Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-03-17
YoeittcA i~
Pe't~o4e0a~io
By the Ex-Conmitteeman

Economy in the State government,
the pairing down of largely-increased
estimates for conduct of departments
and commissions and getting by with
out enacttng new revenue laws appear
to be the things most talked of in the
newspapers commenting upon State
politics and there is q general desire
expressed that the State government
shall be on u basis which will enable
it to operate when times become nor
NAL without having to pass new
money-raising acts.
The Pittsburgh Gazette-Times in a
lengthy article declares that there is
no need for increased revenues IL the
government is put on Il basis of econ
omy and quotes Speaker Baldwin as
saying that the governmental expenses
are increasing to such a rate that be-
fore long they will absorb all of the
State income. The Philadelphia Press
is insisting upon some reductions and
says that IL the Economy and Eff
cheney Commission does not do some
thing the Legislature will put through
general reorganization of the gov
ernment, even to extent of looping off
some branches.
The Philadelphia Record to-day
declares that Senator Penrose is not
disposed to make any compromises
with what it terms the Vare-Brum-
baugh or Finn Magee forces and that
he VIII not enter into q deal with
them on next years gubernatorial
nomination. The Record says the
Senator may come to Harrisburg dur
ing the session and then remarks:
In reference to the investigation of
the alleged maladministration in the
conduct of the State government,
Senator Penrose asserted that he held
the same opinion as he has held all
along and declared that he would
keep his pledges to the people, He
said that no overtures for a compro-
mise had been made to him and an
nounced that they would not have
been received very cordially or got
ten very far if they had
am making my own contest
said Senator Penrose, and do not pro-
pose to enter any deals or compro-
misses. The subject has never even
been broached to me- Reports, ap-
parently inspired, that a deal would
be made between the warning Re-
publican factions have been circu-
lated persistently since the veto of the
Sproul resolution by Governor Brum-
baugh. The Senator branded these
reports as all talk"
The Philadelphia Public Ledger
to-day trots out United States District
Attorney Z. Lowry Humes, of Mead
vile, as the possible Democratic nomi-
nee for Governor next year, saying
that since George w. Guthrie is gone
he is the most likely candidate" 1t
Will be recalled that the Ledger gave
prominence to various possibilities in
1914 and that they were found to
be stalking horses at the finish
Friends of Joseph f. Guffey, the
Allegheny county Democratic boss who
will shortly retire as acting state
chairman after having failed to do
any of the things which the Demo-
cratic State leaders had promised they
were going to do, are engaged in
booming him for the Democratic NOM
ination for Governor, too. Guffey
would be about the easiest man to
defeat and it is doubtful whether the
old-time Guffey men would have much
to do with him.
Democratic State Chairman Nc
Lain will be home from border serv-
ice next week and will assume charge
of affairs at the Democratic windmill
in few weeks. He will find the
headquarters well run, but the Demo-
Gratis in the Legislature running with
out any leadership.
There does not t'appear to be much
excitement over the bills to abolish the
party square and to do various other
bills are piling up in the pigeon holes
of the committees in charge, but it
does not seem likely that very much
will be done about them. The Demo-
Gratis are getting ready to roar about
some corrupt practices acts but they
will not get far enough to cause any
trouble for any Democrats.
IS. G. Wagenseller, a well-known
clerk in the Department of Internal
Affairs, is being actively urged by his
friends to become a candidate for
the Republican nomination for regis
ter and recorder in Northumberland
county this year. Mr.. Wagenseller is
resident of Shamolkin and has been
active in party affairs.
A dispatch from Hazleton says: rs
]. Hughes, the city clerk, who has
been registrar of vital statistics here
for the State Department of Health
ever since the system of recording
births and deaths was started in 1905,
received notice from Harrisburg to-
day that ]. b. Hutchinson, aged sew
enty-six, has been appointed as his
successor and to turn over the books
as soon as the latter qualities. 1t is
charged by friends of Hughes that
the naming of Hutchinson, who has
always been q stanch Democrat, is