Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1901-01-03

nuafly so much OF the general revenues
of the state during the next four years
as the legislature shall deem necessary
for the proper completion of this build
ing and providing that it be finished
by the first Tuesday in January. 1906"
FOOD LAWS ENFORCED.
In commencing the work of the de-
partment of agriculture, Governor
Stone says that in the dairy and food di-
vision attention has principally GEN.
tered in the enforcement of the law
passed by the last legislature, known
as the oleomargarine law. through the
persistent attempt of certain persons
and certain newspapers to misrepresent
facts for r ,litical effect. 1t has been
repeatedly and persistently charged
that the agricultural department has
net enforced the law and has not at
tempted to suppress the oleomargarine
traffic, while the records show that the
criminal courts are overcrowded with
eases brought by the agents of the
dairy and food commissioner.
Since the decision. of the superior
court, April 80, 1900, up to Dec. 10,
1900, nine hundred and one criminal
prosecutions have been brought by the
dairy and food commissioner against
oleomargarine dealers in the various
counties of the state. Eighty-seven
of these cases have been terminated
and eight hundred and fourteen are
still pending and undisposed of.
1.-THE agents and attorneys represent
ing the dairy and food commissioner
have made every effort to obtain trial
of these cases. They must await the
disposition of Jail cases and the prior
disposal of other cases deemed more
important by the district attorneys who
control the order of trial of cases in
the criminal courts. 800 am satisfied
that the penalty is insufficient to prop
erly enforce the law. Instead of a fine
of one hundred dollars for the first
offense, it should not be less than five
hundred dollars, and there should also
be Imprisonment of at least sixty days.
For the second offense the fine and i'm
prisonment should be increased, and
recommend that the law be amended in
this particular.
"My attention has also been called by
the secretary of agriculture to the New
York law, which authorizes the grant
ing of injunctions by the courts re-
straining and enjoining persons from
selling oleomargarine colored like but
ter. This authority would be a great
aid to the department, and our law
ought to be amended giving like au-
thority in this respect.
am much gratified at prospects of
the early passage in congress of the
Grout bill. If this bill becomes a law,
it will greatly aid in the suppression
Of the oleomargarine traffic"
FOR BALLOT REFORM.
The governor dwells at some length
upon the question of ballot reform. and
says: 81 am heartily in favor of any
legislation that will result in a purer
ballot" There is urgent demand, he
believes, for legislation on this sub
ject, and he urges earnest considera-
tion of the suggested remedies by vari-
Gus reform bodies.
The governor, in referring to the pro-
posed PanAmerican exposition to be
given at Buffalo, N. Y, says if Penn
sylvania is to be represented there ac-
tion must be taken at once. He ad-
vocates the passage of bill repeating
the first section of the act of assembly
approved March "a, 1891. and this
would add 100000 annually to the rev.
enues, and at the same time not inter-
fere with the plans of the founders of
the sinking fund.
Governor Stone devotes considerable
space in his message to commenting
the work of the department of aeri-
culture in developing the forests of the
state. He advocates the purchase of
further tracts of land distributed among
the counties as public parks. He rec
ommends legislation To place the pur-
chase and supervision of such tracts
of land under one management and
permit such management to sell ma
tured timber and timber destroyed by
fire, etc, to lease coal lands and oil
rights and to pay the proceeds to the
commonwealth. The governor also ad-
vocates legislation to encourage COM
petition in bidding for furnishing sup
plies for public buildings and grounds.
He also urges the passage of judicial.
senatorial. representative and congress
sional apportionment bills, and advo-
Gates the election of United States SEN
ators by the people.
A proposition by Governor Stone in
favor of compulsory arbitration in dis
putes between labor and capital will,
no doubt. attract widespread attention.