Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-11-15
'PoesticA IL
Ps~~4qgSo~io
BY the Ex-Commlttccman

/
test over the presiding officers of the
! two branches of the Legislature and
! that Governor elect William c.
! Sproul may name the speaker of the
next House of Representatives, if he
so desires, is taken to mean that the
new State Executive has a legislative
program which he wishes to get en-
acted and that the chieftains are in
accord with him. Just how extern
sive this program may be is a matter
of speculation, but in view of the fact
! that the friends of the Delaware
senator made much of his pre-emi-
nent business qualifications as one of
the reasons why he should be chosen
governor and that the Governor re-
ferred to their kindly statements in
IA recent interview on his policy
some here think that an overhaul
ing of the state governmental ma
Chinery may be one of the items on
his list.
1t is we'll known that the Della
ware senator took the greatest in
terest in the studies made of the
state government by the Economy
and Efficiency Commission and that
he was favorable to the various
ldoces of legislation prepared to
make effective some of the recon-
mendations, most of which, however,
fell under executive displeasure. An
other interesting thing is that Harry
$. McDevitt, who made the stud
les, has been active in handling de-
tails of the senator's campaign.
For some time past it has been
known that the Auditor Generals S
! Department had been engaged in n
study of the whole governmental
structure, the list of offices, the
methods and the disbursements for
salaries and expenses.
In the event that the new Cover
nor should have an overhauling of
the works in mind he will find the
! legislators in readiness to make it.
According to Philadelphia news
papers the announcement by Senator
Ware on Wednesday night that the
leaders of the Republican party had
arranged to avoid one of the speak
| ership contests that have torn up
| the whole state the last few years
has started numerous booms to
working. The strength of Represen-
tative George W. Williams of Tioga,
| the northern tier dry" leader, is
admitted by Philadelphia newspa-
pers, whose writers have sensed the
upstate demand for a speaker. Every
speaker of the House since the days
| of Frank Is. McClain has come either
| from Allegheny or a county con-
| tiguous to Philadelphia.
The Philadelphia Record says
| that efforts are being made to I'm
duce" Senator Sproul TO accept Mr..
! Williams. The North American says
/ Mr.. Williams is likely to be the
unopposed choice of all factions" for
the speakership and that the booms
/ of A. B. Hess, Lancaster, and w. +.
| Stadtlander, of Allegheny, while ac-
ceptable to the liquormen, will not
go far. The Public Ledger does not
refer to the Williams candidacy,
which. however. is seriously con-
sidered by the Philadelphia Press.
The Ledger notes that the boom for
| w. T. Ramsey, of Delaware, was not
considered in good FORM"
/ Most significant is the way the
Philadelphia Inquirer, first in the
field for Sproul last winter puts it.
| The Inquirer says John w. Wicker
man, of Allegheny, dry leader, has
declined to be a candidate and then
goes to to say. No matter what may
be presented by either the friends
or the opponents of local option, Mr..
| Williams is looked upon as a man
who would be fair to both sides un-
der all circumstances. Should the Ii
cense forces in the next House fail to
agree upon any candidate for Speak
/ er, it is regarded as reasonably GER
] tain that Representative Williams
will stand a good chance of winning
the Speakership.
; Much is made in Philadelphia
newspapers, especially the North
{, American, of Senator Sprouts re-
fusal to attend the after-the- ELECTION
| celebration at Harveys Cedars,
which attracts politicians from ali
over the state, and it is declared
that the new Governor will not go to
seaside conferences" and that he
/ has let il be known that if people
want to see him they can call at his
offices.
Out in Pittsburgh there is much
stir over the judgeships. Scranton
and Wilkes-B are busy with
/ Congressional contests and the rest
of the state is trying to forget the
election and allow Governor-elect
oproul a clear track.
George w. Williams, the Tioga
county legislator, who is being much
mentioned as a possible qar<JSq.s
for speaker, comes from a county
I 1T. l., -.
General Assembly and one Tioga
man was speaker back in the seven
ties. The two Youngs, John l. Nit.
cheH, Jerome i. Miles and other
men who left their impress on Penn.
sylvania affairs came from that
county. Mr.. Williams, who was in
the Senate for term, has been a
member of the House the last three
sessions and has been a conspicuous
figure. He was in charge of Local
option bills when 1t took consider
able courage and had tie General
respect of his colleagues He has
been chairman of several important
committees. Mr.. Williams was one
of the men who started out foI
speaker a couple of years ago, but
declined to start a row and with.
drew.
Representatives Aaron B. Hess
of Lancaster, and Robert S. Spang.
Ter, of York, who come from the
rose counties" are both legislator.
of considerable experience and are
said to be recipient candidates. Mr.
Hess figured as a receiver of compli.
mentary votes last session. Fred
G. Ehrhardt. OF Scranton, eldest ir
point of service of Republicans, ii