Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-04-07
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By the Ex-Committeeman

An injection of factionalism into a
discussion of appropriations to charit-
able institutions by the Legislature
which occurred yesterday at q meet-
ing of the House appropriations COM
mittee in Philadelphia has set the
State buZzing and is taken to mean
that the minority wing in the appro-
priations committee plans to repeat
the tactics employed by John r. X.
Scott and his allies in 1913 when they
opDoDsd the manner in which appro-
priations were made. The difference
in this case appears to be that in
stead of demanding cuts in appro-
priatons the minority faction will de-
mand increases.
The matter bobbed UP yesterday
when the members of the House conf
mittee were attending a meeting after
having made some visits. Represen-,
tative w. II. Ramsey, of Chester, one
of the older members of the commit
tee. made an address in which he
warned the charities that the eXigen-
cies of war might force the State to
reduce its Rratuities to hospitals and
the like. Representative Herman L.
Hecht, who comes from the home
ward of Mayor Thomas B. Smith and
who is consistent opponent ofNthe
Penrose people, at once took issue
and insisted that the State was very
rich and that such a policy would be
short-sighted. He said that liberal
appropriations to hospitals and col
leges were part of preparedness and
proceeded to buck the Ramsey view.
AS a number of very liberal ap-
propriations have been asked by hos
pitals under the guise of prepared
ness there have been some discussions
which probably precipitated the clash
yesterday. 1t is believed that Hecht
will carry his fight into the Legisla-
ture, which will further add to the
disturbances.
The Philadelphia Inquirer to-day
charges that attempts are being made
by city administration and ward lead
ers in Philadelphia to line up men,
bers of the House against the Phila-
delphia small council bill. The In
quirer saws: THE smaller council bill,
advocated by the Committee of Sew
enty and other reformers who have
been cooperating with Senator Pen
rose in a general legislative program,
is vigorously opposed by the Republi-
can ward leaders, who wish to nain-
tain the prestige which they have had
for years in naming members of coun-
ellis from their respective bailiwicks.
The bill which George d. Porter is
IatnerlnS, Tor nOnpartlSan DallOJ Tor
all elective offices in Philadelphia, was
likewise attacked by active political
workers, who canvassed the visiting
legislative delegation. They want to
retain the partisan ballot, with the
nominees of the several parties being
named at the party primaries in ac-
cordance with time-honored custom
in Philadelphia"
-Murrel Dobbins, former city
treasurer of Philadelphia and we'll
known in the State, died yesterday,
aged rs. .
Allegheny county judges are con-
sidering a suggestion that liquor IL
censes be abridged during the war
period.
Altoona people are planning to
send a delegation here next week to
present views on third-class city legis-
lation.
Prof. J. A. Cooper, principal of
Edinboro State Normal school, is out
in letter in which he attacks the
State normal school system which he
says cost 100000 a year which could
be saved. The professors figures are
disputed.
-Philadelphians are threatening to
test the action of the Public Service
Commission in regard to the Broad
street subway in the courts if it is
not reconsidered on Monday.