The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1903-02-05

has encountered. Lawyers in this leg
fslature are especially numerous, both
In the senate and house, and nearly
every one of them has one or more
bills relating to his professional voca-
tion. The great bulk of them are, of
course, mainly important to the law
yers themselves but there are several
OF them in which litigants and laymen
may find something interesting. Two
OF the latter have Just been introduced
by Senator Edmiston, of Bradford, and
it is understood they emanate from lay
rather than professional sources, for
the Bradford senator is a farmer-not
O lawyer.
One Of these bills relates to sheriffs'
fees. subject that has had more or
less legislative attention in several re-
cent sessions. Last session the fees
were largely increased in a somewhat
horizontal manner, and now it is
sought to reduce them to the original
rates. Edmiston has prepared a table
for the use of the legislature, showing
the amounts of the old and the pres
ent fees. In one class of shrievalty
procedure, where the fee was $11 1t is
now $50, and in others the increases
were from $1S to $57, and from $43 to
$101. The measure is, Of course, in the
interest Of litigants, the ruling fees be-
ing regarded as a hardship in many
cases. The other bill referred to re-
quires judges of common pleas and or
phans' courts in every county in the
state to render decisions in all cases
within three months after the date of
trial or hearing. 1t also prohibits the
auditor-general furnishing any war
rant for judges salary until an affi-
davit is produced showing that deci-
sions have been handed down in ac-
cordance with the foregoing provision.
The bill introduced by Senator Berk-
elbach, Of Philadelphia, last week.
which modifies to a considerable ex-
tent the blue laws still on the statute
books, is bound to encounter aggres-
sive opposition. Berkelbach had
similar bill last session, but 1t fell by
the wayside. A public hearing was
given on the measure. and nearly
hundred and twenty clergymen were
present and appealed so strongly
against the proposed legislation that
their wishes prevailed. A like protest
from all over the state will be lodged
again, and an open public discussion
on the bill will take place in the SEN
ate chamber on the afternoon of Feb
ruary TO- Berkelbach says, however,
that he will be better prepared this
time, and that he will have delega-
tions of business men present from
Philadelphia, Pittsburg, Scranton,
Wilkesbarre, Reading, Lancaster, and
other large towns throughout the
state, who will be prepared to offer ar
guments in favor Of the measure.
Money Matters.
1t has been long while since appro-
priation bills have been rushed
through committee and onto the calen-
dar as rapidly as has been the case this
session. There is a rule of the house
which prohibits bills Of this character
being considered until the general ap-
preparation bill has been reported and
acted upon, but the general bill has
not yet been submitted, and the rule
referred to is practically ignored this
session.
Chairman Bliss estimates that the
total appropriations will exceed those
of two years ago by between two and
half and three millions of dollars,
even though his committee should cut
down the amounts named in the indi-
vidual bills 1t will be up to Governor
Pennypacker, probably, to either exer-
else his veto privileges or do as Gov
ernor Stone did-reduce the amounts
contained in the bills as passed.
There is one bill. however, that he
is expected to sign without question.
That is an appropriation Of quarter
of a million dollars to the University
of Pennsylvania. In speech recently
at the university he advocated liberal
state aid for the institution, and every
one expects that 1t will be given. The
bill will be introduced this week by
Representative Dunn, of Philadelphia,
in whose district the university Is To-
Gated. Two years ago the appropria-
ton was only 100000. and Governor
Topped OFF $4,000. 1t Is not antici-
pated that the increase will meet with
serious opposition from the country
members, for they will endeavor to
have the governor look with friendly
eye upon their own appropriation
bills. In all these fiscal matters there
is one thing, however, that will play
an important part. The estimates
submitted by State Treasurer Harris
and Auditor General Hardenbergh
show that for the year ending Novem-
ber 30 1903, the expenditures are likely
to exceed the revenues by nearly mil
lion and a quarter dollars. This is
explained by the fact that $1,000, 900
will be required this year for the new
capitol, and does not take into account
any legislation that may result in ad-
ditional taxation.
A bill compelling street car and troll
ley car companies to heat their coaches