The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1909-04-28
OUR LAWMAKERS
The Work Of Our Harris
burg SoIons.
AN UNUSUALLY SHORT SESSION.
Over Two Thousand Bills Intro.
duced and Less Than One
Thousand Become Laws
The Acts Passed
and Failed.

and Failed.
The Legislature of 1909 will go down
In history as the shortest session held in
the last thirty-five years, with the single
exception of that of 1905, when the ses-
sion was adjourned on April 18th. All
told, zoos bills were introduced, of which
over 1900 originated in the House. Only
about one-third of the number passed.
About 100 bills were disposed of in
the closing days OF the session. Thus
far the Governor has vetoed four bills.
In the way OF appropriations upward
of $85, ,OO0, 900 was allotted to State semi
private and private institutions, hos
pitfalls and charities, including an item
of 81, ,OOO, 900 for the treatment OF tuber-
culosis under the supervision OF the State
Department OF Health. This is an in
crease OF 100000 over the amount
allowed two years ago, and for State care
and treatment of tuberculosis.
With but about $43 zoo, 600 conceded
to be available in revenue for the next
two years, the responsibility of slashing
appropriations to the extent of $22, ,OOO,-
600 is forced upon Governor Stuart. Not
a single revenue raising bill was passed.
Aside from the school code, the record
of the Legislature, in the matter of bills
of general interest, follows in the bills
passed:
Governor Stuart's State highway from
Philadelphia to Pittsburg, to cost $5,-
100000.
Increasing salaries of Supreme, Su-
perior and other court judges $3.50, 600
annually.
Capitol Park extension, to cost $2,-
100000.
Jones dirt road bill for townships, ap-
propriating 81 100000.
Shern bill, regulating child labor.
Murphy pure food bill also bills pro-
hibiting adulteration of liquors, soft
drinks, lard, milk and ice cream.
Townsend automobile bill, establish
ing speed limit of twenty-four miles in
open country and twelve miles in con-
gested territory.
Constitutional amendment, abolishing
February elections.
Constitutional amendment, abolishing
poll tax.
Constitutional amendment empower
ing legislature at will to increase num-
ber of courts and judges of courts.
Creating state board of osteopathy
examiners.
Creating state board of registration OF
nurses.
Murphy bill allowing the connection
of steam railroad and street railway
tracks.
Shields bill empowering street rail-
way companies to carry all kinds OF
freight.
Thompson bill making medical ex-
aminations in Pennsylvania uniform
with those in Ohio, New York, New Jer-
sey and other States.
Creating Office of executive controller
of accounts.
Making it misdemeanor for State of.
ticials to pay out money not specifically
appropriated.
Directing that the Quay statue be
erected in the rotunda of the Capito
building.
Making October IL legal holiday
known as Columbus day.
Giving primary election officers the
same salary as general election officers
Tustin parole, probation and indie
terminate sentence bills.
Tustin anti-white-slave bill.
Campbell anti-cocaine bill.
Campbell bill, readiusting the State
Pharmaceutical board.
The most important bills which failed
to pass were the following:
Local option.
Reyburn soldiers pension bill.
Dunsmore 2-cent railroad fare bill.
Dunsmore 2% cent railroad fare bill.
Extending civil service system to state
officers.
Empowering State Railroad Commits
sion to regulate stock issues.
Creating five additional judges fo
Philadelphia.
Granting eminent domain to electri,
power companies.
McClain bills for return to counties o
personal property tax and license fee
which now go to the state.
Commission to codify tax laws.
Jones bill taxing gas companies.
Dunsmore bill increasing corporation
tax from five to ten mills.
Taxing corporations for local pur
poses.
Keene bill taxing capital stock of man
ufacturing companies.
Greasy antitrust bills.
Greasy bill taxing express companies
Increasing the salary OF the Governo
from Xl0 O00 In 41k on