Fedorowicz v. Brobst

Citations

• 254 Pa. 338
• 98 A. 973
• 1916 Pa. LEXIS 730

Syllabus

<p>Constitutional law — Statutes—Insufficient title — Constitution of Pennsylvania, Article III, Section 8 — Imprisonment at hard labor —Support of prisoner’s dependents — Liability of county — Act of June 12,1918, P. L. 502, Sec. 2.</p> <p>1. The title to an act of assembly need not be a complete index to its contents, embodying all the distinct provisions of the bill, but if it does not fairly give notice of the contemplated legislation, so as reasonably to lead to inquiry as to what is contained in the body of the bill, Section 3, of Article III, of the Constitution is violated and the legislation in disregard of it must fall.</p> <p>2. The title to the Act of June 12, 1913, P. L. 502, relating to the payment of certain sums to the families of persons imprisoned at hard labor does not disclose the legislative purpose to impose upon counties liability for payment to the families of such persons. So much of the act as provides that where the funds of the institution where such prisoners are confined are insufficient for such payments, they shall be charged to and paid by the county from which the defendant was committed, violates Article III, Section 3, of the Constitution of Pennsylvania and is void.</p>