Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-01-29
SCATTERED GOVERNMENT

CoME years ago the Legislature,
~ under Republican spur. put
through body OF legislation so
admirable in its character that Pres
ident Roosevelt, in a public speech,
was moved to commend the laws then
enacted as constituting reform so
progressive as 10 challenge the good
opinion OF the nation.
Now comes Senator Penrose with
series of proposals which. if enacted
into law, will almost revolutionize the
practice of many years. Perhaps not
all the measures suggested are neces-
sary, and their genesis may be in a
factional controversy. but when he
declares that the practice of having
departments of the State government
located in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh,
Scranton and elsewhere outside the
state Capital, has become scandal,
he is stating an incontrovertible fact.
This he proposes to stop by providing
for Capitalization of all departments
and bureaus in Harrisburg.
His long experience as a legislator
his familiarity with conditions here
at the seat of government, and his
knowledge of manifest abuses growing
out of the detachment of important
bureaus and divisions and whole de-
partments from the Capitol have
doubtless led the senior Senator to rec
ommend return to first principles in
the matter of administration.
We have heard for the last two
years about the location of Branch
Capitol" in Philadelphia. the whole
thing growing out of the practical
joke of a newspaper man, but certain
Philadelphians took the matter quite
seriously. and there was a lot OF dis
cussion bya commission designated un-
der the joker resolution. Also, the
joke was taken seriously elsewhere
and other cities began to demand a
little capitol of their own so that the
whole fabric of the State government
was in danger OF being divided by lot
among the ambitious municipalities
Senator Penrose manifestly believes the
time has come to smash the peripa-
tetic scheme OF government invented by
restless officials who have been gradu-
ally making Harrisburg a sort OF
their public duties. Only a short
time ago a group OF officials was trans
ferred to Philadelphia. whence they
had been brought during the Tener
administration. but they were not con-
tent until an order was made to send
them back 10 Philadelphia. And that
is the story OF many an abuse of this
kind.
While the proper concentration OF
the officials OF the State in Harrisburg
is being arranged-and Senator PEN
rose should not abandon his idea un-
der the pressure which Will doubtless
be exerted upon one pretext or an
,other-steps should likewise be taken
for the permanent location of the
Supreme Court on Capitol Hill. There
is absolutely no excuse for the court
of last resort TO sit anywhere else than
in Harrisburg. II there ever was a
reason for this judicial body to move
around between Philadelphia. Pitts
burgh and Harrisburg. the reason no
longer exists. And with the compile
ton of a great modern hotel within
the shadow OF the Capitol this year
there VIII be less excuse than before
for the sittings of the higher court
outside of Harrisburg.
Let us hope these proposed reforms
are not transitory and merely echoes
of factionai controversy. Something
worth while may yet eVentuate as a
result Of the political hurly-buriy OF
the last year,