Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-04-25
REPORTS WILL
Be BIENNIALS
Governor Signs Bill to I'M
prove the State Print
ing of Reports

Annual reports of the depart
ments of the State government of
Pennsylvania, which have been the
rule for many years and have often
appeared in print twelve to twenty
months late, are abolished and BIZ
ennial reports ordained under the
terms of an administration bill an
nounced as approved by the Gov
ernor. The bill stipulates that all
annual reports required are now to
be made biennially and to be sent to
I the Governor before the 1st of June
in each odd numbered year, to be
printed and distributed "only on
order of the Governor" The act,
which eXempts present contracts
and the legislative handbook, is de-
signed to put the States publica-
tions on a better basis and will be
followed by reduction of size and
issue of printed reports. At the
same time it is expected to place
bulletins upon a more up-to-date
basis.
The Governor has also approved
the bill establishing bureau of sta
t1stlcs and information in the De-
partment of Internal Affairs, one of
the bills drafted by Secretary of In
ternal Affairs elect James L. Wood
ward The bureau is designated to
be clearing house for all indus
trial and other information and will
transfer to the department, the sta
tistical bureau now in the Depart
ment of Labor and Industry. In
formation asked must be furnished
under penalty of fine of S100. The
scope of the bureau will include data
relative to labor, mining, oil and
gas, production, manufacturing. in
duStry, commercial operations, pub
lie service except railroads and
other business interests of the
State There is to be a chief of
bureau at $4,000 and staff of as
sistants. statisticians and others.
The following Senate bills have
also been signed:
Providing that attorneys admitted
to the Supreme Court may practice
IN other courts of the State
Authorizing courts to decree sale
of real estate held for poor pur-
poses and reinvestment of proceeds,
IN counties having less than 150,-
600 population.
Relative to sales of normal schools
TO the State and dissolution of nor
may school corporations
Fixing a charge of one cent an
acre on State forest lands for bene-
mt to counties wherein located.
Providing that inmates of prisons
may be employed on county poor
farms after the close of the war.
Making testimony part of record
on appeal to appellate courts.
Authorizing electric light and
power ompanies to merge with
street railway companies.
These House bills were approved:
AnfhNriZiNp
panies owing stock of street rail-
way companies to acquire such COM
pany's properties, rights and fran
chises.
Empowering school districts to
name delegates to conventions of
school directors.
Providing payment of 81 per day
to teachers attending institutes in
addition to contract salaries.
Validating sales of real estate for
nonpayment of taxes where techni-
cal irregularities in proceedings oc-
CURED.
Fixing fifteen cents as mileage of
judges in judicial districts contain
ing more than one county.
Adding to the State legislative
Reference Bureau staff compilers,
bill drafters, bill reading clerk and
two stenographers with require
| ments that certain ones shall be
lawyers and increasing certain SAL
aries.
Authorizing registers of wills in
| counties having between 100000 and
100000 population to fix salaries
| of assistant clerks of orphans courts.
The Governor also approved the
Lafferty bill increasing penalty for
felonious assault with intent to rob
and robbery in which violence is
done to fine of not over $4,000 and
not more than twenty years in
prison.