The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1903-01-29
BALLOT REFORM BILL
Drafted by Committee Appointed
BY Senator Quay.
PENNYPAckER's NEW SECRETARY
How Bromley Wharton Came to Be
Appointed-Liquor Bills to Be In.
troduced In the Leeislature-other
Items Of Interest at Harrisburg.
Especial Correspondence

Harrisburg, Pa, Jan. 2b.-The nrSt
practical working week of the pres.
ent session of the legislature
closed with alarmist rumors in the air.
The inauguration of Governor Penny
packer was disposed of amid pictur-
esque display, snowstorm, and some
what mild enthusiasm; both branches
of the assembly settled down to work.
manlike business-the senate particu-
larly; several bills were messaged
over to the house from the upper
body; the cabinet and other appoint
ments were confirmed.
Senator Quay, as chairman of the
state committee, appointed sub-com-
mittee, with ex-senator Hertzler as
chairman to draft a ballot-reform
bill. This task has been performed.
The measure is understood to elimi.
nate the party circle at the head Of
the columns. do away with the practice
of instructing voters in the polling
place, and generally return to modi-
fication of the old method. thus en-
ablng party organizations to distrib-
ute tickets ahead Of election.
But to Penrose, Elkin, Durham, Sen.
ator Focht, and other party leaders
such bill as this is highly distasteful.
One thing they say they will not con-
sent to-the elimination of the party
circle. No such bill, they insist, can
pass. The Quay bill has not yet been
introduced, nor is it likely to be until
the state committee has had an op-
| portunity to pass upon 1t.
But meanwhile the Focht bill Of last
session, which retains the party cir
| Gle. was reintroduced tonight by the
senator from Union, and thus this
| phase of the question would seem to
| be on. Nothing. however, is likely to
| be done with it until Durham returns
| from Bermuda about the beginning of
February. The Democrats have bill
| of their own, and this may be intro
| duced this week.
Should a difference occur between
| Quay and the state leaders on ballot
| bill, it is problematical how 1t would
end, assuming, of course. that Quay
presses his bill.
| The New Private Secretary.
1t had all along been supposed that
the selection of Bromley Wharton, of
| Philadelphia, as his private secretary
was Governor Pennypacker's personal
choice. So in a sense he was, but not
In the way generally understood. II
| is said that Governor Pennypacker
had no personal acquaintance with Mr.
Wharton until a short time before his
| int or n, ifc hria
details is as follows: j. Granville
Leach, of Philadelphia, and Judge
| Pennypacker have been lifelong
| friends. Soon after his election the
ex-judge asked Leach If he would be-
come his private secretary. Leach
thought it over and finally said mo. !.
The governor-elect then suggested that
he should accept the post of state IL
brarian. Again Leach thought 1t over
and again said mo"
At this stage the judge fell back
upon Mr.. Dotterer as his private secre
tary--Mr. Dotterer also being a life
long friend-and this gentleman ac'
cepted. But unhappily Mr.. Dotterel
fell sick and died, and again Judge
Pennypacker appealed to Mr.. Leach
Mr.. Leach was still averse to taking
Bromley Wharton-a gentleman be-
longing to Philadelphia's exclusive
set. Mr.. Wharton had been Mr.
Leach's assistant when Mr.. Leach was
appraiser of the port of Philadelphia
and he could recommend him highly
Judge Pennypacker took Mr.. Leach's
word for it, and that is how Mr.. Whar
tons name was the first sent in to the
senate by the new governor, and the
first confirmed. He is bright, clean
cut, active young man, and resembles
very much in appearance his predeces
sor, Mr.. Gerwig.
Among the visitors to the inaugura
tion was Amos Mylin, of Lancaster
x-auditor-general. He hadn't been t.
Harrisburg for a long while, and ;
good deal of his time was taken up II
"reminiscences. Uncle Amos" as h,
is popularity known, told me that Sen
ator Quay is developing into an exten
sive landed proprietor in Lancaste
county. Since he purchased hi
Mountville property he has been add
ing to it little by little, and he Is nov
negotiating for the possession of
slice of rich land a hundred acres II
extent, adjoining his own and belong
ing to Jonas CARRIER The senior sena
tor may be busy man at Washington
these days, endeavoring to increas
the number of states in the union, bu
he is not neglectful, nevertheless, i
increasing the number of his ow
hcres.
Speaking of Lancaster, bill will b
introduced in the legislature this ses
sion to encourage the growing Of Su
matra tobacco in that county. Sue
cessful experiments have been made /
cultvating shade-grown Sumatra,
half acre at Marietta yielding 81
pounds of an excellent grade. 1t
desired by the Lancaster tobacc
growers to continue these experiment
and they think that another year
work in this direction will attain al