The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1910-02-23
HARRISBURG LETTER.


Treasurer of Pennsylvania after the
first Monday of May next seems in a
fair way to be settled. Attorney
General Todd has advised the Gov
ernor that he has the power to ap-
point an official to fill the vacancy
occasioned by the death of Treasur
er-elect Stober, and there is no doubt
but the Governor will perform this
duty, in reasonable time. Mr.. Sheath
will serve until noon of the first
Monday of May and his successor
will undoubtedly be qualified by that
time
The present Treasurer believes that
because he took the oath of office to
serve until his successor was qualified
and because his commission reads
until his successor is qualified, that
he is bound to serve until that time,
regardless of the spirit and letter of
the law. which clearly provides for a
single term for the State Treasurer, .
the same as for the Auditor Gener-
al. NO oath or commission, how
ever administered or issued, can eX-
tend the term of an official beyond
the limit fixed by the law. The Con-
stitution as amended, and prior to
the amendment, provides for a single
term, and that is all that was in
tended. It is believed that MIR.
Sheath has taken legal advice and
intends to retain the office, at least
until the Supreme Court decides he is
not entitled to it.
Some correspondence was given
out on the subject this week, which
showed that the Attorney Generals
Department was trying to get a de-
cision in advance of the date when
the vacancy would occur, so as to
avoid any troublesome complications
in this important office, and it is pos
sible that the case may get into court
in time to get decision. In case
of failure to do this, there are possi
bilities of grave difficulties, and no
State official should invite such
situation. Should Mr.. Sheatz serve
several months beyond May I'd, and
the court finally decide that he was
not entitled to, he would have to
hand back some salary. Few people
care to serve the state without com
pensation and this feature may help
to solve the difficulty.
The death of Colonel John e.
Stott on Wednesday last removed
from service one of the oldest clerks
on the Hill. With the exception of
Hon. Henry Houck, the Secretary of
Internal Affairs, Stott had been about
the Capitol longer than any other
official. He had not been in good
health for some time, but his death
was due to stroke of apopleXy. He
had been to his home at Coatesville
the day before to participate in the
spring election, and had expected
to report for duty as usual at the
Auditor Generals Department, when
the summons came. 1t is generally
supposed that Stott was an import
ant witness in the Capitol cases but
such is not the case. His only con-
nection with it arose from the fact
that he was for many years, and
during the time that the new Capitol
was planned and constructed, Secre-
tary of the Board of Public Grounds
and Buildings.
The Colonel had but few intimates
and not many were taken into his
confidence, but his friends held him
in high regard. A service of nearly
thirty years on the Hill had given
him a very wide acquaintance among
public men, and he could talk en-
tertainingly of political men and
measures of the last quarter century.
He was buried at Coatesville to-day
Governor Stuart recently reap
pointed Thomas l.. Montgomery of
Philadelphia, to succeed himself as
State Librarian. No one can criti-
else this appointment for Mr.. Mont
gomery has made the Library more
and more useful to students each |
year. To use a slang expression He |
is onto his job" He knows what a |
good Library should be, and what !
this particular one should contain !
He makes competent and popular |
official, and should be kept where he !
is so long as competency is shown.
Candidates for the Legislature are
blossoming out, rods are up in hopes
of drawing the lightning and booms
are being nursed and coaxed along,
preparatory to a fight for the nom
ination. 'Tis said that local option
will play an important part in this
years fights.
Congressman Pratt has made a
capable Representative in Congress
at Washington. The district would
do wisely to return him for another
term. Length of service in that
office counts for more effective ser
vice and better results for constitu-
ents.
n. r. HAUSE.