Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-01-16
Pennsylvania Legislature
in Extra Session.
Gov. Pennypacker Calls ktten-
ton to Needed Legislation.
Notable Abseaee Of Party Leaders and
Politicians From Capitol.

traordinary session in the new state
capitol today. There was marked alb
sence Of the party leaders and poiltl-
clans who usually come here for the
opening of every session Of the Gener-
al Assembly. When the two branches
had organized, the governors message
was. presented and read. After COM
mending the last session of the leg1s-
lature for "its good works and the
advancement of the public welfare Gov.
Pennypacker says:
"Since it's adjournment wave OF
popular and political unrest and COM
motion has spread over the land and
left its impress in our own common
wealth, as well as elsewhere Such up
heavols to whatever causes they may
be due, are to he regarded not as dis
asters but as opportunities. 1t is 10
such times that much may be accom-
pllshed by wise legislators to enhance
the public veal. The unfortunate fall
ure Of the greater Pittsburg legislation
through the finding of the supreme
court that the act was unconstitutlon-
al and the failure Of bank, incorpor-
ated and supervised by the national
government, holding at the time d
large amount of state funds, have given
the legal occasion for the calling OF the
LEGISLATURE together in extraordinary
session. I have beside been unwilling
that the present popular disturbances
should subside without securing more
permanent results than the substitution
of one contractor for another; the re-
moyal OF incumbents from office; the
overthrow of one political party or fac
ton and the elevation Of their oppo-
nents and the suppression of one pri-
vate ambition in order that another
may be fostered and gratified."
The governor refers briefly to the
healthy financial condition of the state
ard hopes that 1.-The next or some SUBJ
sequent Legislature will take into con-
sideration the suggestion of my last
message that a tax be placed upon coal
and that the people be relieved by the
state through payments to the coun-
ties, from the burdens of taxes i'm
posed by the counties for school pur-
poses."
Taking up the failure of the Enter
prise Bank Of Allegheny. Pa, the gov
ernor says:
"The amount (of state depOsits) de-
posted with each institution should be
limited with reference to its capital
and surplus and in my view ought not
be more at any one time than three
fourths of the total of these two sums
It ought also to be made a misdemean-
or, punishable by fine and imprison-
nlent, to pay, offer or receive any con-
sideratiOn for the use of such moneys
other than the interest payable to the
state, or to make or accept any prom
Use based upon alleged ability to Sc
cure the deposit of them"
The message concludes with the fol-
lowing recommendations:
'"That the fees collected by the sec
retary of the commonwealth and the
insurance commissioner be hereafter
paid into the treasury of the common
wealth and that proper salary be
paid to each of these officials as sole
compensation. the enactment of legis-
lations which will require the prelim-
mary elections of all political parties
within the commonwealth to be held
on the same day. at the same tine. UNI
der the supervision of properly consti-
tutei officers: the establishment of a
system of civil service for the COM
monwealth under the terms of which
the routine appointments may only be
made after the ascertainment of quail
ffications and fitness, and providing for
the retention OF their offices by the in
cumbents during good behavior, re-
Quiring the filing Of an affidavit show
ing in detail the sums which have been
expended and the purposes for which
the expenditures were made during po-
litical campaigns"