Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-03-22
PoedicA IT.
Pe~"o4eSo"io
By the Ex-Committeeman

Stories that in spite of the apparent
harmony existing between potential
State senators, and the intimation
from Senator Penrose that he is going
to await developments, some quiet in
vestigations are under way on Capitol
Hill, have excited more than one man
active in the politics of the State and
Democratic leaders are reported to be
tearing their hair because they fear
someone is going to turn up something
which they would like to employ for
campaign thunder.
The general probe" is on the table
in the Senate, where it went when the
Governor sent in his veto message, and
no action has apparently been taken
by standing committees to make in
quiries into the conduct of any of the
departments The legislators have
been letting out their feelings in re-
gard to factional politics in debates
on bills, such as that on the Philadel-
phia measure to take the police and
tiremen out of politics, while the lead
ers have been going around arm in
arm.
Late last night it leaked out that
one of the reasons for the feVerish
night work in some of the departments
was because the appropriations COM
mittees had adopted John r. X. Scott s
famous method in the session of 1915
when he demanded information on
how every dollar cf each contingent
fund was spent. 1t was a rare occa-
sion for Scott, who was then off the
reservation, but his plan has been put
on rubber tires and worked behind
closed doors this winter.
Some time ago 1t was openly de-
clared by Penrose men that they were
going to cut contingent appropriations
down to the bones Having the power
in committees, they could do so with
out much trouble, but administration
men promptly came back with the as
sertion that they would interfere with
the public business if they persisted in
punitive measures.
The latest information is that the
pruners and cutters of contingent
funds have been seeking Justification
and from some reports have turned UP
very interesting matters which will be
made public one of these days. The
Economy and Efficiency Commission
in making up the budget has been
careful in dealing with contingent
funds, too.
Governor Brumbaugh is still sit
ting tight on his appointments and
although he has been in conference
with senator's on the situation in re-
gard to recess selections not sent to
the Senate he has not indicated what
he will do. The senators, however,
have said what they are going to do.
The Governor would like to get his
appointments confirmed soon, but dis
likes to have them embarked upon an
uncertain sea.
Auditor General-elect Snyder, who
was inclined to be belligerent some
time ago over the failure to send in
appointments, has decided to wait until
he is the man on the watch tower. II
is possible that something may happen
between now and that first Monday in
May when Snyder will succeed A. W.
Powell. The Legislature will not ad-
journ until after Snyder takes his new
office.
Auditor General Powell says he
will make his report to the Senate and
House on the employment of experts
in his office and that he will show all
there is to show. 1t is said that
$4,000 of the $4,000 secured by
Powell in the deficiency bill will be
spent for the experts.