TRIBUNE SUPPLEMENT
J"CnsrE -4, 1891.
SOME NEW LAWS.
|
Part of the Work Done at Harrisburg !
By the Dead Legislature.
There were 414 bills passed by the re
cent Legislature, but very few of them
sire of general benefit. The most impor
tant reforms asked for were thrown aside
by orders of the Republican and corpora
tion people, who held a powerful influ
ence over both Houses, hut more so in
the Senate than in the lower branch.
Every measure looking toward the re
lief of the laboring and farming elements
was defeated or amended antagonistic
ally in the Senate. A synopsis the
most important bills follow :
BALLOT KKFORM.
The Ballot reform bill was amended by a
conference committee of both branches of the 1
Legislature, and passed finally by that body on |
Thursday morning. It is fur from being jier- !
feet ballot reform and has many disadvantages, |
but It is as much as could lie expected from a •
Legislature controlled by the Republican ma
chine.
The bill does not go into effect until March 1, i
IHWS2. It provides for an official ballot to be
printed and distributed by the County Commis- j
sioners. A political party which polled three
ler cent, of the lurgest entire vote east for any I
offiee in the State at the preceding general clec- ;
tion will be entitled to have its nominations ;
printed on the officiul ballot for both State and !
local elections. New parties, or old ones which I
do not poll three per cent, of the vote, and 1
independent nominations can receive recogni
tion on the official ballot by filing what art?
called "nomination papers."
The number of signatures required for these ;
papers is as follows: For State officers one-half !
of one per cent, of the largest vote for any
officer elected in the State at the preceding 1
election, or about 2300 signatures; for district, |
county, ward or township nominations 3 per
cent, of the largest entire vote for uny officer !
elected in that district at the last preceding |
election. Party nominations must lie sworn to ]
by the convention officers, and nomination ;
papers must be sworn to by five of the signers.
A standard time is fixed within which ail
nominations must be filed, as follows: For
State, Congressional, Representative, Senatorial
and Judicial nominations, fifty-six days before
election for party candidates and forty-nine
dayß before election for Indejiendent nomina
tions; for city and county nominations, forty
two and thirty-five days before election; and
for borough and township officers and election
officers and school directors in the same, ten
and Bcvcn days respectively. The County Com
missioners and township auditors will decide
upon the validity of nominations. Those in
valid canßot be printed on the official ballot.
It is provided that in designating the party
IHilicy of independent nominations no words
shall be used "identical with or similar to the
words used for a like purpose" on party nomi
nations. It is thought this would prohibit the
use of "Independent Republican" and Inde
pendent Democrat"
In printing the ballots party nominations will
be arranged in groups, all the Democrats being
kept together and all the Republicans being
kept together. But Prohibitionists and Inde
pendents will be arranged in the alphabetical
order of candidates' names for each office. A
cross mark (X) placed after the work "Repub
lican" or "Democrat" at the head of the party
nominations will indicate a vote for every candl-
date on the party ticket, but for Independents
the voter must indicate with u cross mark (X)
each candidate he votes for.
The machinery for carrying the law into
effect is similar to that of all other States which
have the Australian system. Booths, railing,
voting In an open room, are all provided for.
The count is conducted in the presence of the
party watchers.
The disability feature is very loosely drawn.
It provides that any voter who shall declare to
the election judge that by reason of disability
he desires assistance in the preparation of his
ballot the voter may select a qualitiod voter of
the district to accompany him into the itooth.
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION.
The constitutional convention bill provides
tirst that the people shall decide next Novem
ler whether they desire a convention. At the
same time they will vote for delegates, and if
the convention is to be held these (lelegate g
will serve. The convention will consist of 177
delegates, of which 27 will be elected at large
and 150 by districts. A voter can
only vote for 18 delegates at large and two dis
trict delegates. This would give the Republi
cans 111 members of the convention and the
Democrats t>o, busing the result on the present
politicul complexion of the districts. Compen
sation of members is fixed at SISOO with mileage
and postage. The convention wiil meet in
Harrisburg on the first TIM sday in December,
and no limitation is put upon its work. It can
frame un entire new constitution.
REVENUE LAW.
