Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-05-08
NEWS OF THE LEGISLATURE.
BROOKS SEEKS
MORE REVENUE
Would Tax Artificial Gas
Companies-Many Bills in
House Closing Period

TWO new revenue raising bills,
based upon recommendations of the
Joint Legislative Revenue Commits
sion of several years ago, were in
tsoduced into the House by Mr..
Brooks, York. They provide a tax
of five mills on the capital stock
Of artificial gas companies and eight
mills tax on the gross receipts of
artificial gas, water and water power
companies, which are now held to
be exempt under the manufacturing
capital exemption decisions. 1t is
believed that they will raise many
| thousands of dollars which the York
member desires to see used for in
crease of teachers salaries.
The commission was composed OF
| the late Senators ]. P. McNichol and
w. II. Keyser, Governor William c.
Sproul, Secretary of Internal Affairs
James f. Woodward, Ex-Speaker
George E. Alter and Congressman
M. w. Shreve. 1t recommended that
gas companies should be taxed as
indicated in the bills presented
holding that they were "a natural
subject OF taxation"
These bills appeared among the
final list of House bills, the time for
presentation of new legislation in
the lower branch ending last night.
Among the bills passed by the
House were those reorganzing the
Department of Internal Affairs and
also providing that county commits
sioners, tax collectors and assessors
shall furnish to the secretary statis-
tics relative to assessment of taxes.
This is in addition to the require
ment for statistics of production,
etc, covered by other bills approved
or pending The bulk of the bills
relative to the Department have
been passed and the reorganization
| will take place in a month or so.
Important Legislation
Two important bills in the final
hour included: A scale of salaries
for borough councilmen to date
from January / in bill introduced
| by Mr.. Ruddy, Lackawanna. The
| list is: Boroughs having less than
900 population, $50 per year; 1000
to 5000 population, 500; 5000 to
| 10000, $3.50, and over 10000, $oOo.
The other was n resolution TO create
a commission of eleven to inVestl-
gate rates paid to hospitals, etc,
| in the various States for treatment
of persons unable to pay presenteu
| bv Mr.. Wallace, Philadelphia. The
commission is given ST 900 to make
the investigation and is to report
| TO the next Legislature suggestions
for changes in the Pennsylvania
| system.
The new Bureau of Markets bill
of the Department of Agriculture
was presented by Chairman Hol-
IlingsWorth, of the committee on
agriculture, re-enacting many pro-
visions of the present act and pro-
viding for a system of licenses, new
Iclassifications and appeals from
them. Plans for extensive reports
are also outlined. The bill is de-
signed to be a companion to the
Jordan cooperative association bill
presented a few days ago.
New Health Bill
A bill making a new codihcatior
of the laws of the State relative tC
contagious diseases and broadening
the powers Of the State Commits
sioner of Health was presented by
Chairman Cans, of the Health and
sanitation committee. The bill
which was drawn by Colonel Ed
ward Martin, State Commissioner OF
Health, not only extends powers dur
ing epidemics, with particular at
tention to conditions such as arose
in the course of the influenza out
break, but gives control of venereal
| diseases.
Mr.. Zanders, Carbon, presented q
| bill to provide comfort arrange
ments at all railroad crossing watch
boxes. The railroads are to pay
for them.
| A bill declaring wilful and unlaw-
| full mining and removal of coal to
be larceny was introduced by Mr.
Jones. Lackawanna, who also pre-
sented a bill for registration as law
students of honorably discharged
soldiers who may apply.
| Mr.. Clutton, Somerset, introduced
a bill regulating collection of taxes
in counties containing less than
1875, 900 population and requiring
notices to be given.
Mr.. Colder, Philadelphia, intro
duced a bill fixing license fees for
brokers and others engaged in the
insurance business.
Other bills presented were:
Mr.. Miller, LuZerne-Extendine
charters of manufacturing corpora
tons incorporated for 25 years to
SO years.
Mr.. Bald, Philadelphia-App
priating $4,000 to the trustees oi
the Third Regiment armory, Phila-
delphia, for debt, repairs, etc.
Mr.. Comerer, Fulton-Rogulatinl
rights of way through unenclosed
woodlands.
Mr.. Vickerman, Allegheny-Em.
towering counties to make contract.
with municipalities for maintenance
of free bridges.
Mr. Horne, Cambria-Abolishin
rcquirem for publication Of
mercantile appraisers list.
Mr.. Sinclair, Fayette-A new
county officers fee bill; placing
clerks of quarter session in charge
of issuance of hunters licenses and
dog and kennel licenses.
| Mr.. Wallace, Lackawanna-In.
cluding chief sanitary officers, san.
itary police, food inspectors and
superintendent of garage in third.
class city civil service.
Mr.. Vickerman, Allegheny-Reg.
ulating building along streets be.
tween two boroughs.
Mr.. Ramsey, Delaware-FiXing
$4,000 as larry of county commits
| 10000 and 100000 population.
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