Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-03-04
'PeeIsca s~
Pst't4tesa~ia
By the Ex-Committecman

A stormy time for the Philadel-
phia charter bill drawn up by the
Charter Revision committee was
forecast last night almost as soon
as it was introduced in the Senate
by Senator George Woodward, of
the Germantown district. Senator
Edwin H. Ware promptly issued a
statement breathing defiance and
John r. X. Scott, the Ware leader
of the House. announced that he
had bill to take policemen and
firemen out of politics and that he
had a penal bill to go with it. Even
some of the Penrose men did not
seem to be very enthusiastic about
the woodward bill.
Both factions seem to be down on
the clause forbidding office holders
to make political contributions and
as most of the legislators are of
practical turn of mind that section
is going to have some rough rid
ing. The opposition will commence
to form very soon, it was predicted
today.
The chief point of opposition
picked out by Senator Ware were
appointment of city solicitor, now
an elective officer; the abolition of
the tax receivership and the PROPOSE
ton that the city must do all its
own contracting work.
There will be the usual hear
ings, then the fight will start. The
rest of the State, it was declared
today. would, be involved and If
Philadelphia gets any new charter,
will have to come through in
tervention by Governor William c.
Sproul.
Harry S. McDevitt was last
night reappointed secretary to the
Governor, the first man to be so
named twice in six weeks. His re-
appointment came so that he would
be under the new salary act. James
c. Deininger will become the new
chief clerk.
The Senate now has two Bald
wins-Frank E, of Potter, and
Richard j., of Delaware.
Capitol Hill has been hearing
reports that there is a probability
that Governor William c. Sproul
may name Charles II. Kline and
County Judge James e. Drew as the
two new Common Pleas court judges
for Allegheny. As the Governor
is in Washington, there is no way
of learning whether there is any
foundation for the story. 1t has
been generally accepted here that
ex-senator Kline would be sure to
receive one of the appointments. The
men most discussed for the second
place are Stephen Stone, William
Challiner and A. T, Morgan, and
generally in the order in which their
names are printed. Mayor E. V.
Babcock has been active in urging
the selection of Mr.. Stone. who is
the solicitor of Pittsburgh. The
Mayor and Governor were in WASH
ington at the conference of COVER
nors and mayors and it is possible
that when Governor Sproul returns
there may be some action in the
judgeships.
Judge Drew has made several
attempts to secure a seat on the
Common Pleas court bench, and his
friends are letting it be known that
whether or not he is appointed, he
will be a candidate this fall for one
of the FIVE Common Pleas court
judgeships. The reason given for
the likelihood of the Drew appoint
ment is that his selection would pro-
duce harmony in the judgeship cleo
ton in Allegheny county this fall.
Three hundred Philadelphia
politicians who followed. the political
standard of the late Senator James
P. McNichol will come here next
Tuesday in a special train to attend
the memorial service which will be
held in the Senate chamber at
o'clock in memory of the late Sem
ator. John A. Voorhees,, secretary
of the Republican Alliance came
here last night to make the final
arrangements. