The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1899-03-15
PENNSYLVANIA LEGISLATURE.
House.

school term of seven months
Making constables of townships and
boroughs ex-officio fire. game and fisf
wardens and prescribing their punish
ment for failure to perform their du-
ties,
The bill requiring owners OF theaters
to advertise prices OF admission was
amended to make the penalty for vio-
lation OF the proposed act not more
than 1000 instead OF not less, and laid
aside for printing.
Some sensational evidence was de-
veloped at the bribery investigation
held Tuesday evening. Two members
OF the House. Representatives John
Engler. of Lycoming, and Peter J.
Crlste, of Milton. testified that they
had been offered money to vote for
the McCarrell bill and again TO make
the motion to reconsider the vote by
which II was postponed to March 21.
Later Mr.. Criste admitted that the
would-be tempter was cx-Representa-
tive Thomas Moyles. n Wilkesbarre
book agent.
The house Wednesday morning took
up the second reading calendar. w. r.
Marshalfs bill regulating the manner
In which appropriations shall be paid
TO penal, reformatory, charitable or
benevolent institutions, which was n
special order passed finally in the
house.
A bin was introduced by Mr.. Bare OF
Huntington nppropriating $4,000 for
the support OF the national guard for
the next two years.
The vote by which the bill extending
the duration OF the lien of the debts OF
decedent on third reading was recon-
sidered and the bill passed finally.
The bribery investigation Wednesday
developed interesting testimony, though
no such large figures as were men
TONED at the first meeting came to
light. Representative I. N. Johnston,
who Is n doctor. was offered either $50
or 800, he could not remember which,
for prescription and the signing OF a
paper Representative II. f. Miller tes-
tilted that he and Representative
Johnston (both Democrats) were offer
ed $50 each by Representative Spatz
tDem.) to Sign paper agreeing to vote
for jerks and nobody else for senator.
Miller said this offer was afterward
raised to 800 In hfs own case. Miller
testified that he was asked to name his
price for voting for the McCarrell bin.
Hosack's judges retirement bin was
up In the house Thursday and consid-
GRAFTON was postponed until March 16.
IT provides for retirement after 20
years on two-thirds salary, II the Judge
is 10 years old. This provision would
make the application of the bill rare.
The antitrust bill was probably the
most important measure which passed
second reading I'm the house Thursday.
bill was introduced I'm the house by
Mr.. Woodruff OF Philadelphia to amend
the Bullitt bill by prohibiting the col
lection Of political contributions from
or by officers or employees in cities of
the first class, and providing penalty
Of $1,000 or one years Imprisonment
for violation OF the proposed act.
When there shall be n violation of the
act. with the knowledge OF any city Of
flcer or employe. II shall be their duty
to arrest or endeavor to procure the
arrest of the offender and to make n
full report to the civil service board. A
failure to perform this duty shall be n
sufficient cause for dismissal from the
service.
The House Friday granted an extern
sion or time To the special committee
which Is investigating the charges of
bribery In connection with the consid-
GRAFTON Of the McCarrell jury bill. The
committee had been ordered to report
on March IS.
Chairman Fow asked the extension
In the house. He said:
Your committee to investigate al
legged charges of bribery In reference
to legislation before this body do re-
spectfully report that owing to the ma
ture and character OF the evidence pre-
sented and to be presented, that It will
be impossible for them 10 conclude
their labors by March 10. the time fixed
by resolution of your honorable body.
They therefore ask that the time OF
their filing final report be extended to
March "a. 1899"
The tax bill drafted by the commits
sioners appointed for the purpose.
known as the Greasy bill, and expected
to yield s2.000.000 n year. was reported
to the house Friday with amendments
and VIII be pushed through the legis-
leture, as Gov. Stone has declared that
the additional revenue Il provides for
Is badly needed. The bill levies l.
mill tax on manufacturing corpora
tions. Increases the foreign insurance
company tax from 2 to per cent. and
places a 5-mill tax on the now author
lied capital stock OF artificial gas COM
panies II also increases bond tax from
l mill to mills; places 2 per cent tax
on business done by foreign building
and loan associations in the state
taxes trust companies mills. and pro-
vides for the return to counties of all
mercantile license and personal prop
erty taxes.
Senat e.
Following Is the result of Tuesdays
Joint ballot for Senator: Quay, l01
jerks. n; Dalzell, II; Stewart. s; Ir-
win. 6; HUFF, 8; Stone, A. Rice. 2;
Tubbs, /; Widener, 3; Ritter, 2; Grow
/; Markle, /; Total, 23l.
President pro tenn. Snyder presided
In the senate Tuesday morning. The
following bills were introduced:
Increasing the salary OF the secre-
tary of the state board OF health from