Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-06-23
Peeittc4 ;n
Pe~~eqeOa~io
~ the Ex-Committeeznan

or j. Denny O'Neil, former ALLEGHENY
county commissioner and local option
leader. to be Insurance Commissioner
as successor to Charles Johnson, of
NorrlstoWn' the Montgomery county
staiwart leader, who resigned when
the Governors campaign began to
hVen up. Mr.. O'Neu is one of tbA
most influential men in Westesn Penn
syiVania politics and has always been
known as an Oliver man. He is now
an ofncial of an administration in
which William A Magee. Public serv-
ice commissioner and his own rival
in Allegheny county affairs and an
penent of the Oliver people. is mora
or Tess OF a power. Mr.. O'Neil is ak
pected to be the leader of local ontion
Lorces during the next legislative cam
paisn and will also be able to helm the
GoNerhof organize his league for a
paign which is also expected to serve
as oulwark for the Governor when
ettacks are made upon him.
Inc appointment of Mr.. O'Neil to a
Flace In the administration was not a
surprise, as he had been much mem
toned, and the Governor was es.
peclaliy desirous of keeping him in
accord with him because of some crit
clsms which have been leveled AT the
executive as the result of the local
tppuon campaign in the last Legis-
rouT9 iro,,hi ana also to get his aid when
trouble comes. Mr.. O'Neil and Mr.,
Magee are understood to have buried
the hatchet which had been more or
less IN evidence since the Public Serv
ice Commissioner was active in defeat
! ing the Mckeesport man for renomi-
hatlon as county commissioner
1t is believed that Mr.. O'NeiI will
nave big part in the framing of the
leelslauVe appropriation program for
PUBIC works TO extend over a period
ol twenty years, for which Mr.. Magee
is sohcitous because of the Ohio shin
Sanal pili: In this he will have sup
port or the Wares, who are ALWAYS
strong for Philadelphia port improve
ments, and 1t is expected to weave into
IL men from interior counties who will
want something in proportion to what
the two big counties get
The insurance commissionership
pays $1,000 year. Governor Brum-
laugh said last night that the selec-
tlon of Mr.. O'Neil was a purely per
sonaI appointment and made for busi-
ness reasons. He complimented Mr..
Neil as businessman and said that
ne felt the appointment would be good
because he would give a business ad-
Inlnlstratlon. When asked if he
thought there would be a reorgan-
lZation, the Governor said that Mr..
O.Neil would make the department as
eHclent as any in the country and that
ne would back him up in anything he
might do with that end in view. He
added that he did not think that Mr..
y Nell would be drastic in removals
and REORGANIZATION. Deputy Commits
sioner Samuel w. McCulloch will be
retained because of his long expert
ence and good record.
The manager of the State Insurance
| Fund is expected to be named soon
| and 1t is believed that since William ].
Roney, of Philadelphia did not get the
insurance commissionership, he may
win that place.
The appointment of O'Neil ends any
chances of Allegheny county getting
the highway commissionership. 1t is
said that until military affairs became
| lively General A. ]. Logan had a leg
up and then there was a story that
Mr.. Magee had a bright road engineer
for the place. Now 1t has gotten to the
point where dark horses are being
talked of. Secretary of Agriculture
Charles E. Patton is backed by the
militant members of the Governors
| cabinet; Frank S. Black, of Somerset,
is being urged by many people, and
Chief Engineer w. d. Uhler. There
are some ''Veiled" possibilities, it was
intimated to-day.
The appointment of Captain G. Chal
Port, of Huntingdon, to succeed ]. l..
| Baldwin, of Philadelphia, as Fire Mar
! shal is not as filled with political sig
nifcance as that of Mr.. ONeil. Mr..
Port comes from the home county, and
| while he is State committeeman from
| Huntingdon county, he is not active in
| politics TO the extent of other men
mentioned for the place. Captain Port
| is we'll known here as an able. tire
less and dependable official of Penn
| sylvania Railroad police, the man who
| cleaned up train robbers and whose
record in running down criminals is
excellent. The office of Fire Marshal
calls for the qualifications which the
| captain possesses and he will make it
branch of the State government even
| more vigorous than it has been.
The speeding up of some OF the
commissions is attracting attention
| about the State. 1t is understood that
| Governor Brumbaugh has felt there
was some ground for the attacks being
made upon the policy adopted in some
| parts of the Capitol and that the
impetus given by himself and Attorney
General Brown will have a good effect.
| Northampton county's Republican
committee not only strongly endorsed
the national and state tickets yester-
| day, but gave Senator Penrose high
| compliments as a leader and paid a
| well-deserved tribute to w. Harry
Baker. secretary of the State commit
! tee. The resolutions praise Mr. Baker
! for real work in bringing about Re-
publican reorganization, pointing out
| that he acted while a lot of bunk"
was being issued by others. The Baker
resolution says: I'VE take occasion at
this time to make especial reference to
| w. Harry Baker. who has discharged
the responsible duties of secretary of
the Republican State committee with
| conspicuous ability and with marked
! fidelity to the interests of the Repub-
lican party Effective organization is
essential to party success. In the work
of organizing the Republicans of Penn
| sylvania Mr.. Baker has rendered a re-
markable service to the party His
wide acquaintance among active Re
| publicans of the state; his intimate
| knowledge of political conditions in
every county, together with his re-
sourcefulness in advancing the cause
| of Repubicanism. commend him as
pre-eminently qualified for the position
to which he has been reelected. The
vote he received for delegate at-large
to the Republican national convention
was an expression of the regard and