Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-12-27
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While there are thousands of men
in Pennsylvania who have been at
the. State Capitol as legislators, Of
ficials, attaches of departments or
visitors who knew "Chiefy Gilner,"
self-appolnted guardian of the Cap
| itol and regulator of the state gov
ernment, there are few who know
how he came to be called Chiefly"
His name was Patrick Gilnaugh,
but 1t got shortened on Capitol Hill.
SHE was brought here by his parents
from Ireland, and was more or less
eccentric when a boy. He develop
ed an extraordinary liking for fire.
houses and spent most of his time
at the old Citizen house, which was
razed few years ago for Capitol
Park extension. One day he amaz-
ed every one there by announcing
that he had been appointed chief of
the states fire department and that
he might be called upon any mo-
ment to handle n big fire in York or
Erie or Williamsport or some other
place He was promptly named
| "Chiefy," and the name survived,
people in all walks of life from
Governor to railroaders and bank
ers, calling him by that title. Ono
day when funds were being collect
ed back in volunteer days for a new
team of horses "Chiefy" demanded
to know about it and was told the
| money was to be used to buy Jack
Barry's goats to pull the steamer.
Barry lived near the enginehouse
and his goats were noted. Chiefly"
left the place in high indignation.
and went to the Capitol, where he
told the policemen he had establish
ed his "office." He at once assumed
protection of the Capitol and had
fashion OF awaiting high officials at
the entrance and giving Governors
confidential tips" When Edwin S.
Stuart was Governor, "Chiefy"
warned him that he owned the Cap
itol and that things had to be care
fully run, while he told Samuel w.
Pennypacker that he would stand
no interference from state police.
Just to illustrate the manner in
which branches of the state govern
ment were not considered as revenue
raisers when the scheme of admins
| tration was revised some forty-hve
years ago have become producers
of funds for the Commonwealth 1t
may be stated that the corporation
bureau of the department of the
| Secretary of the Commonwealth has
turned in million dollars q year
on an average for the last twenty.
John f. Whitworth, the corporation
clerk, has been in charge of that
bureau for eighteen years and the
state has gotten all that was COM
ing TO it.
The open weather has caused
many men to go for long tramps in
the country, but the walkers who
seem to be especially interested are
the trout fishermen. They are get
ting lines on the streams in Cumber-
land and Perry counties and fol-
lowing keenly Commissioner Bull
ler's December planting" of young
fish. 1t is an interesting expert
ment. but when trout rise for flies
ten days from Christmas it is worth
while, they argue.
The Philadelphia Evening Bulle-
tin contains this interesting item in
Penu's column: Notification has
been given by the State Armory
Board that it will cause a bill to be
presented to the Legislature with
the purpose of erecting an armory
in Norristown and calling it the
| InOHldS J. GoI6WdEG AT
mory. General Stewart, during the
greater part of his life, was init
mately associated with the military
system OF the state. He was an ef-
ficient Adjutant- was re-
tanned in that place by one Cover
nor after another from the time of
Hastings, and enjoyed a more than
5rdinary share of the good will of
the officers of the National Guard.
A state armory situated in his home
town and bearing his name would
fifty commemorate him. 1t would be
exactly the sort of monument which
TON" Stewart himself would have
chosen to be remembered by among
the Pennsylvania Guardsmen and
among his comrades of the Grand
Army of the Republic. Such a me-
mortal has a real meaning and lasts
far longer than shafts or columps."
|
Among visitors TO the Capitol yes
terday was Major Frederick G.
Miller, of Pittsburgh commanding
the Pennsylvania signal corps bat
TALON in France. Major Miller help
ed organize the corps and was in
command when 1t modified at Mt.
Gretna for Mexican border service.
He was here to call upon Adjutant
General Frank d. Beary.