Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1915-01-27
PUBLIC SERVICE
GIVEN A ROASTING
Municipal Home Rule League
Would Have the Whole Body
Abolished by Legislature
SHARP ATTACKS ARE MADE
Spangler Bill Will Affect Dauphin
County Officials and Their
Salary Lists


The Public Service act and the COM
mission were bombarded for q couple
of hours yesterday afternoon in the
Senate caucus room by members OF
the Municipal Home Rule League, an
organization which was formed to pro-
test against the feature of the act Of
1913 giving the commission authority
lover borough public utilities. The
meeting wound up by resolving to
work for abolition of the whole COM
mission. Some of the speakers were
real vigorous about it and stated that
1853 boroughs had taken action and
that 500 of the $50 odd in the State
were lined up in the movement. Just
before adjournment one member call
ed attention to vacant chairs, there
being about eighty men present, and
urged that steps to get all the bor-
oughs in line be taken.
| d. L. Starr, Bellevue, and r. r.
ICrostwaite, Hanover, presided by turns
and speeches were made. by eX-Repre-
sentative w. w. Hall, West Pittston
and others severely condemning the
act, the commission, its rules of prac-
tice and other features. The meeting
was a sort of side issue to the Associa-
ton of Boroughs, which endorsed the
movement
| Senator Frank Graft, who pre-
sented the repeater, said that he had n
job on hand and asked members to ger
their legislators to help. This they
agreed to do. And the war is on.
| The meeting of the State College
| trustees yesterday was the first Gov
ernor Brumbaugh has attended and he
had with him about the table as fell
low trustees Vance G. Mccormick, his
rival for the goVernorship, and Farm
err Greasy, who ran on the Demo-
cratic ticket for acknowledgements
The meeting was held in the office of
Commissioner John Price Jackson and
was real harmonious affair. The
| Governor outlined what he thought
should be done and gave assurance of
| his abiding interest in the welfare and
development of the college, especially
in extension of agricultural instruc-
ton.
Members of the Association of
Boroughs complmented Deputy At
torney General w. NJ. Hargest for his
explanation of the manner in which
the code was drawn up and it's pur-
poses. He addressed the meeting yes
terday.
The Spangler bill designating salar-
| les and duties of county officials in
counties having less than 10000 pop
ulation affects this county as we'll as
York and Northumberland. 1t abol-
ishes. fees and would put things on a
new basis. 1t is in line with previous
bills and is attracting much atten-
| ton.
Attorney General Brown believes in
the dignity of toll. Yesterday he
started to fix up his private office and
took off his coat and worked in his
shirt sleeves arranging his books.
] William RI Allen Of WprrpO form
counsel to the railroad commission,
was among visitors here yesterday.
Ex-Representative S. b. Bayle, of
Erie, famed for his patriotic orations
last session, was Hill visitor
Governor Brumbaugh, President
Kline, Speaker Amber and Appropri-
alton Chairmen Buckman and Wood
ward got together yesterday afternoon
when things quieted down and talked
over appropriations, which it was
agreed to hold within the revenues.
| The fiscal officers will make up an
estimate and If the legislators adhere
to it the governor will sign the bills
as they reach him. The governor is
anxious to get a liberal allowance for
roads and education as we'll as argri-
cultural conservation.
! Congressman John r. Farr, of
| Scranton, former speaker and mem
ber of the Legislature for several
terms, was here the other day to see
how things are going.
Representative A. Holland Twibill,
of Philadelphia. has the unique dis
tinction of never having visited our
fair city until he came here to be
sworh in. He likes 1t now.
EX-Representative Harry s. Ly-
dick, of Pittsburgh, was among Hill
visitors.
Quay Hewitt. the assistant to
Reading Clerk G. f. j. Falkenstine, is
young man OF fine voice. He made
| 104 speeches in Jefferson county and
other counties in his home district last
campaign and also made good. In his
| younger days Hewitt was connected
with circus, so they say, and when
the barker" was off duty he filed
! in. He is a lively and capable clerk,
almost matching the Falkenstine
tones in the reading of bills.
Col. Harry c. TreXler. quartermas-
ter general of the National Guard, and
Col. C. #. O'Neil. of the Fourth regi-
ment, were at the Capitol yesterday.
II. Henry Walnut, member last ses-
sion and champion of civil service al
ways was here yesterday. He recall
ed with feeling the sleep he lost dur
ing that frightful closing week of the
session of 1913.
w. Atlee Brumbaugh, one of the
Blair members is a cousin of the
Governor. 81 am with, for and by
him in all his policies" said he in
talking about legislation. That's the
way the people are in our county,"
The Association of Boroughs yester-
day took a whack at the Department
of Health because of its administra-
tion of the act of 1906 in relation to
water and sewerage. A committee
was named to draft legislation to cur
tail the power of the commissioner
because of criticisms leveled at his ac-
| tion. Under the act of the Governor,
the attorney general and. the COM
missioner act as a unit in passing on
| lpermits, orders and DEGREES.
Senator w. c. Sproul. of Chester,
has been i'll this week and unable to
attend the session. He hopes to get
here next week. Senator Herbst, of
| Berlks, has also been i'll.
| EVENING THOUGHT