Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-12-23
PeGt;co IT.
Pe~~aqGa~ia
BY the Ex-Committeeman

Steps are to be taken Immediately
by the Attorney Generals Depart
ment to prepare drafts of Consti-
tutional Amendment to provide for
a budget system in Pennsylvania in
accordance with ideas of members
or the State Constitutional Revision
commission, it was learned to-day.
The Commission is not scheduled to
meet until January 6, but before
leaving the city. members interested
in the budget proposition outlined
some thoughts in regard to amend
ments which will be. put into shape.
One series of amendments will re-
quire that the State government he
/ put upon Il budget basis while
| references Will be made to such u
! plan IN other amendments so that il
will be part of State finance. An
other series of amendments will
! make it optional, it is underst ood
some of the members of the Com
mission are of the opinion that the
budget should be left 10 the Legis-
lature's desires, holding that when
| amendments regarding appropria-
| tons TO. departm ents, charitable and
educational institutions and other
objects are completed there will be
! opportunity for trying out the bud
get plan.
There are rumors of proposed
amendment to broaden the borrow
ing power of the State, which is now
| limited TO one million dollars. One
idea is TO permit bond issues for
roads at stated intervals with rigid
sinking fund requirements.
Copies of the recent decision of
First Deputy Attorney General
| Robert S. Gawthrop in regard to the
marking of the ballot where there is
a group of candidates, such as
congressman -at-large. to be elected,
are to be printed and included in the
election guide for next years cam
paigns.
The Philadelphia Press is going
after the Department of Internal
Affairs. Taking the remarks in the
recent meeting of the Constitutional
ReVlsion Commission sas basis, il
asks why it should be an elective of
nee. If the remarks in Republican
organization circles are anything to |
go by 1t is going to remain as a con-
stltutional and elective office.
When the Auditor General COM |
pletes naming the mercantile ap-
pralsers this week he will have ap-
pointed something over 250. prob
ably 800, men. The Auditor General,
through Legislation adopted last
spring, is after only the Governor
and Commissioner of Health in the
number of appointees and power. In
fact, In authority, he is greater than
the Governor and only the Supreme
Court can stop him. However, when
the new Department of Public In
struction is in running order it will
be one of the largest in the State
DR.. Thomas +. Finegan, the
State Superintendent of Public In
Struction, who goes to Atlantic City
to-day, hopes to be back in the har-
ness the middle of January. DIR.
tinegan is very anxious to get back
on the job, as visitors to his home
testify.
just as an illustration of the
way the Democrats are farming
things it may be stated that Orrin
d. Boyle, of Allentown, was APP
pointed to a Federal place 4 few
days ago. 1t had been vacant eight
years and must have been forgotten
or have become shopworn in display
for political trading purposes.
Roy l.. Daily. the new assistant
TO Leo CTosson as Eastern PennSyl- II
vania and New Jersey district en-
lOiNNl VI Niit vi laws, NbiiiVo II OltA |
California, but has been living in
Philadelphia lately. He is an expert ]
on revenue laws. which some people
IRE unknd enough TO say is needed
in this State. In any event the
number of deserving ones being {
named to dry" law enforcement
positions is fine thing for the
Democrats, although from appear
lnces they will not have very long
% enjoy the emoluments after 1921.
$. O. Wynne, the new chief of Z
detectives to the Philadelphia dis
rict attorney, comes from Phoenix
tille and has been in the Army and
n Federal work. He ranks away up,
says District Attorney S. L. Rotan.
Some idea of changed condi- s
ions can be gained from the state
nent that the new treasurer of
county gives bond for
$3.50, 900. 1t used to be around
s40O, 900. Montgomery has advanced |
in wealth in recent
fears.
The editor of the Scranton
FINES. who writes under the name
II Roderick Random, has much to
say about one of those maneuvers
hat make the political affairs of
.ackawanna county so entertaining
o the rest of the State. One time
Governor Sproul remarked that he
lad identified seven or eight sepa-
ate factions of the Republicans and
lear knows how many in the Demo-
rats in that county. Anyway, this
S what Mr.. Lynett writes on one
During the past two
weeks reports have kept coming to
ne of a new combination in politics
seeking to control the election of
members of the Legislature from
.ackawanua and to impress Cover
Tor Sproul with the idea that they .
ire the powers that be in Legisla- ,
i've affairs in Lackawanna county. !
of State patronage by
hem would naturally follow. | un-
lerstand that Senator Albert Davis, {
county Comm issioner Morgan 3
Thomas and County Treasurer David I
Tohn have hooked up in a triumvir- I
tie TO dictate Legislative nomina- /
ions in five of the six Lackawanna !
districts. They propose to try and |
lnhorse the Dawson Fowler Jones I
.abal. which just now seems TO !
stand i'm very well with the Repub- !
lean powers that be in Harrisburg I
md Philadelphia, and it is planned
o put up candidates in the First, |
second. Fourth. Fifth and Sixth dis {
ricts'.