The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1907-02-28
HARRISBURG LETTER.

Harrisburg, Pa, Feb. 26, 1907
THE DANDIES HAVE BEEN CHOSEN
During the legislative recess the
most momentous duty OF the Gov
ernor has been performed. That is
to sty the Military staff has beer
announced. There are twepty-toul
of these bedecked and bebraideC
goldlaced gentlemen and there were
something like 400 aspirants foi
the distinction. And it is a dis
tinction at that for the staff goes
wherever the Governor goes and is
twice as gorgeously arrayed. A
few of them draw salaries and per-
form real services. But most
find ample compensation i'll the
"pomp and circumstance" which
attends their movements while on
duty.
The State Board of Trade is pro
perly working up an interest in the
two cent a mile railway passenger
rate bill. The measure passed the
House finally just before the adj
iournment for the Spring election
recess for the purpose of serving as
a Morgan until after that event.
But there is a deep seated suspicion
that after having served that pur-
pose it will be abandoned to stiff
ling process in the Senate. To
avert that Secretary Williams, OF
the State Board of Trade has ad
dressed circular 10 all local boards
of trade, chambers of commerce
and merchants, manufacturers and
commercial organizations through
out the State imploring them to get
busy on the Senate.
The bill in its present form is
hardly worth the labor which Sec
retary Williams invokes for it, but
of course it could be improved. AS
Representative Blakeslee declared
on the occasion of its final passage
in the House, it puts upon the car
rying corporations no obligation
except that of carrying passengers
at two cents a mile while it con-
tains so many features of question
able constitutional;ty, that unless
it is very materially bcttered it
night well be dropped. Still it
nav be worth while for the civic
and commercial organize tons ap-
pealed to to follow his suggestions.
Even if they fail to achieve the
purpose he has in mind they are
making public sentiment that will
ultimately compass the result.
ONE OF THR GREAT EVILS.
The State Water supply commits
sion is ready to make its first report
70 the Legislature and it is expect
ed that this ponderous document
will be presented early next week.
The Water Supply commission is
me ofthose tax eating bodies Great
ID by the Legislature Of 1905 when
some of the bosses were "sitting
:p nights" in the Boas mansion
studying out schemes to create new
offices. The State constabulary
md a number of commissions be-
sides the one in question were
lmong the fruits of that nocturnal
abor and hundreds of decayed poll
icians, moral and physical wrecks,
we're provided with places in that
way. The forth coming report
promises to be more or less inter-
sting, however, not because of its
Intrinsic merit but for the reason
hat it shows how willingly "men
!rest in brief authority" delve
nto other peoples affairs and strive
o compel obedience to their man
.iates.
The commission announces in
oonderous periods that "it is max
ing thorough and comprehensive
,,udy of the water supply of Penn
ylvania, especially with respect to
It's natural conditions; asaffected by
population and manufactures; as
Effected by appropriation for muni-
ipal and domestic purposes; as at-
jscted by appropriation for water
lower and for transportation; as
Effected by obstruction of water
courses and affected by forest COW
er, rainfall, floods, geology and
typography" But it doesn't take
long to discover that after all these
are only secondary features OF the
report The main point is the re-
quest for greater authority for the
commission. 1t wants the power
10 remedy as we'll as discover faults
IN art or nature and would like to
ne invested with power Ito do ef-
tective work in the equal distribu-
ton of the water supply of the
State"
1t is surprising how the procivi-
t.ae Coz tl,;,,,,rjt