The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1908-12-30
HARRISBURG LETTER.

DEC. 28.-A considerable amount of
discussion is being given at present to
the mercantile license tax and to the ad-
visibility of repeating it. Opponents of
the law have charged that the entire
amount received was used up in the
cost of collection, but Auditor General
Young has compiled a table which
shows the entire costs by items and
classes, and it amounts to less than
eleven per centum. The entire cost of
collection represents moneys paid out in
the community where the tax is collect
ed, representing the fees of county treas
urers, mercantile appraisers, mileage,
postage, advertising lists, etc., and does
not represent departmental clerk hire to
the slightest amount. General Young
further shows that the constantly grow
ing needs of the state in the care of its
insane and unfortunate, its purchase of
forestry reservation, the development of
its Health Department, its rebuilding of
bridges, its construction of highways
which it may be asked to maintain, its
increased appropriation to the public
schools, together with the Departmental
and other expenses, make it very mad
visable at this time to lessen the revenue
of the state, without making provisions
for that deficiency. Charities are ask
ing for more money than was appropri-
ated by the Legislature of 1907, and
committee appointed by the veterans of
the Civil War have prepared bill which
provides for an appropriation OF about
$4,500,O00 for pensions and clerk hire.
Pennsylvania will need for the next few
years all the revenue in sight.
1t has been announced that the foot
and mouth disease has about run its
course. In all, sixteen counties were af-
fected, some of them only slightly. The
first case was noticed on Nov. 8, and
since that date there have been slaught-
cred a total of 1893 cattle, 1l18 swine,
and few sheep and goats. Penn
sylvania came off very luckily for it is
sometimes labor OF years to stamp out
this pest, at heavy expense. DR.. Pear
son and his efficient corps of assistants
have worked hard and deserve lots Of
credit.
Senator Knox having accepted the
portfolio of State in the cabinet of Pres
ident-elect VIM. H. Taft, it will be the
1Y1fH Df 7 clo hot
Tuesday, Jan. 5, 1909, to elect sue
cessor to him, as we'll as to Senator Pen
rose. The latter will succeed himself in
spite of any eleventh hour opposition.
Choosing successor to Senator Knox
will be delayed until there is a vacancy.
which will occur, of course, prior to
March 4, 1909. Several prominent Re-
publicans have been mentioned for the
place, but GeorgeT. Oliver, of Pittsburg,
seems likely to be the favored one, and
he has received the unanimous endorse
ment of the Allegheny Senators and
Representatives Having the goodwill
the assistance of the Philadelphia con-
tingent, and that practically assures him
the Office.
The question of who will be the next
Speaker seems still unsettled. The same
gathering that endorsed Oliver for U. S.
Senator endorsed John F. Cox of the
same county for Speaker, but Oliver
does not favor Cox, on account of his
attitude on local option. Meantime ex-
Speaker McClain is saying little but pro-
Tossing confidence in the outcome.
There are those who believe that Nc
Claim may yet be chosen to preside, and
there are not few who believe that il
will be an error for the organization to
turn him down. He would be thorn
in the flesh on the floor of the House, il
he chooses to fight.
Mock Sem, Chinese leper, died in a
little house erected for him near the
city few days ago. Some years ago he
was found serving as cook in a restau-
rant at Steelton and an effort was made
to deport him. He was sent to Balti-
more, his original port of entry, but
eluded his companions and came back
to the Keystone State, becoming charge
on Dauphin county. Friends helped
him, giving him ducks, chickens and
other things dear to the Chinaman's
heart, and on these he subsisted, putting
in the time at drawing and painting
His case attracted great deal of atten'
ton. The climate or exposure proved
too much for him and he fell a victim tC
tuberculosis. All his belongings were