New-York tribune., 1899-04-30
PENNSYLVANIA LEGISLATURE.
LITTLE DONE IN THE SESSION JuswasSNDED
WHY MANY MEASURES FAILED OF
PAsSAGE-sOME BILLS IN GOV

ERNOR'S HANDS. Il


Harrisburg April % Especially The 81 mn sylvan.
legislature which has just passed s1t9fi xisence.
was more remarkable for what 1t failed 70 do than
for what It performed. While 1t dH not do the
things 1t should not have done IL certainly left un-
done the things 1t should have done. There was
reason for this in the fact that the contest for
United States Senator overshadowed everything
else and dominated all legislation TO such an extent
that there was little that could pass such antag-
onistlc bodies as the Senate and the House. In
the Senate the Quay Republicans had a majority and
could pass anything they wanted 70. In the House
the anti-Quay Republicans. or insurgents. and
the Democrats combined mad a majority and the
Quay got nothing except by grace or the ma
jority. and that was little.
At the beginning OF the session resolution was
offered for the creation OF committee. TO act with
similar committees OF other State Legislatures ior
the purpose of securing an amendment 10 the con-
stitution OF the United States which would PROVIDE
for the election OF the President Nice-President ana
the United States Senators by direct vote or the
neonIe This resolution had no opposition what
ever and passed both bodies and was approved oy
the Governor and the committee was appointed
When other States take action they will find Penn
sylvania prepared to go ahead with the work
There were two ballot-reform bills before the
LEGISLATURE. and both went by the board. One was
the Keator bill prepared by the Ballot Reform AS
sociation Of Pennsylvania, which abolished the
circle at the head of the column. and had all the
essential features OF the Australian os4lot law Inc
abolition Of the circle is just what the practical
politicians do not want, for the reason tnat the
circle holds the voter to marking a cross IN H.
lest when he goes scratching he marks In the wrong
nIace and his ballot IS thrown out When he
r,akes cross in the circle he knows his vote will
he counted The House passed the Keator bill al
most unanimously, the anti-Quay men ana the
Democrats being tor it. but In the senate the
QUAY Republicans defeated it beyond hope OF resur
rection by killing motion TO reconsider the vote
by which It had been defeated.
The second ballot-reform bill was prepared by
Senator David Martin when ne was Secretary OF
state q place wherein he could see all the crud-
tiles OF the law. HIS bill was to remedy the laws
defects and II got through the House all rgnt out
the Quay Republicans Martin being an anu-Ouay
Republican, thought they trap In H. and
slaughtered it.
A third bill relating to elections was the Fow
Personal Registration BILL which provided that be-
fore could vote he had to go personally 10
the assessor and be Observation-Disclosures he could
not vote The proposed law was similar 10 the one
in existence In New-York. and was designed TO
prevent false registration. II was personally dis
tasteful to the rural members of the House. who
argued that In the country had no time to
attend TO personal registration. and they killed
Mr.. Fow's bill.
There was only one revenue bi-known as such
that passed the legislature although there are
enue The one essential revenue bill the Mer
camille Tax bill which two years ago was passed
by the Legislature and vetoed by Governor Hast
ings The Mercantile Tax BILL which Is now In the
hands OF Governor Stone. provides that all mer
chants Of the State shall pay fiat tax-retail mer
chants g. and wholesale merchants 50. Be
sides this tax the retail merchants must pay
mill on the dollar on the gross volume OF business
done during the year. and the wholesale merchants
must pay OF one-han mill on the dollar on the
gross business done. There are the widest pos
sible to how much revenue this bill Will
provide but the best calculations are that It Will
be about 100000
An interesting revenue-raiser that Is in the
Governors hands Is the bill which permits existing
Pennsylvania corporations to increase their capital
stock to any amount. Heretofore they were lin
tied. and could make gigantic combinations. but
TO take advantage OF its PROVISIONS number or large
Pennsylvania corporations. The failure 10 provide
law OF this character has driven millions OF dol
lars away from Pennsylvania State Treasury.
to Increase Its capital 10 $50 900 IL could not do
In this State and had TO go to New Jersey.
Governor. and provides for the incorporation OF
companies 10 do all kinds OF business. Heretofore
corporations could only be chartered 10 do certain
kinds OF business. but under the new law-if II ever
ing and distng be incorporated and IL Is
expected that there will be a rush OF the big mer-
camille firms to take out charters. Already num-
Der OF firms are awaiting the Governors signature
TO the bill
bill introduced IN the House and killed In tha,
body the Direct Inheritance Tax BILL IL was
win. OF Delaware thought ne could get II through,
but failed Mr.. Hosack OF Allegheny. had bill
taxing ali whiskey made In the State cent a gal
lon and wen, & through & the he HoSss so S,s When ss
on Finance II was considered. and the committee