Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1915-05-20
LEGISLATIVE NEWS
COMPENSATION IS
THE GREAT THING
Record of the Legislature Shows
That 1t Enacted Many Matters
Into Statutes

Workmen's compensation, one of the
most important platform pledges of
the Republican party in PENNSYLVANIA
in many years, looms up as the big
achievement of the General Assembly
of 1915, the one hundred and twenty
first in the history of the common
wealth.
The subject was contained in six
bills and a joint resolution proposing
a constitutional amendment empower
ing the Legislature TO make the work
mems compensation law compulsory
instead of elective. to which il is now
restricted by constitutional provision.
The six bills, which provide for the
law, its administrator and several
forms of insurance, including a state
insurance fund, passed finally yester-
day are now in the hands of the
Governor. who is in favor of placing
them on the statute books. One of
the six bills exempts domestic servants
and agricultural workers.
The enactment of the workmen's
compensation law is the result of four
Years of effort begun under John K.
Tener and the system to be adopted al
the first of next year in this state is
declared to compare favorably with
any similar law in this country.
Child Labor
Another important measure passed
n which is now a law and will be-
come effective on January / next is
the child labor act which had the
backing of the state administration
along with the workmen's compen-
sation bills. The child labor act was
strongly opposed, but the admins
tration succeeded in having it enacted
by both houses without material
change. This law fixes the hours oil
labor for children between IA and 16
ears at not more han fifty-one a
week nor more than nine a day. Each
minor under 16 years who is employed
must attend a vocational school al
least eight hours a week. which time
must come out of the fifty-one hours
allowed by law. No minor under 10
years OF age is permitted to sell news.
papers and all messengers employed
by telegraph. telephone or messenger
companies after 8 O'Clock at night must
be Fl years or over. The Legislature
also provided for vocational schools
TO make the provisions Of the Chile
labor law effective.
The most notable piece of legislation
defeated was the county local option
bill. which had the supper of Gov.
ernor B~rumbaugh. This bill failed tc
pass the House after the Governor hac
made a sharp fight for it.
As To Appropriations
While no definite figures are vet OBJ
tainable as to the total amount OF
money appropriated, it is estimated
that h General Assembly provided
Tor the expenditure of more thar
S66,OOO,O 600. AS the estimated reVe.
nues for the next two years will bt
about $4,000 600. it. will be necessary
for Governor Brumbaugh to cut appro.
prlations to meet the He
a thirty days in which to do this
In his inaugural address the Governor
pointed out that the Chief Executive
should not have imposed upon him thu
duty or cutting biIlskt to meet the reve,
nues. but that this duty should, be per
formed by the Legislature.
The total appropriations this session
were about SIS, 900, 900 under those o
the 1918 Legislature. Governor Tene
was compelled to reduce them t
S67 ,OOO, 600. The pairing down thij
session by the Senate and House ap
preparation committees was made nee
essary by the reports that the State
estimated revenues for the next tw,
years are much less than for the las
two years.
OF the money appropriated this ses
sion for the next two years, $4,000, 90
goes to the public schools, 81, 600, OOI
TO the vocational schools, S425,000 t,
continuation schools. SS,400,00O t,
public roads, about so, 900, 900 for tn,
maintenance of the Stae's tuberculosis
sanatoria. The expenses of the De
partment of Labor and Industry ar,
increased about $500. 900 by reason o
the administration of the child labo'
and workmen's compensation acts.
Charities the Same
sixteen and seventeen mil
lion dollars is appropriated for tn,
charities of the state, comprising State
semistate and private institutions
| hOGnIfnlG and hnnNno M fhfz - -,
about $4,000, 900 is for private hos
pitals and homes. 1t will tax,
100000 to maintain the insane o
the state. This does not include new
buildings and improvements for Stat,
institutions for the insane. Nearl,
$1,000 600 is provided for the main
tenapce of penitentiaries and reform
a%tories. Educational institutions tina
usually receive State aid were provided
for. the University of Pennnsylvanis
and State College each being granted
81, OOO,0 600 and the University of Pitts
burgh $650,000. For the bills foI
eradication of the foot and mouth dis
ease the Legislature appropriated
1925, 000. The port of P~hiladelpni;
was granted $500, 900 for harbor i'm.
proVemcnts.
Among the measures passed to in.
crease the revenues of the state wer,
those providing a tax on anthracit,
coah providing that counties pay theil
own primary election expenses, placint
a 2-cent tax on every 500 of stool
transfers. escheating to the State al
money in financial institutions tina
have been inactive for many years will
the presumption that owners are deaC
or cannot be found. n compelling
persons to pay for the care and main.
tenance in state institutions of insane
relatives where they are able to pay.
The Legislature also passed Join
! resolutions proposing amendments t,
the Constitution. the most notable OF
which is that giving ONE the right
to vote. Another constitutional amend.
ment to come before the people in No.
vember will be n permitting the city
of Philadelphia to increase it's borrow.
ing capacity from I to 10 per cent. OF