Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-04-03
Poe;sc4 IL
Pe~~e4tee~o
BY the Ex-Committeeman

The week of April 20 will prob
ably be made the last week where
in bills may be introduced into the
House of Representatives. The ex-
act date will be determined within
a few days. Leaders of the House
spent considerable time while here
this week finding out whether many
bills were to come and as the total
now on the House lists, including
| those from the Senate, is now well
| along toward the 1850 mark they
have expressed the opinion that the
lower branch has about as much as
it can take care Of. considering
what will be passed by the Senate
and messaged to the House.
! Some of the House leaders are
working toward May Is as the date
for final adjournment, but no reso-
| luton to that effect will be intro
duced for the present. Instead the
time limit on bills will be estab-
| lished.
Demands for drafting of bills
( continue at the Legislative Refer
| ence Bureau which has many in
process of preparation for Monday
night introduction.
Numerous hearings are being
scheduled for the month of April
and the appropriations committee
plans to complete its visits of in
spection and discussion of hospital
appropriations the middle of the
month. The appropriation bills
will be reported out the latter part
OF the month, according to present
indications.
Members of the House are look
ing forward to an interesting
time on Monday night when the
fishermen's license will be called up
on special order. Intimations are
being given that strong influences
are behind the bill so that there
may be revenue for the work of the
fisheries department.
The compensation code amend !
ments seem to be in a peculiar posi- |
ton, judging from what the news !
papers say about the hearing held |
here n few days ago. While Harry |
"a. Mackey, chairman of the Com |
pensation Board, expressly dis
claimed that the board was advo- |
eating the increased rates and |
changes and said they had been |
drafted in response to demands. |
some people got the idea that they |
were administration measures. The |
administration has not committed |
itself to any changes. but is await |
ing developments which is held to |
be the wisest course in the present |
times. Some of the employers were |
slightly inclined to say things when |
they heard one of the labor spokes- |
men say that the proposed changes |
had been approved by his people, |
when the employers had not seen |
the booklet more than a few days |
and some declared that they had not !
enjoyed opportunity to figure out the |
effect of the changes. Suggestions |
Tor changes, say people at the Cap |
ital, are being sent to Mr.. Mackey. |
The name of Ex-Judge ]. W. |
Reed, OF jefferson county, is being |
prominently mentioned for public |
service commissioner to succeed the |
late Judge Harold NJ. Mcclure. |
Judge Reed has an office in Clear |
field.
Clifford B. Connolly, of Pitts
burgh, is getting ready to assume |
ms duties as acting commissioner of !
labor and industry. The Governors
illness prevented action being taken |
in the matter.
The Evans House bill providing |
for an additional law judge in the |
thirty-first judicial district composed |
OF Lehigh county has been approved |
by the Governor. The bill does not |
require an appointment by the Gov !
ernor. but authorizes the voters of |
the district to elect a judge next |
fall.
The Governor also approved the |
House bill authorizing the district |
attorney of Allegheny county to an |
point ten assistants, one to be desig- |
mated as the first assistant and to re- |
celVe $4,000 year and others to be |
paid according to their rank rang |
ing from $4,000 to s2,7O0 a wear.
He also approved the House bill |
authorizing the District Attorney of !
Allegheny county to appoint a chief |
county detective at $4,000: chief as |
sistant at $4,000 and twenty-four
others to be paid SITS per month |
with travelling expenses.
One OF the liveliest HEARINGS In
many days in legislative committees |
developed out of that held by the |
House ways and means committee on |
the Fowler bill to extend to labor |
the lien rights enjoyed against con- |
tractors by persons who supply
equipment or materials. John r.
Virgins, a Philadelphia builder.
contended that it would add FIVE per
cent to the cost of construction and |
cause a decrease in building of 40 |
per cent. p. II. Kelley, of Phila- |
delphia, also opposed the bill. which |
was advocated by James II. Maurer.
former legislator and president of |
the State Federation of Labor. Wig
gins called the bill "hogwash" and |
Maurer reported that it had been |
drawn by people who had studied !
the subject, adding it was "the best |
thought of the legal department of |
Columbia University and the Uni
versity Of Pennsylvania.