Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-04-03
SENATE PASSES
GRISTSOF BILLS
Clearing of the Decks in Upper
House Progresses With
Rapidly

The two-platoon police bill for Phil
adelphia passed finally in the Senate
last night after plea for the meas
ure by Senator Ware. There was no
opposition to the measure. The Kline
bill which allows deputy sheriffs to
act for sheriffs under writs of in
QUESTION, condemnation, inquiry of
damages, lunacy or habitual drunk
ard proceedings also passed finally.
sheriffs to be present in person. The
original Kline bill provided for the
appointment of a special deputy to
represent the sheriff. An amendment
offered by the Allegheny county SEN
ator gives the deputies the power pre-
scribed.
The Craig bill relating to the 'ap-
pointment of persons to the police de-
partment of cities of the third class,
providing for and regulating exami-
nations, the manner of appointments
and the manner and power of removal
of employees Of the police department
passed finally. The bill would create
in Harrisburg, as a third class city, a
civil service board to be chosen by
council to pass on all applicants for
positions in the police department
one of the commission would be an
educator and one a physician. This
bill now goes to the House. Senator
Beidleman voted against the meas
ure.
The Lynch divorce bill was referred
back to committee.
The Senate received the resolution
pledging the loyalty of the Common
wealth to President Wilson in the
present crisis from the House with the
Information that the House had re-
fused to concur in the amendment
which eliminated criticism of sena-
tors who had stood in the way of the
passage of the law empowering the
President to arm merchant vessels for
the perfection of life and commerce
of the high seas. The message of the
House refusing concurrence was refer
red to the committee on judiciary spe-
cial.
BY the terms of bill introduced
by Senator Burke, of Allegheny, the
salaries of second class city employees
who receive $500 per year or less
are to be increased $3.50 per year
and court of common pleas are given
power to enforce the provisions of
the act by mandamus proceedings.
NhOlltI ulll lllCTedSeS the salaries OIL
State employees who receive $1,000 or
less $3.50 per year and provides that
the increases shall appear in the gem
eral appropriation bill and be effec-
tive June l, 1917.
Other bills included: BY Mr.. Croft,
for an additional law for the several
courts of Montgomery county, the
thirty eighth judicial district; by Mr..
Sproul, empowering banks and trust
companies to accept dafts and issue
letters of credit; providing for the ap-
pointment and expenses of a commits
sion of five persons to codify the laws
relating to banks and trust companies:
by Mr.. Kline, providing for the ap-
pointment of a commission of five TO
revise and codify the lunacy laws of
the State and appropriating $4,000
for the purpose; by Mr.. Burke, maxi
ing it misdemeanor punishable by a
fine of $500 for any employer of la
Dor, including corporations, to coerce
voters; by Mr.. Burke, comforting up
on certain corporations the right to
take and appropriate lands and wa
ter for the erection of dams for the
purpose of irrigating farm land.