The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-02-09
Measure Backed by
Brumbaugh Introduc-
edLast Nightly Rep
resentative Williams
COUNTY UNIT
is SPECIFIED
Measure Requires That 25 Per Cent. of
Registered Voters Must Sign Peti-
tion Before Question Can Be Sub
mitted to the Voters

George w. Williams, of Tioga coun.
ty, chairman of the House Law and
Order Committee, which will consider
the local option measure, last night in
troduced in the House the Brumbaugh
Local Option bill. The committee is
understood to stand IA to IL in favor
of the measure. The county unit is
specified.
There is a requirement for petit
tion, signed by quarter of the num-
Der of voters at the last general cleo
tion, to the court of quarter sessions to
bring about special popular vote in a
county on the wet or dry question, the
court to order the election not less
than thirty nor more than forty days
after presentation of petition and be
governed gy general election laws.
In Dauphin county such a petition
would require approximately 5000
signatures of assessed voters. If the
question fails three years must elapse
before another special election can be
held. The text of the bill, given out
by direction of Governor Brumbaugh
last night, follows:
Brumbaugh's Option Bill
"Section /. That whenever a number
of the qualified electors of any county
equaling % per centum Of the number
of votes cast therein at the last preeed-
ing general election shall present a pc
tition to the Court of Quarter Sessions
of the Peace of that county, verified by
the affidavits of three of the petition
ers, praying for the holiing of an elec-
ton to determine whether license for
al Ia ii. &c N,rtt
Gus, malt or brewed liquors or any ad-
mixture thereof in said county shall be
granted, it shall be the duty of said
Court of Quarter Sessions OF the Peace
to order an election to be held in the
said county in not less than 80 days
nor more than 40 days from the date
of such order, which election shall be
held by the regular election officers at
the usual place or places for holding
elections in said county, and the elec
tiOn shall be conducted in all respects,
and election officers shall be governed
by the directions and subject to the
penalties, and be compensated as now
provided by law for the holding of gen.
eral elections
"Notice of such election shall be
given ,by the officers designated and in
the manner provided by existing laws
relating to county elections, insofar as
the same may be applicable, and every
such notice shall state (6rst) the ques
tion to be voted for, as hereinafter set
forth; (second) the day and place of
holding said election; (third) that the
polls shall be open between the hours
of clock a. m. and Z O'Clock p. m.
Provision for Ballots
"Section 2. The ballots at any elec
tion held under the provisions of this
act shall Zoe printed, distributed and
furnished in such quantities and of the
form provided by existing laws relating
to general elections. Upon such .bal-
lots shall be printed the question Shall
the granting of license for the sale of
Intoxicating liquors be prohibited fol-
lowed by the words YES, and NO,
with a square of sufficient size at the
right of each said words in which to
give the elector an opportunity clearly
to designate his choice by a cross mark
(X) placed in one Of the said squares.
Section 3. A qualified elector receiv-
ing ballot provided for by this act, in
accordance with existing laws, may
mark in the appropriate square cross
(X) after the answer he desires to give,
and all votes cast at said electio held
under the provisions of this act shall he
counted and declared, and complete
return of the same made, in accordance
with existing laws relating to elections.
Prevents Granting Licenses
"Section 4. Whenever it shall ap-
pear by the returns aforesaid that ma
.j0rity of the votes cast at such election
are in favor of prohibiting the granting
of such licenses in the county in which
said election shall have been hell, il
shall thereupon become unlawful for
said Court of Quarter Sessions of the
Peace, or other authority to which may
hereafter be transferred the power re-
lating to said subject now vested in
said Court of Quarter Sessions, TO is
sue or grant any license authorizing
the sale or furnishing of any vinous,
spurious, malt or brewed liquors, or any
admixture thereof, in said county at
any time thereafter, until, at an cleo
tion held at hereinafter provided, ma
joTity of the electors voting thereat
shall vote against prohibiting the grant
ing of such licenses therein.
''Section 5. At any time after three
years from the date of an election held
under the foregoing provisions of this
act another such election may be or
dered and held, as hereinbefore pro-
vided.
"Section 6. This act shall not be con-
strued to repeal any special or local
laws relating to the sale or granting of
licenses to sell intoxicating liquors, nor
shall it be construed to prevent the
granting or refusal of a license under
existing laws, the same as if this act
had not been passed, in countries where
the majority of the votes cast at an
election as hereinbefore provided are
against prohibiting the granting of IL
cense to sell Intoxicating liquors, and in
counties where no such election has
been held. N
Asks $780, 900 for Local Hospital
The first Harrisburg appropriation
bill was introduced in the House last
evening by Representative Wildman. 1t
carries $4,000 for the Harrisburg hos
pital. OF this $4,000 is for mainte-
nance for two years, $4,000 for fire
doors, $4,000 for operating room equip
ment, $4,000 for laundry machinery
and $4,000 for tihng labratories.
The Harrisburg Polyclinic Dispensary
will be open daily except Sunday at
3 p. m, at its new location, Front and