The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-03-30
House Kills Measure to
Establish Separate
Sta tie Bureau for
Therapeutists
LAUREL VETO
is SUSTAINED
Plan to Make Myrtle the State Flower
Is Introduced-Glenn Asks Probe
of Alleged Activity Of Liquor In
terests in State Politics

Representative Glenn, of Venango
introduced i'll the House last night /,
resolution directing an investigation Of
alleged illegal expenditures of money
by the liquor interests in the politiea
campaign of 1914. The resolution wa:
laid over for printing.
A joint committee of three Senators
and four Representatives, to carry or
the investigation, is provided in the
resolution. A minority member from
each House shall be appointed. The
committee will have the fullest power
to hold hearings and compel attendance
of witnesses who must bring doeu
rnentarv evidence when directed to dc
so. The committee may employ clerks
and have the advice of counsel.
Governor Brumbaugh veto of the
bill which designated the mountain
laurel as the state flower was sustained
by vote of la to 6. Representative
Geiser, Northampton, its sponsor, said
he introduced the bill by request. About
the same time Mr.. Dunn, of Philadel.
phia, introduced bill intended to
make myrtle the state flower.
A bill creating separate state bu-
reau for the licensing of practitioners
of drugless therapeutics was defeated
by vote of "a nays to I6 ayes, after
one hour IS debate.
Provides for the Unemployed
Mr.. Maurer, the Socialist member of
the House, introduced bill to require
County Commissioners to take care of
persons thrown out of employment by
the local option bill. 1t permits the
Commissioners to levy tax known as
the ''local option unemployed tax to
meet this expenditure. The Commits
sioners must find employment for these
charges.
Mr. Mearkle, Allegheny, introduced
in the House bill ''to promote indi-
vidual BODYBUILDING in third class
cities, boroughs and first class town
ships by providing that they shall not
he assessed for five years, provided
the owner occupies the house, or in the
event of death his family shall occupy
it. Hotels, apartment and duplex houses
arc not to be included neither are
street or sewer Improvements.
bill providing an appropriation of
S25 200 for erection of monument
over the grave of Betsy Ross, who
made the first American flag, was pre-
sented in the House by Mr.. Huber,
Luzerne. The grave is in Mount Mo
riah Cemetery, Philadelphia. Provision
is made for commission of five to be
appointed by the Governor to take
charge.
Telephone companies would be pro-
hibited from discontinuing service to
patrons without first giving 10 days ,
written notice to the patrons affected,
by bill introduced in the House by
Mr.. Nissley, Dauphin. The bill also
provides that no bill for service shall
be considered due until service shall
have been rendered, regardless of con
tracts to the contrary! ~ clause in
the bill makes the offender liable to
$500 fine and damages.
Fixes Pay Of Judges
Mr.. Lindsey. Warren, introduced a
bill fixing the salary of any associate
Judge at s. a day while engaged in
his duties; provided that he shall be
entitled to mileage and minimum of
5000 a year.
A Civil war soldiers pension bill,
the fourth presented this session, was
introduced by Mr.. Mellot, Fulton. I'm
from Pennsylvania, and who are now
residents of the State, and who served
less than a year, shall receive $5 a
month; between one and two years, Sc,
and over two years, 81, The Auditor
General is to administer the pension,
and s1,900,000 is appropriated.
Other bills introduced were:
Whitaker, Chester-Establish the
staff of the Executive Department as
follows, exclusive of private secretary:
Executive clerk, $4,000; commission
clerk, $500; clerks at $500 and
$1,000; messenger at $1,000; filing
clerk, LOO, and watehman at 5000.
Gormley, Beaver-Providing that
value of minerals in the earth shall be
assessed for taxation and that when re-
moved shall be assessed at 10 per cent.
of value.
Geser, MISUNDERSTANDING life
Imprisonment penalty for first degree
Dell, Misunderstanding persons
shooting at human beings in mistake
for game guilty of manslaughter, and
in case of killing human being in mis-
take for deer or any game guilty of
Bill Curbs Physicians
Huber, Luzerne-Repealing act of
June Z, 1907, prohibiting physicians
and surgeons from testifying in civil
cases to communications made to them
by their PATIENTS" except in damage
cases brought by their patients.
Mangan, Allegheny - Exeppting
from second class city civil service per-
sons qualified because of experience
and skill in their trade or profession.
Glenn, Venango-Granting to any
litigant against public service cor