Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1914-01-24

the administration of the factory in
spections and other laws will be taken
up. The board will fill unique place
in State affairs as 1t will be a part
or the Department of Labor and In
dustry, whose commissioner is its ex-
off1cio chairman, and will afford a
place Tor appeal against orders issued
Ior changes In manufacturing plants
and at the same time have authority
to make rules in cases not specifically
mentioned in the laws. An important
branch of the work of this new board
Will be the Investigations which may
be held anywhere in the State and the
result OF which is to be final subject
only to the courts.
Justices Needed.-Scores of ap-
polntments of justices of the peace
Will have to be made this winter to
I'LL vacancies which are turning up
among the magistrates Of the State.
The adoption of the constitutional
amendments changing terms caused
more or less uncertainty in rural dis
tricts and as a result of search by
clerks of the commission books at the
Capitol 1t has been found that men
We're not elected in November where
they should have been. The number
Of declinations of office is larger than
usual.
Coal Tax Suit.-Filing of the action
in equity for test of the constitu-
tionality of the anthracite coal case
Will not halt the steps by the Auditor
Generals Department for collection
of the tax because the bill entered in
the case does not ask for an injunction
except after hearing. Coal producers
have until the end of this month to
file their sworn statements of pro-
duction during 1913 and then the bills
Will be made up and sent out from the
Capitol. Attorney General Bell will
determine during the coming week the
manner OF meeting the suit, whether
demurrer or an answer should be
filed. 1t is probable that the suit will
be argued in the Dauphin county court
within few months and that other
coal companies will enter into the pro-
eeedings in order to secure test of
questions which have arisen.
New Fund Ruling. The State
Banking Department has made a
ruling that secretaries of building and
loan associations may not arbitrarily
create contingent funds, but that each
shareholder must be apprised before
such q fund Is created. The reports
called for from associations contain
requirements for statements as to
funds provided under the act of 1913.
There are 1887 such associations, of
which very large majority are in
Philadelphia.
Studying Laws.-F. Herbert Snow,
chairman of the engineers commits
sion which Is charged with the duty
of preparing a State law for sllpervis-
ion of engineering projects of a haz-
ardous character, has arranged for a
study by the commission of the laws
governing engineers in various States
and abroad. The requirements and
supervision will be outlined and plan
worked out for submission to the next
Legislature.
Baldwin BuSy.-State Fire Marshal
Joseph l.. Baldwin and his nine depu-
ties are out on the trail of several
bands Of organized firebugs. which
are blamed for fires that have oc-
Cured recently in Potter, Tioga, Elk
and Westmoreland counties. In one
case it is suspected that a woman has
been mixing in a fire for the sake of
helping a friend get insurance, and
she will be brought back from Michi-
gan to stand trial. These invastiga-
tions are in half a dozen towns and
are part of sixty eight now under way
for the department. The Fire Mar
shaFs men have secured fifteen indict-
ments against persons to be tried with
in the next fortnight
Not Heard From.-The State High
way Department officials have not yet
heard anything from the supervisors
of New Castle township, SchuylkiIl
county, to whom was sent the contract
for resurfacing the road which led to
the indictment of Commissioner E. M.
Bigelow and several of his officials.
The bids were opened over a week ago
and notice of the award sent to the
supervisors The township must bear
part of the expense.
Licenses Run High. - The income
from the automobile licenses for 1914
thus far has run over $500, 600; from
hunters licenses $260OO0, and from
oleo licenses s166,000.
Catawissa Hit. The borough of
Catawissa, famous as the home of
Farmer" Greasy and because of its
name, is under quarantine in churches.
schools and halls because of scarlet
fever.
Mrs. Edward Again. - In Reading
they say that Mrs. Edwards is being
already beset by people who want to
use her in moving picture and various
shows. Her attorneys are annoyed by
| opportunities as they want to comply
with the desires Of the Board of Par
dons and have her taken away.
Commission Issued.-The Secretary
of the Commonwealth to-day issued
the commission of DR.. f. b. Kann, of
this city, reappointed member of the
Board of Osteopathic Examiners.
| Ask About Crossings.-The Public
Service Commission Is receiving a
number of letters about the grade
crossing regulations which are pro-
posed. The problem is now being
studied and it is expected that in a
short time a set of regulations will be
| presented to the commission for. ap-
proval.
TIC Build BridgeS.-The Pennsylva-
MIA Railroad has applied to the Water
Supply Commission for permission to
build bridges on the Tyrone division,
one being over Warriors Mark run.
Visited Capitol.-The members of
the Downingtown basketball team
were visitors to the Capitol this morn
ing.
Pierson Resigns.-Henry w. Pier
son. who has been chief of the division
of distribution of biological products
of the Department of Health since its
establishment. has rendered his resig-
nation. Mr.. Pierson will engage in
business in Philadelphia. He was ap-
pointed from that city, where he had
been one of the secretaries to Edwin
s. Stuart when he was mayor.
Preparing APgument.-Deputy At
torney General w. M. Hargest is pre-
pairing for the argument on the cold
storage law test case next Wednesday,
This is expected to be the first step
toward testing the law because the
people owning cold storage plants
contend that it is confiscatory.