Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1915-04-08
PUBLIC SERVICE
AMENDERS READY
Series of Important Bills Submitted
to the House by Represen-
tative Forster

Seven bills embodying suggestions
OF counsel for the Public Service Com
mission for amendment of the public
service company law of 1913 were
read in place in the House late yes
terday by Mr.. Forster. Philadelphia.
They will be sent to the judiciary gem
eral committee. which has referred all
bills of that character to a subcom-
mittee for study.
The bills presented by Mr. Forster
include:
Comforting on the commission au-
tbority to suspend rates for ninety
days.
Empowering the commission to ap-
point examiners to sit at any place
designated and to receive testimony
from litigants. thus enabling hearings
| to be held anywhere in the State.
Doing away with necessity of obtain
ing commissions consent TO making of
contracts between municipalities and
pubic service companies, but retain
| ing power of commission to regulate
rates and service and to prevent use
less and wasteful competition by act
ing on franchises.
Abolishing requirement of approval
OF contracts for joint use of poles, but
retaining right to regulate and to rule
| in complaints.
Providing for fees of witnesses be-
| fore the commission.
Bills regulating damages for fires
! caused by locomotives and prohibiting
| trespassing on railroad tracks, rights
of way and equipment We're also pre-
sented by Mr.. Forster.
Several members also introduced
bills amending the public service act
including some from the borough
| league. They included:
IT.
! public service company law so that
| municipalities may construct utility
| plants when a public service company
has refused to sell.
Mr.. Harper, ending
public service company law so that
appeals may be taken to courts on all
cases; taking away exclusive control
over grade crossings and prohibiting
Withholding of facts on which de-
! cisions are based.
Speaker Has a Bill
| Speaker Amber presented a bill
creating suburban metropolitan dis
| trict within q radius of Twenty-Five
miles of the city hall of Philadelphia.
exclusive of the city's right to create
| its own commission. The bill also
permits levying of a tax and confers
various powers. The act of 1913 on
| the same subject is repealed.
Mr.. Habgood put in a bill to allow
|
lures. measure much desired by
| sheep raisers all over the State.
Higher Auto Fees
Material increases in State fees for
| licensing automobiles are proposed in
a bill introduced by Mr.. Lipschutz.
Philadelphia. The bill is one of a
series of revenue raisers for the i'm
provement of State highways. The
fees for pneumatic tired vehicles are
! graded according to horsepower, the
increases being about 40 per cent, eX-
| cept on high-powered cars, which are
advanced over 90 per cent. One dollar
is added to the fee for motorcycles.
Other bills presented included:
Mr.. Wildman Dauphin-Making il
| the duty of the Insurance Commits
sioner to enter prosecution when prima
! tacie evidence of violation of the law
| is presented.
Mr.. Lands. gomery-Provid-
ing that lands shall be returned for
unpaid school taxes the same as for
| other taxes.
Mr.. Erdman, Lehigh-Establishin
fee of 80 cents and cents mileage
for persons attending coroner's in
quests on subpoena.
Mrs. Evans. Luzerne-Fixing sal
aries of mine inspectors at 1000 per
year.
Mr.. Showalter. Union-Regulating
apprenttcing of minors and providing
for credit for instruction in a voca-
tional school.
Mr.. Huber. Luzerne-Providing for
l state commission to revise the bank
ing laws of Pennsylvania and report to
the Governor by November 1916
and appropriating $4,000 for expenses.
\ Cumberland Bill
Mr.. Shoop. Cumberland-EXem
all school loans from all taxes.
Mr. Bungard. Westmoreland-R
lating attachment of wages or salaries
on judgments for necessaries.
Mr.. Gibson, Northumberland
| ahidaVits of defense in prosecutions
under pure milk act
Mr. Barnett. York-Fixing pay of
supervisors when working on roads at
not over So or less than 50 per day.
Mr.. Herman. Wyoming-Providing
that school directors shall determine
questions regarding high schools in
second. third and fourth classes in
conjunction with school officials of
district and State.
Mr.. Milliron. Armstrong - Amend
ing school code so that salaries Of
county superintendents shall be fixed
by conventions OF directors before
election of superintendents.
Employment Agencies
MT. Glenn. Nenango-Estab blishing n
system of assisting employers TO oh
tain labor and creating a bureau of
employment in the Department of
Labor and Industry
Mr.. Smith. Carbon-Making II a
misdemeanor for anyone paid BY tom
| mage to turn in short weight
Mr.. Forster Philadelphia-Pro
| ing persons or institutions having
| charge of children under 16 from Civ
ing. apprenticing, selling or disposinc
OF children to anyone except blood
| relatives without court approval: au-
| thorizing the Auditor General to as
sign his Office force to such duties as
| he may select.
Mr.. Mckay. Crawford-Prohibiti
maintaining of grillrooms where per
sons of both sexes may drink liquors.
Bounty On Snakes
Mr.. 'Luppert, Lycoming-Estab blish-
| ing bounttes to be paid by county com
| missioners. who are to be reimbursed
by the State. as follows: Garter
snakes and water snakes, 10 cents:
kingfishers and green herons. 25 cents
and 'coons. so cents.
Mr.. Arnold, Clarion-Appropriat
O,S14.41 accumulated in State Trea g.
ury from forestry proceeds to State
school fund
Mr.. Arnold. Clarion-Provfding that
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