The prizes awarded by the authorities of the Exposition were numerous and creditable to the State. The Commission will return to the State Treasury out of the appropriation of $300,000 made by the last Legislature a considerable sum, approximating $30,000.

In 1905, there will be held in Portland, Oregon, the Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition to commemorate the one hundredth anniversary of the exploration of the Oregon country, and in 1907, there will be held in Virginia an Exposition to commemorate the tercentenary of the Settlement of Jamestown, the earliest settlement of English people in North America. I call your attention to these important events for such action as you may deem wise.

Such legislation ought to be adopted as will aid in ensuring the maintenance of the health of the people by providing adequate means for the prevention of the pollution of the streams and water supplies, the prevention of the spread of typhoid fever, diphtheria and similar diseases through the dissemination of their germs, and providing for the registration of births, deaths and cases of contagious and infectious diseases. The present system which imposes upon the Boards of School Directors in many counties the duties of local boards of health is inadequate and needs revision.

The affairs of Pennsylvania are in such shape as to be a source of legitimate pride in the present and hopefulness for the future, but it is my duty to add a note of warning. The volume of laws passed at the last session of the General Assembly evidenced great care and a high degree of intelligence upon the part of the legislators responsible for them. They compare favorably with the legislation enacted by any legislative body in the history of the country, whether in nation or state. It is important that there shall be no retrogression, and no falling away from the standard then maintained. While the financial condition of the State is prosperous and promising, and while the real needs of the government should be provided for without parsimony, there should be scrupulous care that none of its resources are misdirected, or wasted in mere extravagance. Providence has so willed it that in the advocacy of those principles that now dominate the conduct of the national government, Pennsylvania has the leading position. In a certain sense then she may be properly said to represent the national view. In the present Legislature, there is, to an extent never known before, a preponderance of those who are in accord with the principles to which expression is to be given in the broad field of national development. Wise men are steadied by the possession of power. With large majorities come great responsi bilities. Those who are opposed to the principles you support will have their eyes turned to Pennsylvania, and will be quick to discover your mistakes, if any are made, and eager to take advantage of them. There is much merit in few laws and in few changes in those which

have become known to the people. A wise chancellor of Sweden, Oxenstiern, who was largely responsible for the Swedish settlements along the Delaware, wrote in 1654: "Though time and variety of accidents may occasion some defects in old lawes, yett it is better they should be borne with than an inundation of new lawes to be lett in which causeth incertainty, ignorance, different expositions, and repugnancyes in the lawes, and are the parents of contention." A recent English writer, Anthony Trollope, has said: "The law is generally very wise and prudent."

I am catisfied you will bear in mind these truths and so conduct yourselves that the outcome of your deliberations and consultations shall prove Pennsylvania stiil to be what she was in the time of her philanthropic and far seeing founder and has been in many fateful crises since, a beacon and an example to her sister states and to all men seeking to advance human welfare over the world.

SAML. W. PENNYPACKER.

"A."

AN ACT

Declaring the habitual publication and dissemination by newspapers, journals, periodicals, pamphlets or circulars of falsehood, defamation and scandal to be a public nuisance, and providing for the abatement thereof.

Section I. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in General Assembly met, and it is hereby enacted by the authority of the same, That the habitual publication and dissemination by newspapers, journals, periodicals, pamphlets or circulars of falsehood, defamation and scandal, detrimental to the administration of public affairs, whether state, county or municipal, or injurious to the reputation and character of public officials, or of private persons, be declared to be a public nuisance.

Section II. Any six persons, citizens of this Commonwealth, may present a petition to the Attorney General of the Commonwealth, setting forth the designation and description of the publication constituting such a public nuisance, the fact that it habitually publishes and disseminates falsehood, defamation and scandal, giving the particulars and details in at least three instances of false, defamatory or scandalous statements or representations so published, and further setting forth the special injury, if there be such injury. Thereupon, if in the judgment of the Attorney General there shall

appear to be a prima facie case established, requiring his intervention, it shall be his duty to file a bill in equity in the name of the Commonwealth in the Court of Common Pleas of the county in which such publication has been made, setting forth the facts and praying for the abatement of the nuisance.

Section III. Upon the trial of the cause, if the evidence shall show the habitual publication and dissemination of false, defamatory or scandalous statements or representations, whether in the form of news, comment or illustration, it shall be the duty of the court to make a decree directing the suppression of the publication of the newspaper or newspapers, journal or journals, periodical or periodicals, pamphlet or pamphlets, or circular or circulars, in whole or in part, as in its judgment may be necessary for the abatement of the nuisance.

Section IV. The Attorney General is hereby authorized upon filing vouchers with the Auditor General to receive from the State Treasury such sums as may be required for the costs and expenses of all such proceedings prosecuted by him.

Section V. All acts or parts of acts inconsistent herewith be and the same are hereby repealed.

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,
Executive Department,
Harrisburg, January 3, 1905.

