The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1909-01-15
Harrisburg Letter.


difficulty in securing the nomination to
succeed himself as U. s. Senator for six
years from March 4th next, his vote far
outnumbering that given for his only
opponent, who, by the way, was given
but % votes in the caucus. The Senator
will be reelected when the Legislature
convenes again during the week be-
ginning Jan. 18th. 1t is about settled
that George 2. Oliver, of Allegheny
county, will succeed Senator Knox,
though the latter is not expected to re-
sign for some weeks yet. So far there
is no real opponent in sight, unless Mr..
Sheath should conclude to enter the race
again.
Hon. Jon F. Cox won out easily over
Hon. Frank McClain for Speaker, the
vote in the caucus standing 136 to 35.
McClain remained candidate to the
last, even though it was apparent to
him, as to every one else, that there was
no hope of his election. So far Phila-
delphia and Pittsburg have scored in
securing plums, but the country mem
bers do not seem disturbed about it.
Copies of bill to pension soldiers and
sailors who served in the late unpleas-
antness from Pennsylvania were laid on
the desks of the members of the Legis-
lature, as reminder. Mention has
heretofore been made of its general
terms. There is no doubt but the q.
A. R. will make vigorous and deter
mined effort to get apension bill through
this session, and get the Governor to
sign it, but unless some revenue produc-
ing bill is sent along with it, it will prob
ably meet the same fate as the one of
1907. So many demands are being
made for appropriations that legislators
are seriously considering some new
schemes for taxation to supply the de-
mands, and bills will soon make their
appearance.
Chief among them will be tax on
capital engaged in manufacturing. Since
1885 the State has exempted from the
five mill tax all capital engaged exclu-
sively in manufacturing in Pennsylvania,
the object being to foster and encourage
manufacturing in this State. Com
plants are made by other classes OF
corporations that discrimination is made
but the Courts have Sustained the law
Thirty years of exemption and protec-
ton have made this State the foremost
in manufacturing, although its water
powers, coal mines, proximity to mark
cts and the coast, and plenty of labor
have assisted i'll bringing about that re-
suit more than exemption from tax. Ii
is now urged that manufacturers should
be willing to bear their proportion of the
heavy burden oftaxation, while they are
in full enjoyment of all possible benefits
There will be a hot fight from the start
off against any tax large or small, and
il is difficult to say whether bill can bt
gotten through to the Governor.
Another bill will provide for the tax
alton OF gross receipts of gas companies
Under the present law electric ligh
companies pay tax of eight mills OF
their gross receipts as well as tax o
five mills on the value of their capita
stock, while gas companies, engaged il
practically the same kind of business
are exempt by law from both of thes
taxes. 1t don't seem quite fair and tn
Legislature will be asked to equalize it
The big gas companies are liable to hur
this bill if it is possible.
A tonnage tax on coal both anthra
cite and bituminous, is in sight, as we
az a tax on all oil taken from the groun
in Pennsylvania. Better late than never
but lot OF money might have been sc
cured to the State from this source j
the past few years. A proposal to ia
coal will cause George F. Baer to sit u
and take notice, and Mr.. Rockefeller Q