Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-11-26
PeGEco ;~
PeS~A4Gasia
BY the Ex-Committeeman


uonal Revision Commission seems
TO be the biggest topic in newspapers
Just at present and the general i'm
preston in newspapers is that the
state Will welcome a thorough and
systematic study of the organic law
with a view to ending the continual
Criticisms and suggestion of changes.
me fact that since 1901 there has
I been n procession of amendments
ana that Legislatures have had as
nigh as a dozen resolutions with such
plans in view has been referred TO
| several times as reason for finding
! out what is needed and putting il up
to the people.
! Opening of the convention will be
made quite a notable ceremony, in
/ keeping with the importance of the
I subject which the Commission will
| handle. There is much speculation
/ about changes that will be made and
I no lack of suggestion, but the plan
of having the Commission study
| what sections seem in the light of
modern thought. as the act creating
/ the Commission puts il, need revision
1 before holding hearings will get
| things into an orderly course instead
/ of having a rush of delegations and
committees coming here with brass
! band announcements of panaceas for
/ all ills, real or imaginary.
| senator Frank Z. Baldwin. of
! Potter county, who was here yester-
| day, said that he had no aspirations
| for a State wide nomination, al
| though some friends were indus
| triously trying to start boom for
| him. The Senator will be candi-
| date for denomination in his district
/ Senator c. ]. Buckman. of Bucks,
said that he had not developed any
ambitions, either.
Harry s. McDevitt. secretary to
the Governor. who was brought out
IN Philadelphia journals as 4 candi-
date for Auditor General next year.
remarked that he was much inter
ested, but beyond that had nothing
10 comment upon the reports.
Reports of shifts in the Depart
ment of Labor and Industry have
been going around at the Capitol this
week, but nothing has been an
nounced and may not be until the
Governor returns from Virginia.
While the appointment of David
]. Smyth to be city solicitor of Phila-
delphia was expected of Mayor-elect
doch Kendrick declared he would
not take any place. it seems to have
an interesting train of speculation
in Philadelphia, Mr.. Smyth being
the first man to be named as solicitor
under the new charter which made
the office appointiVe. The North
American says that the appointment
is made unusually early and adds:
Mr.. Smyth will take up his duties
as city solicitor following the in
auguration of the new mayor and
the reorganization of the new coun-
Gil. The new charter provides that
council must confirm the appoint
ment. The salary will be fixed by
ordinance, and will likely be the
same as that of City Solicitor Con-
nelly. who received $40, 900 a year"
The Inquirer gives a new slant
by saying: 1T is expected that this
announcement will be followed short
ly by the outlining of a policy of
radical changes in the contract sys-
TEN of Philadelphia. 1t is known
that the mayor-elect has made a
personal study of the contract
methods in vogue in this city, that
he has had tirst-hand Information
from one of the leading contrac-
tors in the country, who is not in
terested in any local work"
The Scranton Republican rises
to remark about Highway Commits
sioner Lewis S. Sadler: ION the
first of the year contracts will be
signed for 53S miles of road and
other contracts will be made during
1920. From this it will be seen
with what vigor Commissioner Sad
Ter is prosecuting the work that has
hann Y,lana1 in hiS hands hV the
Governor. 1t can also be seen why
the new Highway Commissioner is
winning the praises of political oppo-
nents as well as of his friends
Chester is having a new flare
up. Members of the volunteer fire
department say that they will quit
il T. W. Trainer is removed as head
of the public safety department.
other councilmen are said to plan
TO throw out Trainer.
More trouble is looming up
among the Democrats in the Berks-
Lehigh congressional district, as
Harry J. Dunn. prominent lawyer
and long active in Democratic
politics, has announced that he will
be candidate for the nomination.
Two or three other men are out for
the nomination, but Congressman
Arthur G. Dewalt says nothing.
Col w. F. Zierdt, offered the
place of chief of police by Mayor
elect Dan L. Hart, of Wilkes-Barre,
has declined. This is largely due
to his desire to remain as division
inspector of the new National Guard.
Mrs. Barclay H. Warburton. of
Philadelphia. appointed a member
of the State Constitution Revision
Commission, says that she did not
expect TO be named, but will be glad
to serve. She is q daughter of John
Wanamaker and has been active as
head of the Women's Republican
State Committee.
People here are watching with
interest the move of District Attor-
ney s. p. Rotan to get Magistrate E.
T. Pennock removed from the city
hall court in Philadelphia on the
ground that he ignored the District
Attorney. Rotan is said to have
been cunning for Pennock for long
time.
George ]. Brennan says in the
Philadelphia Inquirer about a re-
cent appointment: He just hit the
world between the eyes and made
everybody take notice. was a trite
declaration from President Judge
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