Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-01-12
ADMINISTRATIONS
FRIENDS ARE BUSY
Working Out Plans to Check
mate Moves of PenroSe
War Board

People connected with the State ad-
ministration seem to have been as
busy devising ways and means to
meet attacks by the Governor as the
Penrose war council at Atlantic City
has been active in planning to push
hostlities in the event that no peace
protocol is arranged and it is now de-
clared by some of the students of the
statutes of the Commonwealth that
there is nothing to prevent the Gov
ernor making shifts in State officials
in the event that the Senate fails to
confirm appointments.
For some time it has been inti-
mated that the Penrose forces who
dominate the State Senate, would ex-
erciSe the senatorial prerogatiVe and
reject some appointments of men who
have been strenuous in their partisan
Iship in behalf of the Governor. On
the Brumbaugh side it has been said
that the Governor does not need to
send in appointments until the very
last day of the senatorial session and
while some contend that he is not
required to send names at all but just
to continue the officials in place it is
generally held that the latter position
| is not well taken. The constitution
requires confirmation by the Senate
The intimation was also given during
the speakership war that there was
no bar to the Governor reappointing
men who had been rejected once the
Senate adjourned, but this is also
open to question in view of some
decisions quoted.
Now the strategists have worked
out plan whereby if Insurance Com
missioner O'Neil, for instance was not
confirmed, the Governor might ask
Highway Commissioner Black, If he
was confirmed, to resign, then ap-
point Black as Insurance Commits
sioner and put O'Neil in as Highway
Commissioner, where he would prob
ably like to be. And this plan might
be followed in case any other man
was rejected. The strategists figure
that the sense of loyalty of officials
to the Governor would probably lead
them to acquiesce in the shuffling of
places. What the incoming Auditor
General would do about the matter is
another matter.
The Governor will not make any
more appointments until the Legisla-
ture reconvenes here on the evening
of January 22, if then. He is said
to be seriously considering ID. Edward
Long, the Franklin county lawyer and
publisher, for superintendent of Pub
lie Printing and Binding, although
friends of Anderson II. Walters, the
Johnstown publisher, are boosting
him.
The tender of the superintendency
to A. Nevin DIETRICH, of Chambersburg,
was made by the Governor several
days ago. DIETRICH and his friends
have been looking for it ever since
last spring when the Washington
chairman lined up with the Governor
in his presidential delegate campaign
and when the old animosities of
Franklin county politics cropped out
and the war on A. Nevin Pomeroy
| began. DIETRICH in his letter to the
| Governor declining the place said he
could not take it at this time and in
his statement issued said he had i'm
portant work to help the Governor
in the Republican party. If Long
should be named and be rejected by
the Senate there would be nothing to
prevent the Governor from naming
DIETRICH after the Senate adjourned
and he could serve the balance of the
Brumbaugh term and trust to the next
Senate for confirmation. DIETRICH has
gressive element headed by William
Finn and would probably prefer tc
be on the outside looking in during
the session than to being a mem bel
of the official family, say some people
on Capitol Hill.
Banking Commissioner William III
Smith has not resigned yet His resig.
nation was requested as of January
15, He has given no sign of actor
and the Governor has refused to tall
about what he will do The Cover
nors friends say that he will prob
ably consider the commissionershiI
vacant on and after Monday.