Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1915-08-13
THOMAS B. SMITH
TO BE COMMISSIONER
CONTINUED from First Page. !

u.
Governor had run the whole thing
from Maine where he has been for
over two weeks and put over the big
gest political surprise in many a long
day.
Brumbaugh's Letter
The Governors letter reads:
Harrisburg, Pa, Aug. IL, 1915.
Hon. Thomas b. Smith,
philadelphia, Pa.
My Dear Sir: There is a vacancy
IN the Public Service Commission of
Pennsylvania that has caused me much
concern. The duties of this place are
so vital to the welfare OF our people
that l have been unusually careful in
selecting members for this commission
Among the many names submitted to
me by many friends, | have had your
name. You were first suggested to me
by Congressman Ware and his brother,
Senator Ware. l have carefully gone
over the record of your service and
agree with them that you can serve the
Commonwealth in a capable ana COM
mendable manner.
II should like, therefore, to have
you accept appointment to the Public
Service Commission to take the place
made vacant by the resignation of
Congressman Kiess. 1 trust you will
accept this appointment and give to
the place your whole time ana talent.
With the duties of the Office as we
both view them, you are familiar, and
my sole desire is to have the work of
this commission performed eX
peditiously and capably, with justice to
all parties in interest.
THE Philadelphia papers have re-
Gently mentioned your name in con-
nection with another place, but trust
in accepting this appointment you will
not permit any other place to cause
you to vacate this one.
Yours very respectfully,
MARTIN G.. BRUMBAUGH."
Former Postmaster's Reply
This Is former Postmaster Smiths
reply:
philadelphia, Pa, Aug. IL, 1915.
Hon. Martin G. Brumbaugh, Gov
ernor, Harrisburg, Pa.
My Dear Sir: 1 beg to acknowledge
receipt of your favor of the eleventh
instant rendering appointment to the
Public Service Commission.
II deeply appreciate this evidence OF
your confidence. l accept with a full
sense of the duties and responsibilities
of the Office, and 1 assure you that 1
will do my utmost to fulfill your expec-
tations.
my name, with others, has been
mentioned in the newspapers in con-
nection with the Mayoralty, and II my
fellow citizens should urge my nomina-
tion, would be a candidate only with
your full approval.
II beg to remain,
Yours very truly,
THOMAS B. SMITH"
Attorney General Francis Skunk
Brown said last night in Philadelphia:
II am we'll pleased with the appoint
ment. I believe he will make an effi-
cient commissioner. Former Post
master General Hitchcock said OF him
when he was Postmaster or this city,
after he had organized the parcel post
the ablest Postmasters in the United
States"
Sketch of His Life
The new commissioner was born in
Philadelphia in 1869, educated in the
public schools and as a young man
the Pennsylvania Railroad. Sub
sequently. he entered the business
office of the Record" He aIways
took an active interest in Republican
politics, and from 1902 to 1904 served
in Common Council. In 1904 he was
nominated as Representative from the
Twenty-s District ana was
elected by majority or more. than
8, 900 over his Democratic competitor,
being reelected for the succeeding
term. In October, 1897, he became
solicitor for and subsequently took
charge of the Philadelphia office of
the National Surety Company, and
when Postmaster Richard l.. Ashhurst,
on whose bond the company was, dis
appeared on January 80, 1911, Mr..
Smith was appointed his successor.
At testimonial dinner given him a
little afterwards by the Thomas B.
Smith Republican Club of the Twen-
ty-eighth Ward, Senator McNichol
said: I'm the appointment OF Mr.
a..af aF-txy dAV
strated that there was within it's mem
mership as much brains and genius as
anywhere else"
In his reply Postmaster Smith at
tributed his appointment to the
recommendation of Senator Penrose.