Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-02-24
LEGISLATURE NEWS
WOODWARD MAY
ENLARGE DEPT,
New Secretary of Internal
Affairs Has Bill Prepared
For Big Expansion

Plans of James f. Woodward. Sec
retarr of Internal Affairs elect, to en-
large vhe activities OF the department
over which he will assume charge
the firsS Tuesday of next May have
been worked out and four bills have
been prepared for submission to the
Legislature within q week. They call
Tor transfer of the bureau of mu-
inequalities from the Labor Industry
Department to Internal affairs, create
bureaus OF statistics and geological
survey and make the secretary custo-
dian of all State deeds and other
realty papers. The present bureau
or land, standards, railways and as
sessment and taxes are not disturbed.
Mr.. Woodward has discussed the pro
posed changes with Governor Will
liam c. Sproul.
The Department of Internal Affairs
which is a department established by
| the constitution, has been much dis
cussed in recent years and once an
attempt was made to abolish it. 1t
now has thirty-eight officials and at
taches with a salary list of 1000.
The appropriation for all purposes
to the department is S152,500.
The bill making the secretary Gus
todian would enlarge the work of
the land office bureau because all
titles and documents relative to for
est reserves, armories, hospitals and
the like owned by the Common
wealth would be in his care. Many
OF these papers are now in the hands
of the Auditor General.
The proposed acts relating to new
bureaus repeal those creating the
bureau of municipal statistics in La
Dor and Industy and the Geological
and Typographical Survey. which
was created by act of 1899. The
bureau is now headed by J. Herman
Knisely, former clerk of select coun-
Gil of Harrisburg and contains six
persons.
1t is not the intention to disturb
the bureau of statistics and informa-
ton in the Labor and Industry de-
partment, which is closely allied
with the Workmen's Compensation
system or to interfere with the statis-
tics which it is doing in connection
with industries. For years there was
a bureau of statistics in the Intern
al Affairs department, but with the
creation of the Labor department it
gradually dwindled and only one
clerk has handled its work. Mr..
Woodward intends to revive this bur-
reau and will ask authority for ad-
ditional work. 1t will be depository
for statistics of railroads, mines, in
dustries and the like operated in con-
junction with the proposed municipal
bureau. For years the third class
City League has been asking for q
bureau of municipalities and the
Woodward bills would make the
bureau. clearing house for mu-
nicipal information. 1t would class
ify, index, make available and dis
seminate data" that may be helpful
the methods of admins
tration and municipal developments
with special reference to accounting,
future planning of highways, parks
BUILDINGS and the like,
preservation of natural and historic
features" and the making of plans
and surveys. All municipalities are
required to furnish the information
asked and the secretary is to ap-
point all attaches needed fix salaries.
The only office specified is the chief.
No salaries are mentioned. This act
and the others would become eff
fective in May when Mr.. Woodward
takes office.
Ex-senator George w. McNees, of
is chief of the present
Survey. There are two
on the board and the only
is r. R. Hice, Beaver, state
geogolist. The idea is to transfer
it to the department and give it a
permanent place in the Capitol.
Conferences will be held during
the week in regard to the limits
to be placed on weight, length and
width of trucks. the Dithrich bill
backed by the Motor Federation of
Pennsylvania being the basis. The
present weight is $4,000 pounds and
this figure is favored by the Senate
Highway officials. Some people want
to make it higher. Ninety inches
is favored for width, but length is
the point of controversy. The bill
now has % foot length. originally
being 20. The advocates of extra
length want 2S feet, but % feet is
suggested.