The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-05-08
SIGNS BILL REORCANIZINC
States Law Department
Governor Attaches Signature to Meas
ure Requiring All Commonwealth 8
Legal Business to Be Transacted by
Attorney Generals once

Chucf Une PROVISIONS OF Dill APP
proved by the Governor last evening
for the reorganization of the Attor-
ney Generals Department, the entire
legal business of the State will he con-
Quoted in the department, and not scat
tered far and wide as heretofore. 1t
has been the custom for departments
and divisions which have occasion to
institute prosecutions or legal proceed
ings of civil character to 20 outside
of the Attorney General IS Department
for counsel, paying for such service out
of the receipts of the department. To
such AN extent had this practice gone
that many thousands of dollars were
expended outside of the regular legal
department. Attorney General Brown,
In the new law, has thrown all of the
legal business into his department, and
outside counsel will no longer be en-
ployed.
The new bill provides for first dep
uty at $1,000, deputy at $4,000, two
deputies at $4,000 each, two deputies
at $4,000 each, private secretary at
$4,000, three law clerks at $4,000
each, five stenographers at $1,000 each,
messenger at $1,000 and telephone
operator at 5000. All deputies are to be
appointed by the Governor. In addition
the Attorney General may employ spe-
cial attorneys, but may not spend over
$4,000 per year. The act also carries
$4,000 for salaries to June 80. The
act is designed to make effective the
Capitalization Of the legal business of
the State.
The Farley Senate bill, providing
that all elevators be equipped with air
cushions was vetoed by the Governor
for the reason that restriction to one
class of safety devices would work
hardship, and that the act does not
provide for punishment of officials or
directors of corporations guilty of viola
tions.
The Governor vetoed the Spangler
House bill, validating any acts of a cor.
poration between issuance of letters pat.
ent and recording of charters, holding
that the implication of the bill is too
wide.
The Milliron bill to establish a Stats
Bureau of Vocational Education was
approved and is designed to carry out
the Governor s ideas on that subject. 1t
establishes the bureau in the Depart
ment of Public Instruction, and ar
ranges for two divisions, agricultural
and industrial, each under a chief at
$4,000, two supervisors at $4,000 and
two stenogra pliers.
The Governor signed these House
bills:
Providing for alteration of counties
to straighten boundaries, the bill being
designed to enable Philadelphia to take
IN 200 acres of Montgomery, under GER
tain procedure.
Regulating appeals from accounts of
borough controllers.
Authorizing boroughs to make appro.
priations to libraries.
Regulating accounts in estates not
exceeding $500.
Authorizing Williamsport to acquire
and maintain a dam.
Amending act relative to dicharge of
prisoners under insolvency act in GER.
tain cases.
Fixing fee of appraisers in estates
at 50 per day.
Appropriating $23,s47.24 to Foun.
tain Springs State hospital.
The Governor signed these Senate
bills:
Fixing salaries of court eriers, inter
prefers and tipstaves in counties con-
tanning between 250,000 and 1 900, 600
Reviving act of May %, 1878, relat
ing to banking companies, so that they
may bring suit for recovery of property
Amending act of May IA, 1874, by
extending jurisdiction to persons hav-
ing an undivided interest in land or
coal or timber thereon, giving right to
compel partition.
Providing that debt of borough or
township annexed by city shall be as
sumed by the consolidating municipal
ity.
Validating bonds of any school dis
trrct issued since May 10, 1911, under
prescribed conditions.
The Governor also signed the resolu.
ton requesting all officers of State de-
partments to purchase and specify prod
ucts of the United States and that the
various counties, cities, boroughs, town.
ships, Boards of Education and School
Boards and boards of public and private
institutions be urged to do the same .
and resolution for printing $4,000
copies of the act to prevent desecra.
tion of the flag.