Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1906-01-25
HARRISBURG NOTES.

state Capital will put in an appearance
at their homes as regularly Fridays as
they were wont to.
The most important bill calendared,
last week, was that of Tom Cooper OF
Delaware county regarding primary
elections 1t is sweeping in its provl-
sions, running the whole gamut of the
reform program. 1t provides for two
primary elections, one of which is to be
held on the first Tuesday after the first
Monday in January for city, ward,
borough and township offices. and tie
other for county officers at time nam
ed by the County Commissioners of the
party polling the largest vote at the
preceding general election.
These primaries shall be held at the
usual polling places and shall be cor
Quoted by the regular election officers,
and shall take place between the hours
-of 2 in the afternoon and 8 in the even
ing. Public notice of primaries must
be made by the commissioners OF the
majority party. and candidates are en-
powered to obtain the appointment of
watchers
County Commissioners are required
to distribute the ballots with the names
of voters arranged in alphabetical order,
with square opposite the name of
each, and space at the end of each
group of candidates in which the names
of candidates not upon the ballot may
be written. The voter shall designate
his choice by the use of cross or by
stickers
Before the ballot liz given to voter
he shall declare the party for which he
desires to vote, and if challenged shall
prove his right. The ballots shall be
kept separate. and every ballot shall be
numbered as received. A list of voters
shall be kept, on which the name of
each voter and of the party for which
he voted, shall be entered in the order
as cast
1t is made unlawful for any person to
promise money or other valuable con-
sideration for the purpose of influencing
a citizens vote or to pay the expenses of
any elector for his time in attending
such election; to pay the taxes Of any
elector to qualify him to vote at such
election; to threaten or intimidate any
voter in order to influence or obstruct
an eIector, or to interfere with or in
fuence any primary election officer; to
dismiss or discharge any person from a
position because of his vote or his fail
ure to vote; to tamper with the official
ballot; to pay directly or indirectly any
expenses incurred by candidate; to
personate an election officer; to disclose
how any person votes; to knowingly re-
ceive the vote Of anyone known to be
not legally qualified; to knowingly re-
fuse to receiye the vote of qualified
elector; to make false or fraudulent
return; to knowingly vote or offer to
vote when not legally qualified; to vote
more than once at the same election. or
| TO deposit more than one vote for the
same Office.
The penalty for any of these offenses,
which are classed as misdemeanors, il
fixed at fine Of 81, 900 or Imprisonment
of two years and six months. or both, at
the discretion of the court.
The Philadelphia "ripper-repealer'
and the state civil service bill passed
the Senate on first reading, Thursday
morning. -
In the House the bills fixing the sala-
ries of the Secretary of the Common
wealth at SIC 900 and Of the Insurance
Commissioner at s., 200, and abolishiDg
the enormous fees enjoyed by those Of
ficers under prevailing conditions, were
given similar impetus ere the Speaker s
gavel fell that morning.
An interesting feature Of Thursday g
brief session of the House was the pre-
sentation by Deputy Secretary Of the
Commonwealth Bother Of detailed
statement Of the fees of that depart
ment last year, showing receipts Of
$117, 900, of which the Secretary retain
ed 5000 for his own personal use.
At Monday nights session of the
House a movement for convention to
revise the State Constitution was start
ed; and the Governor was requested to
enlarge his call for the present extra
session so as to permit of the considera-
ton Of the following additional sub
jects:
Return TO the counties OF all the mon
ey collected on personal property tax
and licenses.
Permit trolley lines to carry freight.
Make taxation uniform to the end
that railway and other corporations
shall pay the same rate of taxes on their
property as is paid by the farmers and
mechanics.
Revision and reform Of the general
| election.
The Senate concurred with the House
in respect to this new schedule of bust.
ness and joint committee was appoint.
ed TO walton Governor Pennypacker to
ascertain his views as to extending the
call The committee was instructed to
report to the Legislature within three
days.
The proposition for constitutional
convention to reconstruct the funda.
mental law Of the Commonwealth is
the direct outgrowth of the manifest
impossibility Of reapportionment OF
the Senatorial districts in accordance
with the present Constitution. This is
to be used as pretext for subjecting
the entire Constitution to revision by a
convention elected by the people.
Tuesday, the Senate passed ripper
bill which rips out the old Philadelphia
ripper; and listened TO brief by ID. r.
Watson on Greater Pittsburg
1
FIRES.
The old Glenn homestead on s. Nc