Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1899-06-01
HARRISBURG.

The famous Bird Book" case afford
ed much amusement for the grave JUS
tices of the Supreme Court in Harris
burg. Monday. Both sides :nterJected
much humor into the argument by
their remarks on certain features OF the
document. Attorney General Elkln
represented the Commonwealth and ex-
ATTORNEY General Hensel and ex-Speak-
er Walton appeared for ex-State Print
er Busch.
Mr. Elkin told the court how the book
had been padded by exState Economic
Zoologist Warren from a pamphlet OF
1913 pages, with two illustrations, at a
cost to the State of $498.24 to docu-
ment of oyer 600 pages at cost OF s9'-
666. So. He showed that the Superln-
tendent of Printing had never seen the
copy furnished by DR.. Warren for the
publication. and that he never furnish
ed any order for the procuring OF the
numerous plates, which alone cost 500
337. 49,
Mr.. Hensel exposed the loose manner
in which the State printing is conduct
ed, and proved that written order tor
the work had been given by ex-Superln-
tendent of Public Printing Robinson.
He said that the superintendent very
seldom takes the time to examine the
COPY or documents furnished him by
the departments.
If this contention does nothing else II
may lead to reform in the State print
ing. The work is supposed to be done
under the direction of a superintendent
at salary of s., 900 year, with CLERK
who is paid 81 900. Captain Thomas
G. Sample, of Allegheny, is the superln'
tendent, and it is doubtful If he spends
more than three days month at MS
Office. The work is left to his clerk and
the State Printer, who does the printlns
and binding by contract and does practi'
cally as he pleases.
Governor and Mrs. Stone entertained
the Judges of the Supreme Court at din
ner Tuesday evening at the Executive
Mansion The large dining room was
beautifully decorated with choice flow
ers and plants from the Capitol Park
Conservatory. This was the Govern
or's first dinner to the court, and the
last at the mansion at which Chief JUS
tice Sterrett will attend in his official
capacity He will retire from the
bench next January, and he is now
holding his final court in the Middle dis
trict The Court heard arguments that
day in a number of cases in order that
it might clear the calendar as quickly as
possible and get away from Harrisburg,
Covers were laid at the dinner for %.
In the Supreme Court party were Chief
Justice Sterrett, Associate justices
Breen, McCulloD, Mitchell, Dean and
Fell; Prothonotary William Pearson, OF
Harrisburg; Reporter William G. Kress,
of Lock Haven, and Assistant Reporter
Edward p Allinson, of Philadelphia
There were also present Secretary
Griest, Attorney General Elkin, Dep
uty Secretary of the Commonwealth
Beitler, Deputy Attorney General
Fleitz, Private Secretary Gerwig,
Judge John B. Mcpherson, of the
United States District Court, Philadel-
phia; Judges Simonton and Weiss, OF
Harrisburg; Peter A B. Widener, OF
Philadelphia; Lyman d. Gilbert and
Congressman Olmstead, of Harrisburg
W. P. Potter, of Pittsburg, and DR.. d.
Percy Hickling. of Washington.
On Wednesday informations were
made before Alderman Maurer against
certain persons charged with conspir-
acy. perjury and corrupt solicitation in
connection with the contest for United
States Senator and the consideration OF
the McCarrell jury bill in the recent
Legislature The informations Were
prepared by Charles III. Bergner, pri-
vate counsel for the House Prosecuting
committee. and are based ON the testi-
mony taken before the Legislative
committee and its reports to the House
of Representatives.