Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-06-15
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BY the Ex-Committeeman

The Woodward direct inheritance
| tax bill loomed up to-day as the big
gest thing in the closing fortnight OF
the legislative session and there were
not wanting predictions that If the
Governor vetoed it an effort would
be made to pass it over his veto or
that it might bring about an extern
sion of the legislative session beyond
| June 2S.
A good many people doubt, be-
cause of the temper of members OF
the Legislature over the prolonged
! session, whether an effort to stretch
it out again will be made. Others
think that as every member is inter-
ested in an appropriation and all ap-
propriations are based on the direct
inheritance tax bill adverse action
by the Governor would be overturn-
ed. In any event unless there is
change in the attitude of the state
administration toward the bill there
is going TO be trouble. The chief OBJ
lection is that it gives the Auditor
General authority to appoint numer-
Gus attorneys.
The Philadelphia Press, which is
a very staunch Republican newspa-
per, says regarding the situation on
the inheritance tax bill: senator
Penrose and his leaders realize that
| the Governor is threatening TO veto
! the bill because il gives Auditor Gen.
eral Snyder the sole power or ap-
| pointing tax attorneys in the sixty
seven counties in the state, is play
Ntng a hand empty or winning cards.
They figure that such action would
be dangerous politically to him be-
cause of the chaos that would result
in the revenue and appropriation
program arranged by the Leglsla-
ture. But they feel also that the ac-
tion would be even more disastrous
to them, both politically and practi-
cally, under present conditions. And
they realize that under present con-
ditions in carrying out the policy OF
sitting tight" and ignoring the Gov
ernor they are playing game OF
bluff exactly similar TO that which
the Governor is playing
The Pittsburgh Gazette-Times
expresses the opinion that whether
the session will be extended is a
mere matter of speculation. The
North American says: In the mat
ter of handling the situation that
would arise in case Governor Brum-
baugh vetoes the direct inheritance
tax bill Chairmen Woodward and
Buckman. of the house and senate
appropriations committees, just now
favor the plan OF passing all the
general appropriation bills with the
,,Hscih1a SnAA6 leaving nh q
hospital appropriations depending
upon the inheritance tax revenues.
This is the time when the con-
tests over elections TO seats in the
Philadelphia city committee will be
threshed out and there is a general
hope over the state that the contend
ing factions will get together and
apportion the representation in the
committee. Every time there is a
row in the Philadelphia city commit
tee the rest of the state feels the
disturbance. The plan is TO devote
4 good part OF the day TO settling
the contests.
Governor Brumbaugh made the
Flag Day address at Lancaster, Lieu
tenant G overnor McClain and Secre-
tary OF the Commonwealth Woods
spoke in western counties, and At
lOTHeS GeAeEdL oio"A a. O'tSN4'4S.
a number of representatives and
senators participated in the exer-
cises at their homes.
The Philadelphia Record says
| that there is grave danger of the
session ending in row. The Demo-
Gratis in the House would scarcely
/ be able to take advantage of it should
it happen, judging from the way
they have been performing under
the direction of the ringmasters'
1 committee.
The Philadelphia Inquirer to-
day says: State and local politics
have been involved in the develop
ments of the last few days in the
! Legislative situation, but owing TO
/ the fact that Senator Penrose has
| been only indirectly in touch with
/ happenings in THE Senate and the
| House. a condition of uncertainty
/ still exists. There is no doubt about
/ the fact that Senators McNichol and
| Ware, of Philadelphia, have reached
an understanding which has been
/ followed by frequent confidential
| talks between these Senators. many
/ of them held right on the floor OF
/ the Senate"
The Philadelphia Chamber of
I Commerce has addressed letter
/ 10 Governor Brumbaugh, requesting
/ him to sign the new cold storage
/ bill.
The Philadelphia Ledger to-day
predicts that the Philadelphia small
| council bill will be a storm center
next week. Some of the legislators
/ think il will not be worth while
I fighting about, as the Governor will
! probably veto il. Others contend
/ that he is committed to the bill by
I speeches and declarations on home
rule and municipal government.
Third class city legislation will
/ be up in the Senate next week and
. from all indications there will be
[ plenty doing. The Senators will vote
/ whether the elections in such cities
/ shall be on the partisan or nonpar-
tisan systems.
My Garden Gate