Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1914-02-05
[GVenn)6 Char
snrull,s Legislative Handbook, which

Smulls Legislative Handbook, which
has just appeared for 1918, faces criti-
sism fer tardiness probably more than
any, other State publication, because
II there Is any book that is in demand
throughout the length and breadth of
fennsylvania II is this volume. And,
ipeIore the storm begins, it is Just as
Wen TO recall the fact that 1t is far
greater than planned by its originator
ana that the desire to place the very
| latest data before the people has
something to do with the belated ap-
pearance of the issue for 1913 in the
! following year. The bulk of the blame,
however, must rest on other shoulders
| than the compilers. Smull's Hand
BOOK has had a unique career and it
is regrettable that II has slipped cog
IN Its issuance in the year in which
II was dated. Smull's Handbook was
issued in 1868 for the first time and IL
Is tribute to John a. Smull, clerk of
the House of Representatives, who es-
tabilshed it, that he made it so good
that 1t still bears his name, although
| In the early eighties he ceased to
nave anything to do with IL. The first
Smulfs was SS2 pages and of size
winch could be put in the pocket. 1t
was a legislative handbook pure and
simple and embellished with a map of
the State and chart showing the
moor plans of the two houses in the
old state Capitol. BY and by the de-
mands for information and sugges-
tons caused the book to grow and
Thomas B. Cochran. who was chief
clerk of the Senate and who secured
the copyright, added so many things
that the size had to be enlarged. 1t
got so large that when Samuel w.
Pcnnypacker was Governor he OBJ
Jeeted to its unwieldy state and lot
OF things were cut out, the result be-
Ing storm of protests. Then the
compiler used what is known in the
| trade as Bible paper" because em-
ployed in Scripture printing and folks
remarked that it was appropriate be-
cause owing to it's wealth of informa-
| ton 1t was commonly called the Bible
OF Capitol HILL" 1t is unique among
State publications. The New York
handbook does not compare with it in
completeness and to people in many
occupations it is invaluable. This is
shown by the fact that thousands of
copies are preserved in libraries and
command good prices when they are
found in old book stores, where, by
the way. they are speedily snapped up,
A lot OF Jokes have been made about
Smulis, but what it prints has settled
more arguments than a student of
! economies could invent in a week and
caused payment of more money in
! wagers than would pay for a whole
EDITION for 1914. Herman P. Miller,
the present compiler, has been COM
plimented in letters from every State
and from many foreign lands for the
information compressed into this vol
ume. And it might be added that a
lot of the copy for 1914 was sent by
MIN to the printers before 1875 issue
was bound.
| That the State convention of the
| 1lremen to be held here next Fall is
| commencing to assume proportions is
! demonstrated by the numerous meet
| lngs of fire companies throughout the
State on the subject of coming to at
tend the meetings. The interes,
| aroused is remarkable and it Is very
much to the credit of Harrisburg.
reputation for hospitality that sc
many companies are desirous of ap-
| pearing here in force. The last con.
| Ventlon OF State firemen was held here
| IN 1855 and the coming convention
say people who are engineering it, will
exceed the centennial year gathering
| tenfold.
The death at his rural home in
Bradford county of A. ]. Whitney al
the ripe age of IS years recalls the
TACT that he was an engineer of the
| pennsylvania canal many years ago
The canal was so long identified with
the late 7. I. Wierman's name that
Few connect Mr.. Whitney with it, al.
though for years he was active in its
affairs. incidentally. he lived in Har.
tIsoqrg i Tor years making his home
| In Locust street, where the Miller
Bros. building stands. He had a bril-.
liant engineering career and used tc
take much interest in affairs in the
| city. When young man he helped
lay out Brooklyn's water works and
| from 1859 to 1879 was with the cana
company as resident engineer and
! during that period helped prepare the
way for the wonderful water system
OF the pennsylvania Railroad in the
| Alleghenles, which is one OF the engi.
neer1ng marvels of the Transportation
world. Furthermore, he had charge
OF the construction of the Lewisburg
and Tyrone railroad. one of the ar.
teries of the Pennsylvania system ur
! the State. Several of the sons of thi.
famous engineer have followed in hi:
footsteps and are identified with rail
roads here and in other States.
Many Harrisburgers will regret tina
the retirement of John +. Zerbey, O.
Pottsville. from the staff of nationa
,.bank examiners, of which he wa,
dean. Mr.. Zerbey lived in Schuylkil
county for a long time and has beeI
in i'll health. He had charge of owe
100 banks, including this city and tn,
country hereabouts. The Zerbey fam
lily has long been prominent in tn,
affairs of the big coal county.
| Judge Kunkel sometimes forgets h,
is judge when he is dealing with tn
! cases of children. He is keen to no
tice physical defects, particularly thos
which can be removed. and he ha
given some sound medical advic
mixed in with the excellent law which
he interprets. The other day ;
youngster was before him who plainl
suffered from adenoids. The judg
settled his case quickly. There wa
not much to it and he thought tina
little supervision was what wa
needed. Added to this was the ad
monition for the boy to go home an,
tell his father to take him to doctor
| / xtf1ott NNrYfN, fNoONf