Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-02-26

committee. COM
zzgzaalzAA posed of the heads
of departments and commissions of
the State government. The society,
which was formed this winter, is
headed by Secretary of the Common
wealth Cyrus E. Woods and Governor
Brumbaugh was the speaker at its first
luncheon this month.
The plan of having a man proml-
nent in some branch of the govern
ment speak each month was worked
out at that meeting and committee
named with State Librarian Thomas
Lynch Montgomery. as chairman. Mr..
Donehoo has been a member of the
State commission since it was estab-
lished and has made a study of the
Indians of Pennsylvania and the for
eSts of the State. He Will discuss his
torical and conservation work before
the officials.
New Escheat Act. Steps for en-
forcement of the new eScheat act will
not be taken by the auditor generals
department for sometime as it is es-
timated that between 600 and $4,000
reports will have to be gone over by
the clerks in the department. Num-
erous questions have arisen in regard
to the reporting and general plan
for enforcement will be worked out by
he auditor general after conference
with the legal department,
Men in Demand. = Demands for
men, skilled and unskilled, for the
iron and steel industrial plants of the
state are being made at the offices of
the State employment bureaus at such
Il rate that the usual Spring demands
of contractors and builders do not seem
to amount to much. The State agencies
have had numerous applications for
men who know about latheS, the sup
position being that they are wanted
for plants having rush orders requir-
ing machinists and other highly skill
ed men. There is also quite a demand
for foundrymen.
Efficiency in State Service. - The
administration of the City of Philadel-
phia has just issued an order forbid
ding any employe of the city govern
ment from using intoXicants in any
form while on duty. and it might be of
interest to the people of this State TO
know that the first and most stringent
rule of the PENNSYLVANIA Department
Of Fisheries is that every employe of
the Department of Fisheries is prohi-
hited from using intoXicants in any
form. This rule has been in effect
since the incumbency of Commissioner
y. r. Butler, four years ago. Commits
Sioner Butler believes that the highest
stage of efficiency cannot he attained
if the employees of the department do
not abstain from the use of intoNicants.
Any employe who is found using in
toXicants in any form is subject to
Immediate dismissal.
Strong Men IncIudcd.-Strong men,
demonstrators of patent appliances for
health and assistants in various per-
formances to illustrate products are
held to come under the State compen-
sation laws. This was settled during
the week through an inquiry made in
person by a man who informed Sec
ss.tT Il l. : l. 10
strong man of a physical endurance
demonstration. tt was found that he
was under the act, his employer being
liable for any disability arising in
performance of duties under his ar
rangement for work A number of al
most similar inquiries have been made
and when the travelling show season
comes along it is expected that there
will be more.
Big Institute Soon. - Arrangements
are being made for the Spring meet
ing of the State Board of Agriculture
and the farmers normal institute to be
held in Reading in May The State
Board will receive reports from a
number of committees which have
been making some inquiries along
lines discussed at the recent winter
meeting in this city. All of the farm
ers institute lecturers. who are now
closing up their season of addresses
will attend the institute. The final
farmers institutes will be held in the
State next week.
Bank Tax Paid. - Payment of the
first tax for 1916 on stock of banks
doing business in Pennsylvania is COM
mencing to reach the State Treasury
Already over a quarter of a million
dollars has been paid in. The State
tax on premiums of foreign fire in
Surance companies is running very
high this year. These two sources are
furnishing the bulk of the State reve-
nue. now.
To Tax New Rate-It is likely that
a new rate for insuring liability of
threshing machine owners under the
compensation law will be added to
the changes which have been made
lately in the published rates of the
State Insurance Fund. These changes
have been approved by the Insurance
Department and the Central Rating
and Inspection Bureau at Philadel-
phia.
Check Up Oleo. - The big increase
in the retail demand for oleomargar-
inc and reports that samples pur-
chased by State agents have been
found to be colored and that some
restaurants were not taking out "oleo''
licenses, have stirred up agents of the
State Dairy and Food division to con-
siderable activity in the last few weeks
and numerous samples are being sent
to chemists for analysis. In a num-
ber of instances merchants have been
prosecuted for failing to take out Ii
censes 1t is believed that this year
the oleo licenses will run about 5000
Commission to Act. - When the
Pebble Service Commission meets on
Monday 1t is likely that some action
will be taken on the Cumberland Val
ley railroad application for right to
buy the stock of the Southern Penn
Sylvania Railway and Mining com
pany. which was presented on Monday
and something may also be done about
the West Penn electric merger and the
application of the Dover Rossville
Transit Co.. for the overhead wire
electric bus line.
No New Outbreaks. - While a gen.
eral increase in measles has been re-
ported from several counties and
cities the State Health Department
has not received word of any out
breaks of a serious nature.
Farmers Damage Soil. - Franklin
Menges, of York, the States soil eX-
pert yesterday told farmers of the
Philadelphia district at their annual
institute that the average farmer does
more damage to the soil than anyone
else because he fails to properly re-
new ii.