The Boyer revenue bill is expected to in
crease the State's revenues about $3,000,000 a
year It increases the personal property tax
from 3 mills to 4 mills, increases the tux on om
nibuses from 3 mills to 4, increases the tux on
capitul stock of corporations from 3 mills to 5
mills, and changes the method of computing
the tax from the dividend basis to the actual
value-basis. This change of system will iu it
self greatly increase the revenue. It will re
turn to the counties three-fourths of the per
sonal property tax collected from such counties
instead of one-third, as at present. The tax on
bank stock is increased from 0 to 8 mills for
such institutions as elect to pay State taxes in
lieu of local taxes. Banks that do not so elect
will pay 4 mills on the actuul value of their
stock.
The new registration law strikes ut the root
of ballot-box stuffing and repeating, as it will
prevent pudded assessors' lists. In the first
place, an assessor will lie required to muke an
original canvass instead of taking the list of
the previous year and attempting to correct it.
As a matter of fact many assessors never struck
off the names of persons who had died or moved
away, and it was thus possible for repeaters to
vote upon these false numos. A second pre
caution is to require assessors to arrange the
nnuies upon the list that is exposed for public
inspection at the polling places according to
street numbers. Thus it can be seen at a
glance where colonization Is attempted. The
assessments will be made io May and December,
with opportunity for changes of residence to
be corrected In September.
I.IQUOR LEGISLATION.
A measure, known as the Brooks wholesale
liquor bill, provides that the license fee in first
and seeond-elftss cities shall be SIOOO, In third
class cities SSOO, in other cities S3OO. in boroughs
S2OO, and in townships SIOO. This relates only
to wholesale. The money will go to the State.
Deli very-wagons must be plainly marked with
the name of the dealer. Distillers and manu
facturers must not sell less than one gallon < f
spirltous liquor; wholesale dealers and store
keepers must not sell less than one quart spirii-
OUB, or malt liquors less than twelve i int bot
tles. Brewers or distillers need not show the
necessity fer their places of business. The
Court must hear evidence for and ugainst an
applicant, and has discretion ns to whether the
license is neoess&Jy for the accommodation of
the public and as to the character of the appl -
eant.
Among the other bills paased finally
were the following, some of which may
he of local interest :
Making Saturday afternoon, from June 15 to
September 15, a legal half holiday. It is optional
with banks whether they shall close at noon,
that question being left to their director?.
Notes or drafts falling due on Saturday cannot
be protested until the next business day if not
paid before noon of Saturday.
Making an appropriation for the expens< s of
the Factory Inspectors for the years 1800 and
1831, which was overlooked by the lust Legis
lature.
An act providing for the appointment of a
commission consisting of eight miners, three
operators, three mining engineers and two
inspectors, to revise the anthracite mine and
ventilation laws
Supplementary to the act to prevent voxr -
tious attachments by providiug that a conns* 1
fee of at least $lO shall be taxed as pail of tl c
costs which the defendant shall be entitled to
recover from u plaintiff whose action sha 1
have been discontinued liecausc brought for
the purpose of annoying a defendant.
Permitting all soldiers who cannot obtuin a
livelihood otherwise to peddle by procuring a
license for which no fee shall be charged.
To authorize boroughs to manufacture elec
tricity for commercial purposes.
Providing that sheriff's sales may lie adver
tised in newspapers printed in the German
language.
Authorizing the assessment of an annual
poor tax upon unnaturalized persons.
Amending the borough tax system so that
taxes can be levied for electric lights
Appropriating $300,000 for the Columbian
World's Fair, and authorizing a Commission of
thirty persons to be appointed by the Governor
to mauage Pennsylvania's exhibit.
Providing that the law of 1820 against horse
racing shall"not apply to horses used in trotting
by regularly organized associations.
Providing for a uniform form of contract or
policy of fire insurance for till compunics
taking fire risks within the Commonwealth.
Under its provisions all fire policies will bo
alike in form, conditions and exemptions allow
ed insurers.
Amcnding the law of June 1, 18851, allowing
liens for wages so that clerks and laborers of
all kinds shall have preferred claim against
insolvent debtors. Such claims can only cover
six months services.
Amending the act prescribing the manner in
which municipalities may arrange for an in
crease of their indebtedness.
Requiring children between the ages of 8 and
12 years to attend a public, parochial or private
school for ut least sixteen weeks a year. Fail
ure to comply with the law is punishable by a
fine of $5.
To prevent persons from unlawfully wear
ing the insignia of the Loyal Legion and
badges of the Grand Army and the shield of
the Veteran Union Legion.