Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-03-31
GOVERNOR MAKES
POLICY CHANGES
Approves Bills Vetoed Last Ses-
sion and Vetoes Measure
Frequently Enacted

Governor Martin G. Brumbaugh, in
announcing his approval of the bill
to create a State Board of Optometrical
Examination and Licensure, issued n
statement in which he said that the
which he objected when he vetoed
similar measure in 1915. The proposed
board is to be composed of seven men
to be named by the Governor before
July L next, and after January l next
it will not be lawful for any person
in the state to engage in the practice
of optometry or attempt to determine
of glasses needed by any person with
out a state license. Efforts have been
made by optometrists for a dozen
years to secure n state examination
and licensure system.
In approving the bill the Governor
said that he is not unmindful of the
veto by him of a bill with the same
object last session, and says that while
he is still of the opinion then set forth
the bill this year has been so drawn
as to remove some of the cardinal OBJ
jections to the bill" The Governor
of optometry is now regulated by
similar law. The uniform tendency is
that the law operates beneficially. The
controlling motive in the present APP
proval of this act is my desire to
drive the fallirs and scoundrels who
now prey upon an unsuspectinS people
from the commonwealth. / express the
hope that in the next session of the
Assembly the qualifications for 'admis-
sion to the study of optometry may be
placed upon a higher educational basis
and that the courses of study leading
to a license may be made dignified,
thorough and adequate to the power
given by the Assembly to these optome-
trists."
Three Bills Smitten
Governor Brumbaugh refused to ap-
prove the Kline Senate bill designed to
repeal the act of 1915 providing that
the dockets of justices and aldermen
should be filed with prothonotaries OF
courts of their counties at the con-
clusion of their terms and be open to
public inspection as public records. In
his veto message the Governor says:
since these dockets contain matters
of great value, especially to the poor
people who are obliged to be in official
contact with the minor judiciary they
ought to be preserved and made ac-
cessible. Many concrete cases nave
that prove it's merits. All judicial rec
ords should be public records. All 9TH
ers are so. These should remain So.
The Governor said in vetoing the
Kline Senate bill providing that infor-
nations in non-support and desertlon
cases in Allegheny county may be made
before aldermen or justices as well
the court record shows that these
cases are now economically and eXpe-
ditiously handled and that more ad-
iustments of family differences have
been secured under the present act
than under the old system which 1t Is
proposed to restore. To enact the law
he saws would be backward step.
Siggins Loses
The Siggins House bill making an
appropriation for maintenance OF roads
in the Cornplanter Indian reservation
in Warren county was vetoed by the
Governor on the ground that it is un-
constitutional. The Governor signed
similar bill last session. In his veto
the Governor says that the bill is in
direct conflict with the constitution
forbidding local or special laws and
that If the roads are part of the State
highway system they Will be cared for
by the department in charge. If they
are not State highways. he says, their
upkeep is properly charge upon the
contrary to sound public policy.
The Governor however, approved the
Siggins bill making an appropriation
of 5000 to the county school superin-
tendent of Warren county to be dis
bursed by him ''in such manner as
shall best promote the cause of edu-
cation among the Cornplanter Indians"
in Warren county.
other bills signed included:
Amending borough code so that bur-
gesses may succeed themselves.
Authorizing companies incorporated
in other states for manufacturing to-
bacco and artificial silk to hold real
estate in Pennsylvania.
Giving consent of the State to the
acquisition of land by the United States
government for the proposed enlarge
ment of the Frankford arsenal, Phila-
delphia.
Permitting companies incorporated in
other states to manufacture coal tar
and it's products and asphalt and it's
products to hold real estate in Penn
sylvania.
Authorizing w. Fl. Heard, of Della
ware county. to sue the state for in
juries alleged to have been sustained
at Valley Forge Park.
Providing that salaries of Allegheny
county probation officers shall be fixed
by county salary board.
The arsenal bill was that presented
by Mr.. Dunn, philadelphia.