Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1915-05-25
Poettca i~
Pe~~oqeSo~io
BY the Ex-Committeeman

Men active in politics all over
Pennsylvania are sitting up and TAX
ing notice of the mandamus action
brought in the case of Judge A. @.
/ Heck, of Potter county, which raises
the constitutionality of the act re-
Gently signed by Governor Brumbaugh
detaching Clinton from Elk and Cam
eron and adding it to Potter. Behind
it all is the question whether legis-
lature can alter a district which has
been established by a general appor-
tionment act.
The Legislature, which has just
adjourned failed to carry out the con-
stitutional mandate and apportlon the
State into congressional. legislative and
judicial districts A bill was presented
for legislative apportionment by
Representative Wood, of Indiana, but
it was never heard of. and this subject
does not appear to have figured in any
of the conferences in the Governor 5
office on legislation. If a Legislature
can alter one judicial district by an
act, there would be nothing, contend
some people at the Capitol, to prevent
1t from altering any of the congress
sional senatorial or assembly districts.
1t is one of the most interesting
questions that have arisen sin the
courts in years and the decision may
have a far-reaching effect in Pennsyl-
vania politics and bring about re-
apportionment next session.
Folks at the Capitol are specu-
lating what will be the effect on the
political activities of William A. Ma
gee now that he has been named as a
public service commissioner. It is gem
orally believed that the duties of the
commissionership, which will grow
continually, will keep him so busy here
that he will have little time for poll
N A l,a
the expressed desire of Governor
Brumbaugh that the commissioners
should stay here and work, and Magee,
who has a talent for working, will
find plenty of things to do.
Expectations are that Governor
Brumbaugh will not be in any haste
to fill the vacancies existing in various
State boards and in the State govern
ment until after he disposes of the
bills which are piled up on his desk
He is receiving numerous applications
and some of them come from men of
prominence who can be of great as
sistance in his local option legislative
campaign next year. The various jobs
created by the Legislature will be filed
gradually.
Friends of ex-Mayor Charles D.
Wolfe, of Williamsport, have taken off
their coats for him for the Republican
nomination for Congress in the Fiji
tSSnll ulSlIlCIs III WnlCn fuDllc SeIN-
ice Commissioner Edgar r. Kiess was
elected last Fall after a brilliant fight.
Mr.. kiess has resigned as congress-
man with an excellent record and there
will be lively battle for his successor
this Fall. Mr. Wolfe is strong in the
district.
Ex-senator Ben Jarrett. of Mercer
county. is out for the judicial noml-
nation in his county and has about five
candidates against him. The prospects
are that there will be a stirring cam
paign in that district.
The name of Walter II. Gather,
former secretary to Ex-Governor Tener,
is being mentioned as a possible ap-
pointee to the position of chief of the
bureau of statistics and information of
the Department of Labor and In
dustry.
james F. Woodward, chairman of
the House appropriations committee,
has returned to his home in McKees-
port for rest and is looking over the
heid Tor next year when Pennsylvania
will elect an Auditor General and State
treasurer. Mr.. Woodward has many
warm friends who will he active in his
behalf II he shall decide to enter the
race for any one of the nominations.
II appears to be settled that one of
them will go to the western end of the
State.
Potter judge case is one of the few
instances in which the original iuris-
diction of the Supreme Court has been
invoked. The situation in the new dis
trict is rather serious. Judge Heck. of
Potter. holds that he cannot sit in
Clinton county affairs. although the
Legislature Joined Clinton to his dis
trict, and Judge Hall holds that he is
not judge in Clinton because it has
been severed.
d. E. Long, prominent in legal
affairs In Franklin county. is being
strongly doomed for the judicial noni-
nation in that district Judge Gillian
will also be candidate and there is
talk of Senator Hoke.
In Pottsville yesterday Judge
Koch refused to grant some petitions
for appointment of election officers,
contending that the signatures an.
peared to be in the same handwriting
According to reports which have
reached this city, there will be no fac.
tional contests among Republicans for
the important county nominations in
Allegheny county. A get-toRethe 81
spirit has been manifested.