Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-05-22
Poeit;cA t~
Pe~~c4GOa~io
BY the Ex-Committecman

The situation of the ten work.
mems compensation referees fur
nishes one of the most interesting
political developments in the State
in long time. The referees were
much interested in getting through
a bill doubling their salaries of ST.
500 and also taking care of their
clerks. Under a decision given yes
terday by Deputy Attorney General
Emerson Collins and backed up by
citations the referees are State Off
GERS who can not share in an in
crease of salary during their terms
of office. They are in the same shape
as the Governor will be if the bill TO
increase the executive salary to
$25, 900 is passed and signed by Gov
ernor Brumbaugh.
1t has been suggested that if the
referees resign and are named for
new terms they can receive the
salary. Whether any intend to do
this is not certain, but there is a
lot of talk about the somewhat
amusing situation that has arisen.
The proposition to take a re-
| cess until June at the close of this
weeks sessions of the Legislature
was the big theme last night and
to-day and some of the influential
Penrose leaders were opposed to it,
Efforts to get an agreement last
night failed and this morning it
looked as though the plan would
not materialize. Members of the
House declared that they would not
make the first move and that the
Senate would have to act. However,
there is considerable sentiment
among legislators in favor of going |
home on Thursday and staying
there until June or even later.
This would enable them to take
Memorial Day week at home and if
the recess went to June 6 to also
spend registration at home. If there
is no recess taken next week there
will be slim attendance in both
houses and precious little doing on
Monday or Tuesday with Wednesday
as a holiday.
1t begins to look as though Gov
ernor Brumbaugh would have the
appropriation bills in his hands in
the second week in June. This will
require action by him before July l,
session that long. Friends of the
Governor say he may sign the bills
and put it up to the Legislature TO
find the revenue.
An interesting thing about the
vote on the civil service bill last
night was that such stalwart PEN
rose men as Boyer, Perry and Stern
voted for it, lining up with Wallace
Walter and others OF the independ-
ent element. The Ware men voted
against the bill. Civil Service is
doomed by the Penrose men, but
not very popular with the other
faction.
Judge John w. Kephart, of the
a,.iA ,.,N 4
Brown, of the municipal court, were
among visitors to the legislative
halls.
The Lynch bill to repeal the
nonpartisan clause in the second ,
class city law caused less debate last
night than any bill of such import
ance this session. If it had been q
Philadelphia bill a couple of hours
would have been required.
-Pittsburgh's registration COM
missioners came over last evening to
look after some legislation in which
they are interested.
up to date there are twenty
aspirants for the congressional
nominations in the twenty eighth
district and the Governor has not
yet designated on what date the
election should be held
The Beidleman third -class city
bill was laid over in the Senate last
evening. There is a possibility of a
hearing being held on it when it
reaches the House.
The manner in which members Z
of the House got on record for ,
leaves of absence last night was }
rather funny. There was an un- i,
usual rush to get leaves put on rec !
ord so that If anything turned up :
the memt RS could be sure of a real !
reason for being away. There were :
more absences asked yesterday than :
for a long time. i,
Friends of Joseph b. LeCompte, :
assistant cashier of the State Treas :
ury and one of the standbys in that '.
department, are urging his reten- '
ton. Mr.. LeCompte, who is one of :
the best-known men on the Hill, has =.
made reputation for courtesy and i,
care. He has served under four
State Treasurers, having come here /;
under John o. Sheath.
Auditor General Snyder is
quietly putting back some of the !
men who were dropped by A. w. !
Powell when he held the office Some
of the travelling auditors have been
reinstated and there will be more
changes in that bureau. The other
changes will come gradually.
Both the Dawson and the Ram
sey mine cave bills came out in the
House last night. The lower
branch will have to fight it out be-
tween them