and seventy-five cents per half foot of water. An increase of ten per centum from the said rates shall be paid to the pilot whenever he shall speak an inward-bound vessel at any point east of Five Fathom Bank Lightship, or north of Hereford Inlet Lighthouse, or south of Fenwick's Island Lighthouse; and a deduction of ten per centum from the said rates shall be made when an inward-bound vessel is first spoken by the pilot inside of a straight line drawn from Cape May Light to Cape Henlopen Light: Provided always, That a vessel inward-bound to any port or place on the bay or river Delaware, which is not spoken or offered the services of a pilot outside of a straight line drawn from Cape Henlopen Light to Cape May Light, shall be exempt from the duty of taking a pilot; and the vessel, as well as her master, owner, agent, or consignee, shall be exempt from the duty of paying pilotage or half-pilotage, or any penalty whatsoever in case of her neglect or refusal to do so.

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,

Executive Chamber, Harrisburg, March 19, 1915.

To the Honorable, the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Gentlemen: I return herewith, without my approval, House bill No. 256, entitled "An act to further amend an act approved the thirtieth day of March, one thousand eight hundred and ninetynine, entitled 'An act to amend the first section of an act, approved the eleventh day of May, one thousand eight hundred and eightynine, entitled 'A further supplement to an act, entitled 'An act to establish a board of wardens for the Port of Philadelphia, and for the regulation of pilots and pilotage, and for other purposes,' approved March twenty-ninth, one thousand eight hundred and three, and for regulating the rates of pilotage and number of pilots."

The intent of this bill is to increase the fees of pilots on the Delaware River. These pilots perform in a capable manner an important service. They deserve a liberal compensation for their services. In the present condition of business it does not appear that they are now underpaid. Moreover, this is an unfortunate year, not only for them, but for all parties in interest in the commerce of the river. An earnest effort is being made to increase the business of the Port of Philadelphia. In this increase these pilots will have a substantial share. All increased fees at this time would interfere with the general attractiveness to shippers of our port. If these pilots will bear with patience their share of a general depression, they will win the good will of all citizens; and, as soon as it can be done in justice, they should be given assistance. The time to increase charges in the Port of Philadelphia is inopportune. For these reasons the bill is not approved.

MARTIN G. BRUMBAUGH.

No. 5.

AN ACT

Designating the Mountain-Laurel (Kalmia latifolia) as the flower emblem, or State flower, of his Commonwealth.

Section 1. Be it enacted, &c., That the Mountain-Laurel (Kalmia latifolia) shall be the State flower, or flower emblem, of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,

Executive Chamber, Harrisburg, March 25, 1915.

To the Honorable, the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Gentlemen: I return herewith, without my approval, House bill No. 40, entitled "An act designating the Mountain-Laurel (Kalmia latifolia) as the flower emblem, or State flower, of this Commonwealth."

This bill proposes to establish the Mountain-Laurel (Kalmia latifolia) as the State flower. No flower should be made the official emblem of the Commonwealth unless such flower is clearly desired by many of our citizens and is supported by a wealth of sentiment. The essence of the action is sentiment. There is no deep or abiding sentiment for this flower. While the flower is beautiful, it is not interrelated in any important way with the life or history of the Commonwealth.

Scientific authority supported by personal observation pronounces the leaves of this plant poisonous.

Moreover, it is scarcely worthy this great Commonwealth to select as a State flower one already chosen as a State flower of a sister State. Kalmia latifolia has been the State flower of Connecticut for eight years.

For these reasons the bill is not approved.

MARTIN G. BRUMBAUGH.

No. 6.
AN ACT

Validating certain ordinances of cities and boroughs and the contracts or payments made in pursuance thereof.

Section 1. Be it enacted, &c., That all ordinances of a city or borough, heretofore becoming law and not recorded in the books kept for such purpose, as required by law, are hereby validated: if (a)

such ordinances have been legally published, and if (b) the clerk or his successor in office, whose duty it was to record such ordinances, does so record them within six months from the approval of this act. All contracts or payments heretofore made in pursuance of any such ordinance are validated.

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,

Executive Chamber, Harrisburg, March 26, 1915.

To the Honorable, the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Gentlemen: I return herewith, without my approval, House bill No. 213, entitled "An act validating certain ordinances of cities and boroughs and the contracts or payments made in pursuance thereof." This bill contemplates the validating of certain ordinances and contracts that were not heretofore recorded in the manner required by law. In other words, it proposes by legislative enactment to correct the mistakes of omission by certain officials. It seems to me that the proper recourse in all such cases lies with the city and borough authorities employing such officials. The courts are the capable instruments of correcting, rather than the General Assembly. For these reasons the bill is not approved.

