The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1907-02-21
HARRISBURG LETTER.
Special Correspondence.

IlDU IcCtSS luGlS VIII DC SOiuSthllS
doing" That is to say there will
be bill introduced to tax artificial
gas plants. and it will be supported
with such vigor and backed by such
reasons as will compel even the
Standard Oil company to "sit up
and take notice" AS matter OF
fact the Standard Oil company
is practically responsible for the
proposed legislation. 1t has been
asserted that that corporation con-
tributed more than half million
dollars to the corruption fund of
the campaign of last fall and some
fellows of an inquiring disposition
concluded to find out why Mr..
Rockefeller's conspiracy had so
much interest in Pennsylvania poll
tics. They believe that they have
s0lved the problem.
Electric light companies pay
three different kinds OF taxes to the
State. That is they pay tax on
capital stock, on bonds and on
gross earnings and the aggregate
of their payments is large sum.
Their only competitors are artificial
gas companies, owned in this State
mainly by the Standard Oil com
pany, which pay no taxes at all.
This injustice of this has been point
ed out frequently but it has not
been urged seriously. 1t is esti-
mated that taxing the gas compan-
es precisely as the electric light
com, anies are taxed would produce
a revenue of at least $3.50, 900 a
year. The question will be put u
TO the Legislature in the near future
in a way that will admit of no
dodging. The express companies
may be asked to contribute to the
revenue of the State also.
TWO BAD ONES CRIPPLED.
It's a safe bet that two Of the bad
bills referred to in my letter of last
week have been put to sleep finally
and forever. They are the auxil-
iary forest reserve bill and
tie measure requiring hunters
to take out license at All expense of
dollar each. This bill had a
funny experience. 1t is the pet
measure OF the State Ga ne Com
mission and it is confidently stated
that its passage would have been
sood for $3.50, ,ooo year to that
bureau. Small wonder the Com
mission cherished it fondly and was
willing to yield to every other
point in order to make that graft
secure. But the expectation Of
hose concerned will be disappoint-
ID. The measure is in committee
md will remain there until the end
If the session, unless the license
provision is eliminated.
An attempt was made to force it
hiough by the old tactics, the 9TH
II day, but it failed. A meeting of
he Committee on Fish and Game
vas called to consider the bill but
when it was held only few mem
,ers were present and most cf those
we're opposed to the measure. The
Chairman appeared entirely willing
o let the measure 60 over but Rep.
esentative Dersham, of Union
ounty, had suspicion of al" "Afri-
an in the woodpile.' According
y he moved that the bill be not re-
'orted out until meeting of the
ommittee, at which there was am
'le opportunity for the discussion
# it, be held. The motion was un-
nimously adopted and the oppo-
tents OF the bills felt entirely safe.
hey were surprised, therefore, to
ind il on the calandar for first
eading on Monday evening.
THEY HAD TO SHOW DERsHAM.
Mr.. Dersham at once went to
he Chairman, Hiram J. Sedwick,
# Armstrong county, tor informa-
ion. That gentleman said that
he Secretary of the Game Commis-
ION was exceedingly anxious to
iave the measure expedited and
hat instead of calling meeting of
the committee he had gone around
and seen a few of the members who
were willing to have the bill report
ed out and that he and the Secre-
iary did the rest. Mr.. Dersham
demanded that motion to recon-
mit be made. The Chairman pro-
tested but was notified that unless
such motion came promptly from
the chairman on reaching the bill
it would be made from the other
side accompanied by a detailed
statement of the facts. The result
was the recommittal and such q
crippling of the measure in popular
opinion that it will not recover.
The Auxiliary Folest Reserve