The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1910-12-28
SIZZLING SESSION
OF LEGISLATURE
IMPORTANT MATTERS TO BE
CONSIDERED NEW SCHOOL
CODE, STATE FISHERIES DE
PARTMENT, RAILROAD COM
MISSION, ETC, WILL KEEP
ASSEMRLYMEN OCCUPIED.

The coming session of the State
Legislature will probably be the
most noteworthy of recent years, and
while it is predicted that the session
will be a short one, many important
bills and other special features will
mark the proceedings.
The most important thing after
the convening of the General Assem-
bly, on January 8, will be the inau-
guration of Governor-eleCt Tener on
January Il. The next day both
branches of the Legislature will meet
to elect a United States Senator to
succeed George A. Oliver, whose
term is about to expire and who is
a candidate for reelection.
After the Senatorship is disposed
of the Legislature will Immediately
get down to business. Probably the
two most important matters are the
several amendments to the State
constitution and the proposed new
school code. Among the bills which
will be presented early in the COM
ing session will be one to carry out
Governor-elect Tener's expression in
favor of increase of the powers of
the State Railroad Commission
This measure will be introduced by
Senator Edwin II. Ware, of Philadel-
phia. Senator Ware has announced
that he will take charge of the bill
and it is presumed that it will be
pushed vigorously from the start.
The chief change will probably be
regarding power to enforce recon-
mendations, which the commission
can do only through other depart
ments. 1t is believed that direct
power, such as is enjoyed by every
other department in charge of execu-
tion of laws and regulations will be
conferred. The limitation of the
powers of the commission has con-
siderably handicapped it, although
in the case of several of the big rail-
roads and trolley lines recommends
tions have been accepted.
A lively legislative fight is look
ed for over the proposed bill of the
State fisheries department to get
control of lakes in the northeastern
section. There are about twenty,
one-half of which the State controls.
The rest are owned by individuals or
organizations. The department
claims that these lakes, which are
mainly in Wayne and Susquehanna
counties are needed for extension
of the State fish propagation, but it
| is contended by opponents of the
scheme that the department already
has all it can care for and that turn
ing them over to the fish authorities
would take them out of water supply
and water power availability as well
as interfere with the States conser-
vation policy. Some years ago a
similar effort was made, but the
! Legislature declined to grant the re-
quest. This is the only bill the de-
/ partment may have, but a bill to
change the status of carp is likely
to appear from certain quarters not
in sympathy with the fisheries de-
! partment.
Considerable sentiment has al
ready been aroused in the state by
| the talk of having a bill presented
for repeal of the law prohibiting
fishing on Sundays. This move has
| been under way for some time inside
the United Sportsmen's organiza-
tions, with which, however, some
people connected with the State fish
cries department are more or less in
sympathy.
Some time ago statement was
made that a number of the sports
mems camps were voting in favor of
such a bill Since then people OPP
posed to Sunday fishing have been
getting busy with the members-elect
of the next Legislature.