Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-01-06
Poeiics st
Ps~~a4esa~ia
By the ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

When Pennsylvania's legislators
assemble at the Capitol tomorrow
for the opening of the general
assembly 1t will be the 123rd of the
kind since 1875. There were earlier
assemblies of peoples law-making
representatives back in the days of
the Penn government and the Penn
sylvania lawmakers were not always
we'll beloved. The first assembly
or free Pennsylvania dates from the
year of independence, the represen-
tatves of the Keystone State meet
Ing in Philadelphia on November
2S, 1776.
Under the constitution of 1875,
framed by Pennsylvanians with the
Philadelphia influence much to the
fore, the lawmakers met annually
ana some fourteen sessions, some
lengthy, are recorded. These ses-
| slons were generally held in October.
Under the constitution of 1890 the
sessions were also held annually and
began in December, which continued
the rule until the constitution of
1888, when January was fixed. only
one December session being listed.
This constitution of 1898 lasted
longer than any except the present,
which is generally known as that of,
1873. Under it the biennial session
was ordained and January the time
for meetings. Two wars have oc-
Cured in the time of this document
and no special sessions were re-
quired by those struggles. In fact
while there were two special ses-
sions of the Senate there has been
but one special session, the historic
reform gathering called by the late
Governor Samuel w. Pennypacker
for January, 1906. In all twenty
three regular sessions have been
held under the constitution of 1873.
They have varied in length from
April to July, that of 1897, when
the old Capitol burned, extending
until July l. OF late there has been
tendency toward June sessions,
which, judging from newspaper ar
ticles, is not much desired for a
while. In fact, an April adjourn
ment would be popular If arranged
promptly.
The first session of the Legis-
lature to be held in Harrisburg
was that of 1913. 1t met on Decem-
Der l and adjourned on March 90
following. 1t was the thirty seventh
assembly and sat in the old court
house where other legislatures sat
until January 2, 1922, when the
State House was finished and occu-
pied with ceremony.
Robert S. Spangler is the first
speaker to hail from York county
In many years and probably the first
Republican from York to get the
office. Back in the days when Penn
sylvania was often Democratic York
Isc
there are records of speakers of
either branch. but recent history
gives all the honors to Spangler.
George j. Brennan, of the
Philadelphia Inquirer, will miss the
opening of the Legislature for the
first time in twenty-eight years. He
is in Florida but will be here for
the inauguration. Thomasl NJ. Jones
or Samuel E. Hudson, two of the
oldest correspondents, died since the
last session.
The Legislature Correspondents
Association will meet for organiza-
ton the afternoon of Inauguration
Day.
lature will miss James P. McNichol,
of Philadelphia, for whom the Sem
ate will hold a memorial service.
The Senator was known to many
men.
In the House ex-Speaker Rich
ard ]. Baldwin will not be in seat
No. l. The Delaware veteran sat
in seven sessions but did not run
this time.
State Chairman William E.
Craw, who will head the inaugural
committee, is now the senior
Senator.
Representative John NJ. Flynn.
of Elk, is now House senior member
with Fred c. Ehrhardt next. Flynn
dates from 1908, while Ehrhardt
came along a session later.
-Governor-elect Sproul will sit
at the organization of his thirteenth
consecutive session tomorrow when
he will resign. The Public Ledger
says: 'Mr. Sproul describes this
business of a Governors staff as so
much military camouf1age," and he
undoubtedly will take no action in
any event until Pennsylvania fight
ing men return from the battlefields.
Then, If he does appoint n stan, it
will be made up of real colonels
whose deeds entitle them to that
high rank"
The long list of Brumbaugh ap-
poinments will be sent to the Sen
ate COmnllIIee on executive NOM
nations" when submitted to-mor-
row. This was done in 1915. AnS
some will not come out again.
Senator Penrose says there will
be a new chapter in Philadelphia in
spite of the Wares.
Philadelphia newspapers say:
Governor elect William G. Sproul
has offered the post of First Deputy
Attorney General to ex-Judge Rob-
ert S. Gawthrop, of West Chester.
1t Is understood Mr.. Gawthrop will
accept the appointment. He will
take the place of William II. Keller,
of Lancaster. Deputy Attorneys
General Emerson Collins, of Will
Transport, and William NJ. largest,
of Harrisburg. will be retained.
Appointments as Deputy Attor-
neys General will be offered to Bar
nard J. Myers, for nine years City
Solicitor of Lancaster, and w. 1.
Swoope, of Clearfield."
--f-