Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-06-07
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Pe~~eqGoaSio
BY tho Ex-Committecnan


numerous recalls of bills from the
Governor after they have passed the
Legislature.
On June 6, 1917, there had been
approved 1S6 general acts and 29
appropriations with 54 vetoes an
nounced. Yesterday there had been
199 acts approved and SO appropria-
ton bills. The latter were nearly all
measures to take care of deticien-
cies arising in the State government
through war conditions and lack of
funds.
The veto record at this time last
session was 54 against 20 this ses-
sion. However, there have been S3
bills recalled from the Governor this
year, breaking all records in that
line.
The House appropriations COM
mittee plans to complete work on re-
vision of the general appropriation
| bill by next Wednesday and confer
ences with heads of departments on
reductions in the estimates handed
to the committee which have been
in progress most of the week were
continued to-day. The committee is
seeking to cut $4,00O,000 from the
| $42, 100000 figure at which the bill
totalled when the compilation was
completed and wholesale cuts have
had to be made. The departments
not reached thus far will be taken up
Monday and Tuesday. All bills on
the calendars carrying any appro-
! priations have been checked up and
number which had not been in the
committee have been recommitted
for consideration.
The committee is working with
Governor Sproul so that the bill will
go to him with much less necessity
for further changes.
The Dithrich separate suit" bill
has been amended in the Senate COM
mittee on judiciary general so that
any person having a right of action
against two or more persons or cor
porations arising out of death or in
jury caused by negligence to bring
separate actions to provide that they
may be brought regardless of
whether one corporation is owned
or controlled by the other or 9TH
ers" and also providing for payne ent
of the verdict by election in writing
by the plaintiff. Another provision
| is that in case the injury, damage or
death ''be found to have resulted
| from the concurring but not con-
certed action of several persons or
| corporations the defendant that is
| obliged to pay such judgment (under
the election clause) shall have q
right of action against any and all
such other persons or corporations
whose concurrent negligence may
be found to have been a contribut-
ing cause" The master and SER
want relationship has been stricken
out
Bar associations will be able to
! ask courts for subpenas for witnesses
in inquiries into conduct of MEM
bers of the bar under terms of the
Stadtlander bill just approved by
Governor William c. Sproul and now
in effect. This measure, which was
, drafted by the members of the Allie
gheny Bar Association, is designed to
facilitate Investigations, such organi-
cations having been unable to COM
pei attendance of witnesses when
probes were under way. The pro-
visions of the bill authorize the COM
mon pleas courts to issue subpenas
for attendance of witnesses and pro-
duction of books and papers before
authorized committees of associa-
tions investigating professional con-
duct. Testimony given in such in
quiries, however, may not be used
in any criminal proceeding except for
perjury.
Third class cities of the State have
been relieved from an embarrassing
situation by approval of the Alum
bill authorizing such cities to make
appropriations for municipal band
concerts. In a number of cities
there have been a demand for such
10 hn nj 20 Ill
them was subscriptions. Now ordi-
nances making appropriations can
be voted and the first form of en-
tertainment outside of parks and
bathing facilities is facilitated. The
approval of the Smith Senate bill
gives third class cities right to either
contract for collection and disposal
of garbage and ashes or to do the
work themselves as municipal en-
terprises. The third class city code
did not provide such authority.
The Pittsburgh Dispatch and
other western newspapers have been
busy presenting Senator P. G. Knox
as a possible candidate for the Re-
publ.cen nomination.
The vacancy in the Allegheny
county orphans court is already
being much talked about. There
have been a number of names sug-
gested to the Governor for Judge
Overs successor.
u wish to goodness I knew the
way to solve the mine cave prob
lem." said Governor Sproul when
asked about it. Unity of purpose
and decision in Scranton would be
most helpful"
-Indica tionb are that there will
be a fresh fight over the PhiiadeI-
phia charter bill on Monday night
and that it will go back to second
reading for amendments in accord
with what the Governor thinks it
Should be.
Attorney General w. I. Schaffer.
in speaking of the administration;s
stand upon the charter bill, said:
"The charter revisionists were warn.
ed that their bill was not in proper
shape. They refused to consider
amendments as suggested and there
was nothing left for the administra-
ton to do but to serve notice that
tho present bill is not acceptable. n
would be most serious matter for
city like Philadelphia. one of the
greatest in the world, to find it.elf
with n charter that did not provide
prono- conditions. I believe the bill
can be amended so that 1t will be