Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-04-15
Pee;;c4 i~
Ps~'ssqesa~ia
BY the Ex-Committeeman

A substantial movement to bring
about such changes in the state
government as will do away with
duplication of work by departments
of the state government and which
will inject new business methods
and modern economical methods in
to various offices will probably result
from the inquiries which have been
instituted by Auditor General Charles
the reports of the Economy and
Efficiency Commissions. the last of
which was rewritten before being
given out, because of drastic changes
recommended, will be referred to in
statements on the subject. The con-
ference held last week by the Au-
ditor General with a view to getting
rid of the overlapping Of field work
by State College and the Economic
Zoologist, has started much COM
ment about the Capitol in regard
to other instances where work is
duplicated. In one department in
quiries have been made, because
there are theories that an elaborate
office checking up system has been
built up in order to keep people on
a payroll, while in another there is
so much system" that the force is
almost twice what 1t was four years
ago. The whole scheme of state
government was studied twice, with
in the last six years and numerous
recommendation which would have
cut down cost were made in 1915
and 1917.
Members of the executive COM
mittee of the Democratic State COM
mittee will likely be called together
after the primary to discuss the con-
ditions in congressional and legisla-
tive districts where no petitions have
been filed for Democrats. The eX-
ecutive committee has power to
name candidates where vacancies
exist, but indications are that there
will be districts where nominations
will go by default, because of diff
Guilty of getting men to stand for
nominations in strong Republican
districts. Because of the failure to
file petitions there are chances that
men may be nominated by writing in
names.
I'm discussing the Democratic
gubernatorial raid and the opening
of headquarters by Judge Eugene G.
Bonniwell, the Philadelphia In
quirer says: The McCormick-Pal-
mer leaders have sent out an alarm
all along the line and are urging the
Federal officeholders and other ben
eficiaries of the reorganization lead
ership to prepare for a battle royal
and to be sure to do everything pos
sible to boom the candidacy of Guf-
70 n Rnnniwall
BOOM"
Death of Justice Potter gives
Governor Brumbaugh another major
place in the state government to
fill. There are now vacant the
health commissionership, for which
Director Wilmer Krusen, of Phila-
delphia, is much mentioned; two
public service commisionerships and
in addition to the Supreme Court
justiceship a judicial vacancy in
Philadelphia and a number of minor
places.
Between the notice of Secretary
Daniels to Mayor Smith that unless
he cleans up" Philadelphia in a
week the Navy will do it and the
attacks of the reformers on John
r. X. Scott's candidacy for lieuten-
ant governor, there is plenty doing
in Philadelphia these days. Mayor
Smith said that he would "clean up"
the town after hearing from Colo
mel Hatch, a Marine officer who has
been in Philadelphia for a long
time, while Senator Ware said that
he did not know of any vice in
South Philadelphia.
james S. Chambers. of the Pub
lie Ledger, who is writing a series
i
bernatoria1 situation in Pennsyl-
there will be four candidates for
governor after the primary, saying:
No matter who wins the nomina-
ton in May, it is said on good au-
thority that there will be four candi-
dates for governor. Some time ago
Mr.. O'Neil said he was in the fight
to election day for the principles
involved and to give the state a
sound administration. 1t is said that
Governor Brumbaugh will stump the
state for O'Neil. Judge BonniweIl.
representing as he does an element
that would have no outspoken can
didate in the field if he should retire
after the primaries. is booked to
fight the battle to the end in Novem-
her for the liquor element. His can
didacy will have some effect in the
senatorial districts and it is intend
cd to pull through some weak aspir-
ants for the upper house of the
State Legislature. The contest is on
now and there will be no wavering
until election day"
Mr.. O'Neil has never said
whether he would run or not in the
event that he failed to get the Re-
publican nomination and his friends
have been reticent on that point.
Democratic state windmill men.
who have been much disappointed at
the turn affairs have taken in their
party, are announcing gleefully that
there are only fifteen contests for
seats on the Democratic state COM
mittee. The other 100 are not being
fought for.
Joseph F. Guffey, candidate Of
the state machine for the Demo.
cratic gubernatorial nomination, an.
nounced yesterday that he welcom-
ed a fight with Bonniwell or any,
one else, because the nomination wal
worth fighting for. He also announc-
ed that until the Liberty Loan cam
paign ended he would be busy sell
| ing the nations bonds and after thai
there would be time for politics. Mr.
Guffey will resign as general man.
ager of the Pittsburgh gas concern
to run his campaign and will be
| busy candidate for governor. Guf
| fey's patriotic stand was much com
mented upon in the newspapers.