any competitor at
an auction sale has right to demand the
name and address of a successful bidder
or bidders at the sale. If the auctioneer
refuses to give it, the sale is void, and If
he gives an assumed name or address, he
Is guilty of a mSdemeanor. If he enters
q bidders name falsely, he is guilty of for.
gerry in the third degree. 1T is apparent
says the Sun, that this provisions would
at once do away with the custom, common
at all auction sales of paintings, books.
bric-a- brac, and other similar articles of
the concealment of their identity by pros
pective or successful bidders At a book
sale, for instance, book dealer pur-
chasing o, rare volume does not like to
have the public know that he bought it
or what he paid for it. Private collectors
for obvious reasons, do not care to bid
in their own names. The penalties and
liabilities imposed by the bill for violations
of this section would result in endless Nti-
CATION and would allow insincere and
by bidders to control the sales. A still
more oppressive section is that relating
to upset prices, compelling all reserved
sales to be advertised in detail as SUCH
and in restricting auction sales OF reserved
good to such goods alone. Many of the
sales now made at auction rooms are those
made by order of executors who are an&-
ious to obtain the most that is possible out
of what are often diminished estates In
conducting these sales it is for the inter-
est Of the estate to hold the sales open for
emergencies, such as bad weather sparse
attendance, and for other legitimate rea-
sons. The proposed law would prevent all
this and leave the auctioneer no option
but to go on with the sale and sacrifice the
+,l,.
from auctioneers all such discretion and
freedom as is now necessary for the prop
er conduct of their business" Inasmuch
as such measures as this, when originat-
ing at another state capital, are usually
in due time duplicated at Harrisburg, the
foregoing remarks are worthy of recol-
lection.
-:ll:-
Says the News-Dealer: "The members
of the legislature from Lackawanna
county are making a regular raid on the
state treasury. Up to last Friday bills
had been introduced by Senator Vaughan
and Representatives Connell and Farr,
| calling for appropriations of over $500, ,OU-
| from the treasury, and on Tuesday Rep
resentative Mackey introduced a bill APP
| propriating $4,000 for an insane building
at Scranton. What's the matter with the
Luezrne delegation? Why are they not uE
and doing? Are they going to permit lit
| tie Lackawanna county to get the lions
| share of the appropriations for this sec
ton of the state?" They who don't ask
| in politics seldom receive.
| ill
Chief Clerk Smiley reports that the num-
| Der of bills read in place in the senate
| that We're lost in the fire at the capito
was 95. In addition there was a large
number which had been referred to tht
| judiciary general and special committees
| Nine bills were lost of which there is nC
record and u that had been referred Il
the committee on municipal affairs wer'
also destroyed. 1t is not true that the
Andrews committees expense accoun
was burned and cannot be duplicated.
-:II:-
Senator Vaughans free kindergarten
bill is brief and TO the point 1t provides
that the school directors or controller!
of the several school districts OF thi:
| commonwealth may establish and main
tain out of the public school treasury
free kndergartens for children between
the ages of and years residing in thei
districts"
-:'|:--
The Penrose dinner at Philadelphia
! Feb 20 will cost $40 a plate, 1t is nov
said the Wanamaler CROWD will retalat
| by giving a free dinner.