Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-04-27
Ehrnttg Urat

A summary of reports of various
states on what they are doing to put
the firebugs behind the bars, issued
yesterday by Acting State Fire Mar
shal Charles d. Wolfe and mentioned
In the Telegraph, has attracted much
attention because of the showing made
pS pennsylvania. The State Fire Mar
shafs department was only created
some three years ago and was the re-
suit of a demand that the public
authorities take some steps to run
down incendiaries. When the Legis-
lature finally passed the bill there was
brisk fight made against 1t and the
reduction of arson and consequent fire
loss In Ohio and other states was
pointed out as reason for this state
TO have an organized force of flrebug
catchers, as someone termed them in
debate. The summary made by Mr..
Wolfe from the official reports shows
that Ohio. which has had the system
Tor several years, had 81 convictions,
but that the youthful and vigorous
Pennsylvania department got 40. West
Virginia convicted 10; Texas IS;
Michigan, 15; District OF Columbia, 3,
and Wisconsin, Is. One of the notable
things about the PENNSYLVANIA record
was that it had % confessions Con-
LESSONS are about the hardest thing
TO get from prisoners. firebugs in par
ucular, and 1t is always difficult to get
a conviction for arson from a jury.
The proof must he positive, and in
some states a man can not be con-
V1cted of arson unless it is shown that
he endangered human life. The Penn
sylvania department has a small force
and has $4,000 square miles to look
after.
The manner in which the spring
| ~ o. as,v.s,, 4
ABOUT Harrisburg is responsible for
considerable interest being taken in
| outdoor life and consequent sore
muscles. There is nothing lire a few
mid days and half-dozen of flowers
TO cause men to turn to hoes and
| spades. And there is nothing that will
make them grouchier in the mornings.
Ihe other morning two men met in a.
| car. Both had to hang by straps and
the motorman, not being sllillful with
his car, stopped with jerks, jars and
1olts Ouch" said one man with
look toward his shoulder. Jaw, you're
not the only one" fired back the other.
=! saw YOU at it last evening. You're
| old enough to know you can't play
gardener and not suffer-
The late Robert j. Cunningham. the
/ state Highway Commissioner, whose
| lamentable death occurred yesterday,
prided himself upon his newspaper
work in his younger days Mr.. Cum
ningham started in as a reporter when
mere lad. He lived near Pittsburgh
| and dropped into a newspaper office
one day and asked for a job. He got
| the job and he got the story he was
sent after initials street numbers and
all that was needed. After that he was
one of the staff. He was city editor,
Sunday editor and held executive po-
sitions, but he said that the work he
loved best was out digging after u
! story" The habits of work that he
! formed when he was reporter never
| left him and he was the hardest work
ing official on Capitol Hill. Inciden-
| tally, he made il a practice 10 see that
| every letter was answered and every
person was given attention at the office.
| And he made IT a rule that only facts
and results were to be considered.
Il. Lowry Humes United States dis
trict attorney for Western Pennsylvania.
was here yesterday, visiting old friends
on Capitol Hill. MIR. Humes was one of
that previous band of Democrats and
Independents known as the "kickers' in
the legislative session of 1918. In that
year he was a member from Crawford
county and next to John r. K. Scott
he got into the Journal more than
anyone else. Scott was "insurging"
about that time and Humes was not
/
prosecutor Is the man in charge of the
suits against the breweries, and while
he says he is having fairly strenuous
time, he occasionally longs for the
lively days in the Legislature.
The annual sociability run of the
Camp Hill motorists is going to be
bigger than ever this year. Twenty
cars have been entered and merchants
who have friends among the auto
mobilists have offered a series of prizes
to be awarded as the committee i'm
charge sees fit. The motorists have
made 1t a point to ask for no con-
tributions of prizes and all that have
been given have been voluntary offer
ings The run this year will be on
May CT and will be to Baltimore on
the first day, where lunch will be
served shortly after noon, with a side
trip to the Naval Academy at An
napolis during the afternoon. The
night will be spent in Baltimore and
the route home the day following will
be by way of Bel Air, with a choice of
several routes beyond, depending on
the condition OF the roads.
General A. ]. Logan, commander OF
| the Second Brigade, who was here yes
terday for a meeting of the State
Armory Board. is the head of the State
troops in the Pittsburgh district. lie
took the precaution of getting the
latest strike news before he left for
] I, ,it iopidanfa1lV