The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1899-02-09
HARRISBURG LETTER.
Pennsylvania House Favors Elect
ing Senators by Popular Vote.
A GRADUATED INCOME TAX BILL
Taxing All Incomes In Excess of
$1,000 Per Annum-A Bill to Legal
fze Additional state Employees.

laNing All incomes In EXCESS OF
$1,000 Per Annum-A Bill to Legal
fze Additional state Employees.
Special Correspondence)
Harrisburg, Feb. THE long sena-
torial deadlock has again brought to
the front the oft suggested plan of
electing United States senators by
popular vote, and last week the house,
by a vote of So to 81, passed a resolu-
ton favoring the election of president,
vice president and senator's by the bal
lots of the people,
A bill that has aroused considerable
opposition has been introduced in the
senate by Mr. Gibson, of Erie. The bill
Is to tax gains, profits or incomes de-
rived from any kind of property, rents,
interests, dividend or salary, or from
any profession, trade, employment or
vocation carried on in this state. 1t fixes
a tax of one-tenth of 1 per cent. on all
sums between $1,000 and $4,000; two
tenths of l per cent. on sums between
$4,000 and $4,000; three-tenths of l per
cent on sums between $4,000 and $780,,
UVVs AOuI- -lt1lIlS OI L per cent Oh al
sums between $4,000 and $50 1000; five
tenths of 1 per cent. on all sums be-
tween 100000 and S50,000 and one mill
of additional taxation shall be added
Tor every additional $1,000 up to $780,,
700; per cent. on all sums above $780,
BOO. Interest on bonds or securities of
this state and of the United States are
MI.
come as used in the act shall be taken
to mean gross profit. The tax is to be
collected by the present tax collection
system and all persons liable under the
act must make a sworn statement of
a complete and full return of their
gains, profits and income.
House Favors Expansion.
The Seal resolution, indorsing Presi-
dent McKiney's views on the expan-
sion question, and inviting him to visit
Harrisburg as the guest of the state,
was called up last Friday. Mr.. Greasy,
of Columbia, and other Democratic
members objected to the clause in the
resolution relating to the expansion
question, and moved to postpone fur
ther consideration. The motion failed
by a strict party vote of II nays to 49
yeas.
Mr.. Fow, of Philadelphia, made an
argument against the clause recogniz-
ing sovereignty of the United States in
the Philippines. He said 1t was a
scheme of the sugar trust, and that it
was a serious mistake for this country
to aid the trust by the adoption of such
a policy. He declared the records Of
deaths in the Tenth Pennsylvania vol
unteers would create a revulsion Of
public sentiment on this question.
Mr. Baldwin Of Delaware. spoke for
the resolution and in favor of the presi-
dents policy on the expansion question.
Mr.. McClain, of Lancaster, said he had
an abiding faith in the president, and
urged the passage of the resolution.
Mr.. Greasy demanded a division of
the question on the clause affirming the
right of sovereignty over the Philip
pine islands.
The expansionlsts won by vote of
66 to A. The resolution was then
adopted without division. The vote was
on strict party lines. The Democrats
approved the clause to invite the presi-
dent to Harrisburg, but did not in
sist on a roll call, and the resolution
was adopted as introduced.
Mr.. Myers. of Cumberland, offered
resolution that special session of the
house be held Tuesday evening, Feb.
2s, to take action on the deaths of Rep
resentatves Orme, of Schuylkill Hop
wood, of Fayette, and Manning, Of
Cumberland.
Governor stones STAFF Appointments.
An order issued from the adjutant
generals department last week an
nounced the following appointments
on Governor Stones staff as COM
mander-in chief of the National Guard
of Pennsylvania:
Colonel Ezra H. Ripple, late commits
sary general. assistant adjutant gem
eral, with the rank of lieutenant col
onel.
Colonel Frank G. Sweeney, inspector
general, with rank of colonel, reap
pointed.
Colonel Thomas Potter, Jr quarter
master general, with the rank of colo
mel, reappointed.
First Lieutenant Samuel Moody,
quartermaster Seventeenth regiment
infantry, assistant quartermaster gen.
eral with rank of lieutenant colonel.
Edward e. Robbins, late major and
brigade quartermaster, Second brigade,
N. G.. p, and captain quartermaster T.
S. ", commissary general, with rank of
colonel.
George M. Hallstead, assistant COM
missary general, with rank of lieuten-
ant colonel.
John V. Shoemaker, surgeon general,
with rank of colonel.
Major Frank X. Patterson, brigade
ordnance officer Second brigade, gem
eral inspector of rifle practice, with
rank of colonel.
Colonel Sheldon Potter, chief of
artillery, with rank of colonel reap
pointed.
James Elverson, Jr., aide -de-camp.
Lieutenant Colonel Henry Hall, aide
de-camp, reappointed.
Lieutenant Colonel Millard Hunsick-
er, aide-de-camp, reappointed.
Lieutenant Colonel Thomas ]. Keen
an. Jr.. Seventeenth regiment infantrv