The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1911-05-11
FROM THE
STATE CAPITAL
information and Gossip al
Harrisburg.
DOikGS or THE LEGISLATURE.
6ref Mention OF Mat;ers as They
Occur at the State Capital
Official and Other
wise.
DOikGS or TIE LEGISLATURE,

The surprise Of the week In the
lower branch Of the Legislature was
the defeat of measure carrying Ad-
ministration Endorsement and urged
for passage by not only Organization
leaders, but by Representative Dear
den, the Official mouthpece of the
Independent forces The bill, which
suffered defeat on account of con
stitutlonal majority, was the insur-
ance tax bill providing for a tax upon
the gross receipts of fire insurance
companies, the proceeds Of which
were intended to maintain the anti
eipated fire marsha's department.
It was an open fight on the floor
between the mutual and standard
companies The chief point of con
tention between the opposing fac
tions was that the standard COM
panles were conducting their bust
ness for a profit, while the mutual
companies confined themselves to To-
cal risks and gained no profit from
their business The purpose of the
bill, as explained by Mr. Dearden,
was to provide a fund that would
establish system which would
eventually lessen insurance risks and
result I'm lower insurance rate for
the insured.
The mutual forces, however, were
better organized and stood by their
guns regardless Of the assurance that
the measure had administration sup
port The bill fell by a vote of 95
to 10. The floor leaders will endea-
vor to have the bill reconsidered at
later date and have been promised
support from sources that were allied
with the mutual interests.
Close Vote On Referendum.
When the bill providing for
Councilmanic body TO nine members
In Pittsburg and Scranton came up
on second reading. an attempt was
made to insert the initiative. reIeren-
DUN and recall IN the measure but
the efforts were defeated Mr.. Vein
gartner, of Lawrence, offered the ini-
tiative and referendum taken from
the Pittsburg charter plan, intro
duced earlier in the session and the
vote resulted 20 noes and II ayes.
The recall amendment, also taken
from the Pittsburg plan was present
ed by Mr. Jarrett, OF Mercer, and the
vote was, noes, 81; yeas, IL. The
bill then passed second reading. The
Pittsburg plan bill is still in one of
the House committees
Seek Simpler Recording System.
Senator Ware introduced in the
Senate concurrent resolution direct
ing the Legislative Reference Bur
| eau TO inquire into the system OF
recording mortgages and deeds in
other States, with the view of adopt
ing an up-to-date system in Penn
sylvania to take the place of the
present method, which is 200 years
old. 1t was Immediately reported out
and passed.
The Senate adopted the House
resolution providing for the appoint
ment of a committee of seven to CO.
operate with the National Commit
tee in the work of preparing a cele-
bration on the one hundredth ami
versary of the conclusion of peace
between America and England. The
treaty was signed at Ghent, on De-
cember "a, 1914.
Toll Bridge Bill Passes House.
The bill for a commission to in
gestigate cost of freeing all toll
bridges passed in the House finally
by 1919 to 1G.
Among bills reported from commit
tees were; Permitting employment
of criminals on public works; Sen
ate bill regulating life insurance
companies doing business in Penn
sylvanla and authorizing boroughs to
condemn land for wharyes.
Senate bill to make terms Of third
class city officials conform to the
constitutional amendments; the
workmen's compensation act; Senate
bills enabling Councils to fix wages
for municipal employees; authorizing
Councils to regulate coal mining un'
der their territories; Judges retire
ment bill; requiring insurance and
reorganizing State Treasury force.
The bill to establish a State bureau
of standards of weights and measures
in the Department of Internal Affairs
passed.
The main highway bill was recon-
mitted to the Appropriation Com
mittee by the House 1t is to b'
amended by reducing the appropria
ton for main highways from S4,
600 900 to $3.OOO,OOO and probabl!
that for state aid roads from 50,
GOO 900 to S1,50O,00O.
Bills Passed by the House.