The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1901-02-14
HARRISBURG LETTER.
Measures That Occupy the Atten-
ton of the Lawmakers.
CONSOLIDATION OF RAILROADS.
Ion of the State ConstitutiOn-Thc
Amended "Ripper" BiIl-The Quay
County Bill Reported Adversely.

Amended "Ripper" Bill-The Quay
County Bill Reported Adversely.
Harrisburg, Feb. l2.-Senator Sproul,
of Delaware county, chairman CT the
senate committee on railroads, intro
ducel a bill into the senate last night
which is Of great Importance, consid-
eripg the various consultations and
schemes for consolidating railroads
having lines through this state. The
state constitution adopted in 1874 ex-
prcssly forbds railroad corporations
from absorbing or acquiring parallel
or competing lines. and the Sproul bill
looks toward providing in the statutes
the constitutional provisions and put
ting them in distinct form. The bill
provides that such an acquisition may
be attacked in proceedings at Law upon
the instgation of the commonwealth,
and makes any violation a misdemean-
or, for which the officials of such Of
Tending corporations may be indicted
and punished individually or collec-
lively.
In the house resolution was offered
by Mr. Bliss. of Delaware. and adopted,
making Il special order for the bill APP
propriatinG $35 900 to the Keystone
state commission to the Pan-Ameri
can exposition at Buffalo.
The subcommittee of the municipal
affairs committee held meeting last
night and decided to report the new
charter bill for second class cities,
known as the ripper" bill, to the sen
ate, with amendments. Nearly every
section of the bill was amended, the
most j lpOrtant change being that por-
tion OF the measure which relates to
the Office of mayor This office is abol-
ishCl, and in its place provided a
"City recorder" The duties of the
new office in nearly all particulars will
be the same as that of mayor. The
bill rs amended retains the delinquent
tax collector and provides for the ap-
pointment of the city treasurer, board
Of assessors and city controller The
section relating to city councils was
also changed to meet the objections of
citizens of Allegheny. The ripper"
clause in the bill remains practically
the same.
A bill introduced yesterday in the
senate by Senator Grady. of Philadel-
phia, prohibiting the publication of
certain crimes before the law has pass
ed upon them, is causing much discus
sion, and 1t is likely strong fight will
be made against its enactment. The bill
provides that nothing shall prevent the
publication of the facts where persons
so accused shall have become fugi-
tives from justice. The parties wish
ing to publish the news, however, must
first obtain the written consent ofcourt.
Democratic State Chairman Killing
arrival bopa vactpr1nv for tho
of urging Democratic members of the
legislature to take up the matter of bal
lot reform. Last night he issued
statement in which he says: Not
withstanding the great, important and
universal demand for ballot reform, a
month has gone by since the meeting
Of the legislature and yet we find
practically nothing done towards meet
ing the great demand Of the people.
Independent Republicans here is the
most important matter before us for
our consideration. You said you were
in favor of such measure. Now
stand by us and help us pass it,
In the house on Wednesday last Mr.
Beacon. Cf Westmorcland, intro
duccl bill to amend the Brooks
high license law to provide for
the appointment of three license com
missiOners for every county in the
state, who shall be appointed by the
courts for one year, and who shall
grant all licenses and hear all petitions
rcmDnstranCes, etc. The bill goes into
effect Jan !. 1902. but licenses previ-
ously granted shall continue in force
until they expire by the lapse Of the
time for which they were granted.
MIR. Chew. Of Philadelphia. introduc-
ed 4 hill providing the death penalty
for kidnapping for the purpose of eX
tortiug money, but giving the tria'
JUDGE discretion to substitute a sen
teDre not exceeding 20 years at hard
lancn.
The senate Wednesday concurrCd in
the house amendment of the senate bill
which creates an additional common
pleas court in Philadelphia. The bill.
now goes &c the governor.
A bill creating in the banking de
partDcnt a bureau of building and
loan associations was introduced in
the house of representatives on
Thursday by Mr. Calder, of Dauphin
county. The bill creates the Office"
Of superintendent of building and loan
associations. who shall be appointed
by the superintendent of banking and
receive Il salary Of 5000 annually, and
shall have two clerks. The bureau
shall have supervision of all domestic
and foreign building and loan assoCia-
ticHs doing business in Pennsylvania
An employers liability bill similar to
the Massachusetts law was presented
by Mr. Jones. of Philadelphia. The bill
provides that whore personal injury is
caused the cmploye shall have the same
right of compensation and remedies
against the employer as If the employC
had not been an employe.
a bill creating a department of mines
was presented by Mr. Philbin, of Lack
awanna. 1t provides for chief, whose
salary shall be $4,000 year, and two
assistants, one of whom shall be a
mining engineer
Mr.. Bricker, of Beaver, introduced
a bill to prevent burgesses and council
men Of boroughs from soliciting or re-
ceiving bribes and to punish by a fine
of $4,000 or five years Imprisonment
any person who may offer to bribe the