Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1915-03-13
EVENING Chat

| EVENING CHAT
.ns .ii.'uSipna ~ eui.,s nunetn
IN an article last night made this in
Iteresting reference to the proposed de-
Velopment of the conservation activi-
Ties or the State government: Gov
ernor Brumbaugh's Endorsement Of
the proposal to consolidate the four
departments which now separately su-
perNise ana control the game, water
supply, hsh and forestry interests of
the state. is in line with a much
needed reorganization of some of the
existing departments. bureaus and
commissions. The four departments
named arc actively concerned with the
conservation of the natural resources
OF the State, and in fact the new de-
partment, into which they wouId he
combined. is TO be known as the De-
pertinent of Conservation. But outside
OF facilitating the administration of this
branch of the States activities. the new
measure does not blaze q new path in
the protection of the resources of the
commonwealth. For PENNSYLVANIA
mas always been to the fore in CON
servstion work, especially as regards
forestry. 1t was q PENNSYLVANIA,
Richard Haldeman, who in April.
1872. presented the first forestry bill
in Congress, Ito encourage the plant
ing of trees and for the preservation
of woods on the public domain" (" About
this period, Washington Townsend,
who represented Chester and Della
ware counties in Congress, took up the
plea Tor the preservation of the trees.
The attention of the public had been
aroused, and Townsend and his col
leagues succeeded in obtaining the
consent of Congress to authorize DR..
Franklin Il. Hough to undertake spc-
cial studies of forestry abroad, which
reports when rendered did much to
promote the interest of conservation.
In 1886 the Pennsylvania Forestry AS
sociation, formed through the efforts
of Philadelphians, was launched upon
lts career to back up the work of the
state ofhcials engaged in promoting
the cause OF conservation, and the way
was paved for the regulatory legisla-
ton which soon followed. Within
seven years the Legislature adopted an
act creating a Forestry Commission,
and forestry in Pennsylvania may he
said to date from 1898. Subsequently
the commission became a division of
forestry in the Department of Agricul-
ture and later emerged as a separate
department of the State government"
The Mr.. Haldeman referred to was
Richard ]. Haldeman, who served sew
eral times in Congress and was a noted
editor.
When Governor Brumbaugh goes
to Newport News on Monday night to
attend the launching of the warship
PENNSYLVANIA he will be the first Gov
ernor in many years to attend an Off
cial function without a personal staff
of aides de camp. Officially such
thing as a Governors personal staff
does not exist, as the commissions of
the dozen Observation-Disclosures who
y
when DR.. Brumbaugh became Gov
ernor. The new Governor has not had
time to consider the appointments to
the staff, although the subject has
been brought to his attention by let
ters and individuals. The Governor
has been occupied with legislation and
the seeing of the unprecedented num-
Der of visitors who have thronged his
part of the Capitol from the day he
assumed his chair. The swarm of Vis-
ltors like the shower of mail has set
a new record. While the Governor
will not be attended by the aids who
have graced similar functions in the
past. the official party will contain
Adjutant General Stewart, the chief of
staff, and the heads of the depart
ments of the permanent staff of the
National Guard. These will accompany
State officials. In all proba ability the
Governor will name a personal staff,
but it will not be for some time.
Bills introduced into the House have
passed the 900 mark, but they are 400
behind the number presented to this
time last session, while the number in
the Senate is about $50 less than at
the end of the second week of March.
Less than 500 bills have been pre-
sented TO the Senate. However, the
three codes and other big legislation
have required a large amount of print
ing thus far.
The death at CoIlegeville Yesterday
OF John NJ. NandersIice a veteran of
the Civil War, we'll known here. leaves
very few of the department command
ers of the Grand Army of the Re
public living. Mr.. Vanderslice filed
the place a number of years ago and
attended many functions here in his
time.
Or. William S. Steele. who died at
Lakewood few days ago, was one of
the keenest observers of events in the
NE OF Harrisburg and took a great
interest in civic movements There
was scarcely a municipal question that
the high school principal could not
dlscuss with as much skill as a council
man and he was an ardent admirer
OF the manner in which Harrisburg
progressed. When he came here the
city was commencing to show the re-
SUITS OF the first improvement cam
palgn and DR.. Steele used to refer To II
IN lectures. At the Harrisburg Public
Library he took an active part i'm the
and his aid and counsel
were greatly appreciated.
In spite of the fact that it will be
no9ths before any nominations are
Tor honors are already on the iob
An amusing story is told of one man
who met another active in his own
party and after some hemming and
having contided that he would be a
for a certain nomination.
so WilI j., replied his friend.
Now they do not speak.
WELL KNOWN PEOPLE