Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-03-14
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By the Et-Committeeman

Senator Clarence J. Buchanan, Bucks
county, was last night endorsed fol
president pro tenn. of the State Senate
receiving the signatures of thirty-four
senator's. This insures his election a,
the close of the session. Senator
Buckman is friend of Senator PEN
rose and of Joseph r. .Grundy, but he
received the endorsement of Senator
r.. H. Ware and the Ware following
from Philadelphia. He will succeed
Senator e. e. Beidleman, of this city,
who was chosen two years ago and
reelected when the Senate organized
in January. The Bucks man is serv-
ing his second term.
The paper for the endorsement of
Senator Buckman was passed about
by Senator William e. Crow, the
chairman of the Republican State
committee. The selection was COM
mended by a number of senator's when
they signed the paper. There are
thirty-nine Republican senators and
1t is believed that all will vote for
him when the election takes place.
Senator Ware was among the first
to sign the Buckman paper and he
did so because, as he said, Buchanan
has always treated us fairly and when
we heard he was q candidate we did
not place one of our own in the field.
There is considerable speculation
as to the chief clerkship of the Sem
ate when Harmon M. Kephart be-
comes State Treasurer in May. Mr..
! kephart is going to serve until he
! takes his new office. For the place
are heard the names among others of
| Charles Johnson, former insurance
commissioner; Fred Mcdonald, jour-
nal clerk of the House, who halls from
/ d CT al "a n let or
| of wills of Erie and former journal
clerk of the Senate; eX-Congressman
S. Taylor North, of PunXsutaney; Wal
| ter II. Gather, secretary, Ex-Governor
John K. Tener and others.
The selection will not be made for
some time and there will be consider
able rivalry for the honor which pays
$4,000 a year.
The unanimity of action on Buck
man for president pro tenn. was q
distinct shock to the Democrats and
the GROWERS and pessimists and was
taken to emphasize the arrangement
for harmonious action on important
matters this session. Since the sena-
tors returned from their recess there
have been plenty of signs that no
matter how they differ in regard to
the senior senator and the Governor
/ they are not going to let such matters
interfere with personal relations. Some
rather odd groups. considering the
speeches and interviews during the
probe" discussion days, have been
seen about the Senate chamber.
The belief is that when Senator
Penrose returns to Philadelphia next
week that there will be some plain
talking about letting things drift along
the rest of the session. The senator is
said to desire some probing" and
Auditor General-elect Snyder is also
inclined to be rampant, but others are
showing pacific traits.
| If this condition lasts 1t would not
be surprising one of these days to see
things speed up suddenly and the ap-
! preparation bills start to come out
while the important legislation would
be put to the front and an adjournment
as far as enactment of bills, be taken
in May. But there might also be a
recess taken to review vetoes and to
act on appointments.
The action of the joint revenue
committee late yesterday caused some
comment in the State. 1t decided not
until the Economy and Efficiency
Commission furnishes the Legislature
with the budget information asked
weeks ago. The commission was eX-
pected to meet last week and the
week before, but postponed action un-
Til lO-mOrTOW Wnen III plans TO ask
some heads OF departments about need
for appropriations for two years. The
i increases are tremendous and some of
the senators are said to feel that the
State administration can cut down
departmental estimates materially and
not affect the increases asked for
roads, schools and forests. either.
i 1t is even possible that the joint
revenue committee or the appropri-
ations committees might decide to do
some quizzing of department heads on
their own account IL they consider that
the Economy Commission does not go
far enough. The Economy Commits
sion has the best collection of facts
and figures about the State govern
ment ever gathered II 1t wants to use
them," remarked one observer last
i Members of the Legislature
united last night in a spontaneous tri-
butte to the late Representative Charles
j. Roneyf of Philadelphia, at me-
mortal service in the House. It was
Lattended by members OF Mr.. Roney's