MARTIN G. BRUMBAUGH

No. 7.

AN ACT

Relating to the admission of attorneys at law to the Supreme and Superior Courts. Section 1. Be it enacted, &c., That any attorney at law of this Commonwealth, desiring to be admitted to practice before the Supreme and Superior Courts, shall be entitled to such admission by filing due proof of heretofore having been admitted, and continuously practiced for three years or more before a court of record in any county or counties of this Commonwealth, together with affidavits from at least three regular practicing attorneys in the county from which such attorney desires admission, and who are entitled to practice before the Supreme Court, setting forth that such attorney is personally known to them, that he is of reputable professional standing and of good moral character, and that they recommend his admission.

Section 2. All acts or parts of acts inconsistent with this act are repealed.

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,

Executive Chamber, Harrisburg, March 31, 1915.

To the Honorable, the Senate of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Gentlemen: I return herewith, without my approval, Senate bill No. 237, entitled "An act relating to the admission of attorneys at law to the Supreme and Superior Courts."

The admission of an attorney to practice before a court is a judicial act.

The intent of this act is to compel the appellate courts to accept the judicial act of a lower court. This is clearly in contravention of our whole judicial procedure and is unconstitutional. For these reasons the bill is not approved.

MARTIN G. BRUMBAUGH.

No. 8.

AN ACT

Authorizing the district attorneys of certain counties to appoint a secretary; prescribing the duties; fixing the salary, and providing for payment of the same. Section 1. Be it enacted, &c., That in all counties of this Commonwealth having one million, and less than one million two hundred thousand, inhabitants, the district attorney shall have authority to appoint a secretary to assist the district attorney in the discharge of his duties; said secretary shall receive a salary of fifteen hundred dollars ($1,500) per annum, which shall be paid out of the county treasury.

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,

Executive Chamber, Harrisburg, March 31, 1915.

To the Honorable, the Senate of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Gentlemen: I return herewith, without my approval, Senate bill No. 46, entitled "An act authorizing the district attorneys of certain counties to appoint a secretary; prescribing the duties; fixing the salary, and providing for payment of the same."

This bill proposes to create an additional officer in the office of the district attorney of Allegheny County. Inasmuch as Senate bill No. 47, which I have approved, makes provision for additional officers in this department of the county's service I do not deem it expedient at this time to add this additional expense upon the taxpayers of the county.

For these reasons the bill is not approved.

MARTIN G. BRUMBAUGH.

No. 9.

A JOINT RESOLUTION

Authorizing the printing and binding of the report of the Commission to consider the Revision and Amendment of the Penal Laws of Pennsylvania.

Section 1. Be it enacted, &c., That the Superintendent of Public Printing and Binding is directed to cause to be printed and bound in pamphlet form five thousand copies of the report of the Commission to consider the Revision and Amendment of the Penal Laws of Pennsylvania, which was authorized by an act approved the twenty-fifth day of July, one thousand nine hundred and thirteen.

Section 2. The copies, when printed and bound, shall be delivered to the Division of Distribution of Documents, and shall be distributed as follows: The Governor may requisition five hundred copies; each Senator and Representative, ten copies; the State Librarian, five hundred copies; the Legislative Reference Bureau, two hundred copies; and the Commission, the remaining number.

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,

Executive Chamber, Harrisburg, April 2, 1915.

To the Honorable, the Senate of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Gentlemen: I return herewith, without my approval, Senate bill No. 247, entitled "A joint resolution authorizing the printing and binding of the report of the Commission to consider the Revision and Amendment of the Penal Laws of Pennsylvania."

This bill is identical in its provisions with House bill No. 410, which does not require Executive action before April 10, 1915.

Inasmuch as this bill does not define any limit of cost in publication, I cannot approve it in its present form. If, as I suggest, House bill No. 410 is recalled and properly amended, the bill would have favorable attention.

For these reasons this bill is not approved.

MARTIN G. BRUMBAUGH.

No. 10.

AN ACT

Validating certain sales of real estate, heretofore made by guardians, administrators, and executors by decree of orphans' court.

Section 1. Be it enacted, &c., That all sales of real estate by guardians, administrators, and executors, heretofore made under any decree of orphans' court, are hereby validated, if a bond was given by the guardian, administrator, or executor, duly approved by the orphans' court ordering said sale. This act shall not affect any legal proceedings now pending in any court of this Commonwealth.