To the Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania:

Gentlemen: The following acts of the General Assembly, passed during the session of 1903, were approved and signed by me within the thirty days after the final adjournment of the Legislature on the 16th day of April, A. D. 1903, viz.:

April 21, 1903:

Supplementary to an act, entitled "An act conferring upon certain fidelity, insurance, safety deposit, trust and savings companies the powers and privileges of corporations incorporated under the provisions of section twenty-nine of an act, entitled, 'An act to provide for the incorporation and regulation of certain corporations,' approved April twenty-ninth, Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, and of the supplements thereto," approved the twenty-seventh day of June, one thousand eight hundred and ninety-five.

To amend section six of the act of July the ninth, one thousand eight hundred and ninety-seven (Pamphlet Laws 223), by providing that, where objections to nomination certificate or paper are not sustained by any court, the petitioner shall be compelled to pay the costs.

To establish county associations of school-directors.

Authorizing and requiring county commissioners of the several counties of this Commonwealth to have the county bridges of their respective counties painted, and the bolts of the same tightened, as often as may be necessary.

Relating to the collection of school taxes in boroughs and townships in this Commonwealth; requiring collectors to make monthly statements to secretary of the school-board of amounts collected, dates and names of parties from whom collected, and to pay said taxes monthly to treasurer; and providing for meeting of schooldirectors and tax-collector, and for the collection and payment of all school taxes to treasurer on or before first Monday of June, in each year, and prescribing a penalty for the violation of the same.

To amend the first, second, third, fourth and seventh sections of an act, approved June third, one thousand eight hundred and ninetyfive, entitled "An act authorizing the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to rebuild county bridges over navigable rivers, and other streams, which have been declared public highways by act of Assembly, where such streams have been destroyed by flood, fire or other casualty; providing for the appointment of viewers and inspectors, and the payment of the cost of rebuilding such bridges.

To amend section twenty-two of an act, entitled "An act relating to counties and townships, and county and township officers," approved the fifteenth day of April, Anno Domini eighteen hundred and thirty-four; fixing the time when the county commissioners shall publish the annual statement of the receipts and expenditures of the county for each preceding year.

April 22, 1903:

To repeal an act, entitled "A further supplement to an act relative to parks in the City of Harrisburg, approved the fourth day of April, one thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven," approved March twenty-fifth, Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and seventy-three.

Providing the manner by which independent school districts of this Commonwealth, established by act of Assembly or the courts of quarter sessions, may be abolished, and providing for the disposi tion of the school property of such district.

To repeal an act, entitled "A supplement to an act relative to parks in the City of Harrisburg, approved the fourth day of April, one thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven," approved the eighth day of May, Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and seventytwo.

To repeal an act, entitled "An act relating to parks in the City of Harrisburg," approved the fourth day of April, Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.

To repeal an act, entitled “An act to extend the road laws of Bradford County to the townships of McIntyre and Lewis, in the County of Lycoming," approved the tenth day of April, Anno

Domini one thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, so far as the same relates to McIntyre township.

To repeal an act, entitled "An act relative to the expenditure of the road taxes in Fayette County, and for other purposes," approved the fifth day of May, Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and thirty-two, and for other purposes, approved the eleventh day of March, Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and forty-five, which provisions were extended to the township of London Grove, in the County of Chester, so far as the same relates to the township of London Grove, in the County of Chester.

Amending an act approved April seventeenth, one thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, entitled "A supplement to an act relating to the sale and conveyance of real estate," approved the eighteenth day of April, one thousand eight hundred and fifty-three; providing that deeds may be acknowledged before any justice of the peace, notary public or other officer having authority to take acknowledg ment of deeds or other instruments of writing.

To amend an act approved the twenty-third day of June, one thousand eight hundred and eighty-five, entitled "A supplement to an act to consolidate, revise and amend the penal laws of this Commonwealth," approved the thirty-first day of March, one thousand eight hundred and sixty; prohibiting the disposing of property to defraud creditors, and prohibiting the removing of any property out of any county to prevent the same from being levied upon or sold on execution.

To amend the twenty-first section of an act, entitled "An act to provide for the more effectual protection of the public health in the several municipalities of this Commonwealth," approved the eighteenth day of June, Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and ninety-five; limiting the time in which actions may be brought for the recovery of fines or penalties under said act.

Relating to new trials in cases of murder.

To amend an act, entitled "An act to regulate the publication, binding and distribution of public documents of this Commonwealth," approved the second day of June, Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and ninety-nine.

Amending an act, entitled "An act amending an act, entitled 'An act regulating the election of overseers of the poor,'" approved the fourth day of June, Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and eighty-three, so as to permit the election of one female overseer of the poor.

Enabling the burgess and council of any borough or incorporated town, by ordinance, to annex to the borough or incorporated town adjacent territory, upon petition of a majority of the freehold owners thereof.

To provide a Miners' Home or Home for old, crippled and helpless employes of the coal mines of Pennsylvania; for the naming of trustees, with power to purchase land, erect buildings thereon and 3 Sen. Jour.