Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-05-02
RUSH
THE CALENDARS
Considerable Work Accom-
plished in Sessions Held
During This Week

The Senate kept up its traditions
yesterday and big bunch of legis-
lation was advanced at the session
in the two and one-half hours
the upper branch was at work.
rive bills introduced by Senator
McNichol, which came from
committee promptly and passed first
reading yesterday. and on the second
reading calendar to-day. One of
these bills is drastic. 1t forbids any
members of the Workmen's Com
pensation Board from being inter-
ested as lawyers in actions before
fthe board or before referees.
The other bills have to do with
the handling of State funds. The
Governor is relieved of the duty of
examining and approving State war
rants that provide either for the ex-
penditure or collection of public
moneys by the several branches of
the Executive Department.: define
the purposes and draw the lines on
the manner in which department
contingent funds are expended:
! create board of finance to perform
the duties now devolving on the
board of public accounts, revenue
commissioners, sinking fund COM
missioners and the board to license
private bankers, and there is also
Joint resolution proposing an
amendment to the constitution speci-
Tying that moneys are not to be
expended except as specifically pro-
vided by act of assembly and with
IN the time limit fixed for the eX-
pendlture of appropriations. 1t is
sought in this bill to avoid the neces-
slty of large deficiency appropria-
tons each session to cover the sums
| expended above moneys appropriat-
ed. 1t is foreseen the inevitably there
will be expenditures in cases of
emergency which will have to be
provided for by legislative enact
ment, but the McNichol resolution
seeks to cut this to a minimum.
There are two war measures that
to-day passed second reading and
will be sent to the house as speedily
as possible. The one is the Sproul
act, authorizing courts of common
pleas to appoint volunteer police Off
GERS during the present war with
Germany. The other is for the pro-
lection of express companies, giving
these companies the right to employ
policemen who shall be commission
ed by the Governor with authority
to act in all counties of the State in
which the express companies do
business.
Senator Vare's joint resolution
proposing an amendment to the
constitution so as to alloy the
consolidation of the common pleas
courts of Philadelphia county, went
over yesterday when it was reached
on the third reading calendar. at
the request of Senator McNichol,
who acted for Senator Vare's during
the latter's absence from the body.
Senator Beidlemans bill requiring
railroad, canal, navigation and tele-
graph companies to make reports to
the secretary of internal affairs not
later than March 81 of any year.
was on the third reading calendar,
but was permitted to go over so that
amendments could be acted on. The
Beidleman will hasten the making
of these annual reports that have
caused delay in compiling records
each year, because they have either
been neglected or held back. Upon
these reports certain State taxes are
computed and 1t is believed money
will come more promptly into the
treasury If the reports reach the Sec
retary of internal affairs on time.
Two bills have been recommitted
for further consideration. One fixes
the salaries of the clerks of the
State Departments in the office of the
county treasurer of Philadelphia
county. The other is the Jones bill,
authorizing the board of public ac-
counts to consider petitions for the
return of moneys enormously or in
adVertently paid or covered into the
State treasury.
The Semmens act making it a
misdemeanor for any person to de-
face, mutilate or destroy any sign
boards, makings, directions or let
terings placed by the public author
tiles upon any State, county or town
ship road or upon any other street
or public highway, passed finally and
goes to the house. The penalty is
fine not exceeding 500 or thirty
days in Jail, or both at the discretion
of the court.