Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-04-07
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By the Ex-Conlmitteeman

! People who follow politics are
awaiting with considerable interest
the effect of Governor Sprouts an
nouncement that after study of the
anthracite situation he is convinced
that if miners wages are to be
maintained and the trade prevented
from Generalization the advance in
prices is justified, but at the same
| time railroad rates must be revised
and put back under State control
| and something done to get local
| dealers to realize their duty to the
public. The Governors decision
seems to have been shock to many
| people and to the coal companies
as well. The sharp criticism of
| Feneral railroad rates met with gen.
eral approval as did the demand for
| local distributors, coal dealers and
those who handle the part of the
business coming into direct contact
with the consumer to revise their
| charges.
The Philadelphia Inquirer gives
space to warm commentator of the
Governor from Thomas Kennedy,
president of the United Mine Work
ers of the Seventh District at Halle
ton. ''The statement of Governor
Sproul," he said, shows a broad
and intelligent understanding of the
anthracite situation. 1 am more
than pleased when he says that we
are all anxious that the present
wage scale in the anthracite be
maintained. That, coming from the
Chief Executive of the State, will, in
my opinion, silence those who had
| hoped to reduce wages and will do
much to stabilize the anthracite in
dustry."
The North American in it's A.
nancial page says that the increase
Will affect seventy per cent of op-
erations and indicates that there will
be activity in production, while it
gives space to a statement from
Pottsville which says that constant
increases in prices is a menace" to
the industry. The Anthracite Con-
sumers' League. a schuylkill con-
Germ, criticises the Governors find
ing. The Philadelphia Press prints
an editorial calling for defeat of the
North bill taxing all coal as some
thing which would injure the con-
sumer. The North bill is not being
taken seriously just now.
The action of westmoreland
county judges in making that county
dry" was much discussed among
legislators and "wets" made little
effort to conceal their disgust. The
"drys" We're correspondingly jubil-
ant. This week will be an important
one in regard to liquor legislation in
the House and few more jabs like
that at Greensburg will add to the
dismay of the 'wets."
1t was an odd coincidence that
z. B. Hardenbergh and P. Gray
Meek, rivals for election as Auditor
General more than fifteen years ago
and colleagues in the State Senate,
should die within a month or so
of each other. The Wayne county
auditor general was a close person
al friend of the Senator from Belle
fonte and while he was no match
for Senator Meek when he started
to say things about the Republican
party he used to lose no opportunity
to point out to Meek where he could
have made them sharper.
Opinions appear to differ
whether there will be much inter-
ference with the legislative program
because of the absence of the Gov
ernor At the Capitol plans have
been made to advance legislation
and send it to the Governor in bales
the day before he gets home. Be-
lief in the close of the session on
May 10 has not been abandoned by
some well posted men in the general
assembly. The Philadelphia Press
looks for the next month TO be one
or the most active and interesting
in legislation as it relates to State
politics.
Attorney General William I.
Schaffer is to speak as representa-
tive of the Governor at the Reading
functions on Wednesday. Mr.. |
Schafer has been much compli- !
mented throughout the State for his
activity in attacking Government
post-Bellum control of intra-State
business and his prompt demand
that telephone and telegraph rates
be charged as authorized by the
Public Service Commission.
Death of Judge W. W. Carr. a
Democrat, has made the Philadel- |
phia Record and various Democrats
eager to establish a precedent that
the successor of a Democratic judge
should be a Democrat. The Cover
nor will have to appoint and he
will be kept lodging Democratic
applicants and their friends, Just
why party whose representation in
a general assembly of PSI has
shrunk to %, should be heard from
is hard for some legislators to un-
derstand. especially in view of the
federal service in this State.
The Philadelphia Press saws
that if Judge Eugene c. Bonniwell. |
whom it mentions as a possible ap-
pointee, should be named 1t would
be a slap at Attorney General A.
Mitchell Palmer, which is probably
why some Democrats of Record
leanings would like to see him hon
ored. There is also talk of Citv
Chairman Edgar w. Lank, Joseph
P. McCullen. one of the ablest law
yers in Philadelphia, and Frank B.
Bracken.
LABOR NOTES