The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1906-01-24
EXTRA LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Pennsylvania Lawrnakers Meet 10
Consider Reform Measures at
Governors Call.

lOWlnB the last general election and q
supplementary call issued January 8.
The reforms specified by the Gov
ernor in his calls are:
TO increase the interest on State
deposits, limit the deposits In each
bank and make il misdemeanur to
give or receive State deposits for
political influence.
TO re-apportion the State senator
ial and Legislative districts.
TO provide for the personal regis
tration of voters in cities.
TO repeal the Philadelphia Grip
per-" passed by the last Legislature,
limiting the authority over the de-
partments of public safety and public
works.
TO limit the amount of State money
annually paid for county bridges.
TO consolidate the cities of Pitts
burg and Allegheny into a Greater
Pittsburg.
10 cover the fees of the Secretary
Of the Commonwealth and the Insur-
ance Commissioner into the State
Treasury and pay those officials salar-
les.
TO provide for uniform primary
elections law.
TO establish civil service regulations
in the State Offices.
TO regulate the campaign expenses
by and for candidates.
In his message Governor Pennypack-
er devotes about one fourth of the
matter TO general remarks highly
complimentary to the Legislature for
the work done at the last regular ses-
sion, and further says.
"The unfortunate failure of the
Greater Pittsburg legislation through
the finding OF the Supreme Court that
the act was unconstitutional, and the
failure of bank, Incorporated and
supervised by the national govern
ment, holding at the time a large
amount of state funds, have given
the legal occasion for the calling OF
the Legislature together in extraordi-
nary session under Article w., Section
II, of the constitution"
The enactment of law that Will
permit the consolidation of cities Is
urged.
"The interest now paid to the
state by the banks and trust compan-
les for the use of the state deposits
is 2 per cent year. There Is wide
spread opinion among persons who
ought to be informed that this Is as
much as can properly be charged. The
first consideration is safety and not
large returns. The banks ought to
have reasonable profit from the use
of the moneys, taking into consid-
Grafton risks as well as earnings, and
all the rest of the interest paid by
those who borrow these moneys from
the banks ought to be paid to the
state. There ought to be no margin
which could possibly be paid for any
other purpose or to any other per-
son in connection with them. Where
this line should be drawn you will
have to determine, but probably an in
crease of one-half per cent In the in
terest charged would be as much as
could safely be imposed. The amount
deposited with each institution should
be limited with reference to its capi-
tai and surplus, and in my view ought
not to be more at any one time thai
three-fourths of the total OF these two
sums. 1t ought also to be made a
misdemeanUr punishable by fine and
Imprisonment, to pay, offer or re-
ceive any consideration for the use OF
such moneys other than the interest
payable to the state, or to make or
accept any promise based upon alleged
ability to secure the deposit OF them.
81 recommend that the fees collect
ed by the secretary of the common
wealth and the insurance commission
er be hereafter paid into the treasury
of the commonwealth, and that a
proper salary be paid to each of these
officials as sole compensation. The
continuance of fees, in whatever pub
lie office the system may survive, Is q
vicious anarchronism.
"There ought to be legal desig-
nation of the purposes for which
moneys may be expended in political
campaigns, and in securing nomina-
tiOnS."
"a system OF civil service for the
commonwealth should be established
under the terms Of which the routine
appointments may be made only afteI
the ascertainment of qualifications ant
fitness, and providing for the reten'
tion OF their Offices by the incumbents
during good behavior.
"The time has come when a reaper
tionment OF the State into Senatorial
and Legislative districts, in compli
ance with the Constitution must be
made. BY dividing the lines of few
of the counties, fairly equitable ap
portionment may be made, and one II
accord with all OF the other require
ments,"
Iegisation ought to be enacted
which will require the primary elec
tions of all political parties within the
commonwealth to be held on the same
day, at the same time, under the sup
ervision Of properly constituted OF
iicers.