APPENDIX. VETOES By the Governor of Bill and Resolutions Passed by the General Assembly, at the Extra ordinary Session of 1906. ( 109 ) VETOES Veto No. 1. AN ACT To provide for the assessment of poll taxes in cities of the first and second classes, and to repeal laws inconsistent with its provisions. Section 1. Be it enacted, &c., That the registration commissioners in cities of the first and second classes of this Commonwealth shall designate one of the registrars, appointed by them in each election district, to assess poll taxes upon the male inhabitants of said cities, who are above the age of twenty-one years. Section 2. Upon the first registration day in September, in such cities, it shall be the duty of the registrar so designated to immediately assess for taxation every person who is registered as a qualified elector. The county commissioners shall furnish to the said registrar a blank book, marked "List of Taxables," in which he shall copy the names, in alphabetical order, in the same manner in which they are recorded on the register. It shall also be his duty to enter in said book, on said day, the names of any other male inhabitants over twenty-one years of age, who shall request that they be so recorded and assessed, either by personal appearance or by written application; and immediately to assess upon such persons the poll tax now provided by law in such cities. The said list of taxables shall then be returned to the office of the county commissioners, who shall furnish one exact copy thereof to the office of the receiver of taxes or county treasurer. The original shall remain on file in the office of the county commissioners. Section 3. It shall be the duty of the said registrar, so designated to perform the duty of assessing taxables, to be present at the polling-place, on the sixty-second day preceding the February election, between the hours of seven and ten ante meridian, and four and ten post meridian, for the purpose of receiving requests from male inhabitants above the age of twenty-one years to be placed upon the list of taxables. He shall on said day record in the list of taxables, which shall have been returned to him by the county commissioners for that purpose, the names of such additional persons as shall request that they shall be so assessed for taxation. He shall then return the list of taxables to the county commissioners, who shall in like manner furnish a copy of the same to the office of the receiver of taxes or county treasurer. The registrar, so designated to make the assessment of taxables, shall be paid the sum of five dollars out of the city funds, by the city treasurer for his services on the sixty-second day prior to the election in February. Section 4. The presence of the name of a male inhabitant upon ( 111 ) the list of taxables shall not be conclusive evidence of his qualifications as an elector. Section 5. The office of assessor of electors, for purposes of taxation in cities of the first and second classes, is hereby abolished. Section 6. Any registrar who shall, upon request either in person or in writing, refuse to assess a male inhabitant above the age of twenty-one years, for the purpose of taxation, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and, upon conviction thereof, shall be sentenced to pay a fine not exceeding five hundred dollars. Section 7. All acts or parts of acts inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Executive Department, Harrisburg, March 5, 1906. I file herewith, in the office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth, with my objections thereto, House Bill No. 21, entitled "An act to provide for the assessment of poll taxes in cities of the first and second classes, and to repeal laws inconsistent with its provisions." Section five of the proposed act provides that "The office of assessor of electors for purposes of taxation in cities of the first and second classes is hereby abolished," and the act provides another system for the assessment for taxation of every person who is registered as a qualified elector in such cities. The abolishment of assessors of electors for purposes of taxation is not one of the subjects designated in the proclamation of the Governor calling the extraordinary session, and does not appear to be necessarily connected with any of these subjects, or even to be germane to them. The purpose of the proposed act would, therefore, be within the prohibition of Article III, Section twenty-five, of the Constitution. Section six of the proposed act makes the refusal of any registrar to assess a male inhabitant above the age of twenty-one years, for the purpose of taxation a misdemeanor, subject to a fine not exceeding $500.00. In the title to the proposed act there is no reference whatever to this subject, and the act is, therefore, in violation of Article III, Section three, of the Constitution, which provides that the subject "shall be clearly expressed in its title." SAML. W. PENNYPACKER. Veto No. 2. In the House of Representatives, Whereas, There is a demand for a Constitutional Convention to revise the Constitution of this Commonwealth; therefore be it Resolved (if the Senate concur), That the Governor of this Commonwealth be informed that it is the desire of the Legislature that he shall issue another supplementary proclamation notifying the Legislature to consider legislation upon the subject of a Constitutional Convention. THOMAS H. GARVIN, Chief Clerk House of Representatives. The foregoing resolution was concurred in January 23, 1906. FRANK A. JUDD, Chief Clerk of the Senate. In the House of Representatives, Whereas, The Governor of the Commonwealth has convened the Legislature in extraordinary session, for the purpose of considering legislation upon certain specified subjects mentioned in his calls of November 11, 1905, and January 9, 1906; And whereas, In addition to the subjects therein specified, there is pressing need of legislation upon other certain subjects; Therefore, be it resolved by the House of Representatives (if the Senate concur) That the Governor of the Commonwealth be requested to supplement his said calls by another, designating the following additional subjects for the consideration of the General Assembly, with a view to appropriate legislation at the present extraordinary session with respect to them, to wit: First-To provide for the retention by the respective counties of this Commonwealth of all personal property and license taxes now paid by them to the State. Second-To enable trolley roads in this Commonwealth to carry freight. Third-To provide a system of taxation in this Commonwealth that shall be uniform and equal on all classes of property, to the end that the railroad companies and other corporations shall pay the same tax on the dollar of value as the farmer, the businessman, the laborer, and the mechanic. Fourth-To revise and reform the general election laws of the Commonwealth. THOMAS H. GARVIN, Chief Clerk House of Representatives. The foregoing resolution was concurred in January 23, 1906. FRANK A. JUDD, Chief Clerk of the Senate. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Executive Department, Harrisburg, January 31, 1906. To the Honorable the House of Representatives of the Common wealth of Pennsylvania: Gentlemen: I have before me two resolutions of the House of Representatives, one of which was adopted January 22, 1906, and 8-Laws. |