REPORT

AND

OFFICIAL OPINIONS

OF THE

ATTORNEY GENERAL

OF

PENNSYLVANIA

FOR THE

TWO YEARS ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1912.

JOHN C. BELL,

Attorney General.

HARRISBURG, PA.:

WM. STANLEY RAY, STATE PRINTER

REPORT OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL

FOR THE

Two Years Ending December 31, 1912.

Office of the Attorney General,
Harrisburg, Pa., January 1, 1913.

To the Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth

of Pennsylvania:

I have the honor to submit a summary and report of the official business transacted by the Attorney General during the two years ending December 31st, 1912.

I entered upon the performance of the duties of the office of Attorney General, on the seventeenth of January, 1911.

Hon. J. E. B. Cunningham was re-appointed and commissioned Deputy Attorney General, which position he now occupies. Hon. Wm. M. Hargest was re-appointed and continued as Assistant Deputy Attorney General, and continues to serve in that office.

By the Act of March 15, 1911, P. L. 21, the office of Second Assistant Deputy Attorney General was created, and Hon. Wm. N. Trinkle was appointed to that office and continues to occupy the same.

I retained in their several positions the office staff of my prede

cessor.

The amount of collections shows, to some extent, the increase in business of this Department. During the two years ending January 31, 1911, my predecessor reported the collection through the Department of $1,180,711.16. During the two years just ended, the collections made through this Department have amounted to $4,436,686.38.

Of this amount, however, $1,300,000.00 was the amount covered in the civil suits growing out of the so-called Capitol graft cases, and was paid into the Treasury by my predecessor on January 10, 1911. This leaves, however, $3,136,686.38, collected in the usual course of business through this office during the two years just ended, as compared with $1,180,711.16 during the two years ending Dec. 31, 1910.

SUMMARY OF BUSINESS OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S DEPARTMENT FROM JANUARY 1, 1911, TO DECEMBER 31,

1912.

Quo warranto proceedings in Common Pleas of Dauphin
County,

......

104

8

7

...

15

Equity proceedings in Common Pleas of Dauphin County,
In all other counties,

Actions in assumpsit instituted by the Commonwealth in the
Common Pleas of Dauphin County,

...

Actions of assumpsit brought against the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania, defendant,

Actions in assumpsit brought by the Commonwealth against
boroughs to recover penalties imposed for violation of the
decrees of the State Department of Health,

Orders to show cause, etc., against insolvent companies and associations,

..

226

1

4

....

30 7 19

1

...

Mandamus proceedings in Common Pleas of Dauphin County,
Cases argued in the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania,

Cases argued in the Superior Court of Pennsylvania,

........

Cases argued in the U. S. Circuit Court, Eastern District of
Pennsylvania,

Appeals from the decision of the State Commissioner of Health,
Tax appeals in the Common Pleas of Dauphin County,
Bridge proceedings under the Act of June 3, 1895, and supple-
ments,

1

1

765

......

2

Insurance charters approved by the Attorney General,
Bank charters approved by the Attorney General,
Applications for sewerage approved by the Attorney General,
Formal opinions rendered in writing,

Cases now pending in the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania,
Cases now pending in the Supreme Court of United States, ....

Note. Of the above amount the sum of $1,388,587.28 was collected during the period extending from January 1st, 1911, to January 18th, 1911, during the term of Hon. M. Hampton Todd as Attorney General.

...

$4,436,686 38