The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1899-02-17
IMPORTANT LEGISLATION.
Several Measures side-TraclSed by the
Senatorial Deadlock,

Harrisburg, Pa, February II, 1s99.-
There haze been number Of impor-
tant measures introduced in the legis-
lature, but which are side tracked by
the N1cCarreu bill fight and the sena-
torial deadlock
Citizens in central Pennsylvania will
be interested i'm bill which would per-
nit the Pennsylvania Canal company
to abandon the canal along the line Of
the Pennsylvania railroad in Dauphin
county. This bill meets with popular
opposition for several reasons Since
the freshet at the time of the Johns
town flood, the canal has been prac-
tically useless on account of the wash
ing away Of the embankments at many
places. The canal was originally pur-
chased from the state with a proviso
in the contract that 1T should be kept
in repair as a water way forever. over
49, 900 900 worth Of bonds Of this com
pany are held mostly by people Of this
state, and though the interest has been
paid regularly by the Pennsylvania
railroad, the principal may be wiped
out should this bill become a law The
owners of boats and warehouses along
the line OF the canal would be without
redress. Protests against the passage
of this bill have been piling in on the
members Of the legislature,
The latest proposition to increase the
revenues Of the state came before the
legislature when Representative Hcsack
of Allegheny, introduced in the house
a bill placing a state tax on beer, ale
and porter The measure provides that
upon each gallon Of beer, ale or porter
brewed I'm this commonwealth during
the years beginning July l, 1899, and
ending June 30, 1902, there shall be
assessed and paid into the state treas
ury a tax Of one-half a cent, to be
collected semi-annually. The clerks of
the courts of quarter sessions shall
furnish to the auditor general a certi-
fed list of brewers in their respective
districts, for which the clerks shall re-
ceive fee of so. When any brewer
shall fail to make report to the au
ditor general within 30 days the license
Of the brewers shall be suspended until
the auditor general shall certify that
the provisions of the act have been
compiled with. Whenever the auditor
general shall suspect that the return of
a brewery is fraudulent, he shall de-
mand an inspection of the books, and
upon this being refused the license
shall be revoked. A proviso permits the
brewer to appeal to the common pleas
courts Of Dauphin county.
No bill has thus far been introduced
to impose a tax on the products of dis
tilleries, beyond the regular license fee.
| This may follow, however.
Senator Scott, of Luzerne, introduced
| two bills one to reorganize the Ma
| tional Guard and the other making
| every able bodied citizen Of Pennsyl-
/ vania, between the ages of q and 49,
members OF the state militia. The first
/ one provides that the National Guard
| shall consist Of $50 companies of in
! fantry, five troops OF cavalry, five bat
| teries of artillery, four companies Of
! engineers and a signal corps There
shall be one major general and five
/ brigades, each commanded by a briga-
der general. The guard shall conform
| TO the regulations Of the United States
/ army.
The militia bill provides for the or
! ganizauOn Of a reserve force, to be
/ called out In the event Of war, to sup
! press riots and to assist the civil Of
| fcers In the execution Of the laws Of
| the commonwealth. The members shall
| be enrolled by assessors, and shall in
| clude every male citizen between the
| ages Of p and As, except those mentally
unsound, drunkards paupers, convicts
| and state and county officials. The as
! SCISSORS are to be paid cents for each
person they report liable for military
duty, and the county commissioners
are directed to publish the list and send
the names to the adjutant general.
When called upon for active service
the members must promptly respond or
/ furnish substitutes. Failure TO do 80
] renders them liable TO court martial.