Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1899-02-09
LAW MAKING
FOR THE STATE
Business Men Closely Watch the
Wheels Of Legislation.
MANY INTERESTS AFFECTED


New Sources or Revenue In the Freight
FreiGhts by Trolleys and Protection
For Miners In Proposed New Laws.
Especial Correspondence
Philadelphia, Feb. 7.-Business inter-
ests Of the state which have main Of
fees in this city are watching very
closely the introduction of bills in the
legislature which affect their opera
tions or which may interfere with their
continued prosperity by occasioning ex-
ira expense, either for taxation or
through regulations which are not now
required. The commercial world is es-
pecially interested in a resolution which
was introduced in the state senate by
Senator Nicely, Of Clarion county. which
has an important bearing upon the tax
alton of corporations and which may
result in a large increase in the annual
revenues of the state. The preamble
of the resolution sets forth that there
are certain companies, associations OF
corporations, doing business in Penn
sylvania, organized and formed for the
purpose Of carrying freight, and COM
monty known as fast freight lines,
among others the Anchor line, Union
line. Blue line, Green line, Union Tank
line. Empire line and Merchants line,
that have capital invested in this state
amounting to many millions of dollars,
and that the records of the treasury
department do not show that the said
corporations have complied with the
revenue laws of the state or paid taxes
as required by law.
WANTS AN INVESTIGATION.
The resolution provides that il the
house concur there shall be a commit
tee appointed consisting of three MEM
bers of the house of representatives,
to be named by the speaker. and two
members of the senate, to be named by
the president, and that they be au-
thorized to investigate the reason or
cause for such failure to comply with
the law End all ,matters connected
Herewith, with power to subpoena wit
nesses and compel by process their at
tendance, with such books and papers
as may be deemed necessary, before
them, the said committee, to give evil
dence in like manner as in any court
of record; the report of said committee
to be presented to this Legislature not
later than Wednesday, March Is, 1899,
provided that the meetings of said
committee shall be held in the city of
Harrisburg, and provided further that
the members of said committee shall
serve without compensation, the only
expense incident to the said investiga-
tion to be the fees of the stenographer,
which the said committee is hereby au-
thorized to employ, provision for which
hnn he ta1 IN, hn or
preparation bill.
AFTER RAILROAD,COMP
The resolution was referred to the
committee on judiciary special.
Senator Neely also introduced a bill
on the same subject. which will require
railroad companies engaged in busi-
ness under charters granted by the
state to incorporate in their annual re-
ports to the secretary of internal af-
fairs the names of all express COM
panies using or making shipments over
their lines. together with the amounts
received by said railroad companie9
from said transportation companies
and the amounts paid by said railroad
companies by reason and on account
of the business transacted between
them in the carriage of express and
the rolling stock Of retrospective COM
panies.
1t is claimed that thespassage Of this
bill will make subject to taxation i'm
mense sums of money made by cer-
tain freight companies which have here
tofore escaped the tax gathering Of
fcials of the commonwealth.
The bill was referred to the COM
mittee on judiciary general
MINE OWNERS CONCERNED.
Officers of the big mining and coal
concerns which transact their business
in this city show apprehension over
the prospects of the passage of bill
which, If 1t becomes law, would make
the corporations or individuals owning
mining properties financially, IL not
criminally, responsible for accidents to
employees. This bill was introduced in
the house at Harrisburg by Repre-
sentative Tighe, Of Luzerne. Adhesion
of the supreme court relieves corpora
tions from liability for damages for
injuries to employees of wines when ac-
| cidents causing the inSries are due
| to negligence of what are known as
mine bosses. superintendents and fore
men. This bill defines the relationship
between mine bosses, superintendent
| and foremen of coal mines and per-
| sons, firms or corporations owning
OF operating the same and provides
that ''in all actions for the recov-
| cry of damages against persons. firms
or corporations owning or operating
coal mines in this state brought by
| or on behalf of. any employe of the
same or by his heirs or legal repre-
sentatives, for injuries sustained by
r~,. -
whether said injuries may have result.
| ed fatally or otherwise, any act of neg
| llgence, whether OF commission OF
omission on the part of any mine boss
superintendent or foreman which may
have resulted in or in any degree made
possible said injuries to any employe
as aforesaid. shall be deemed and held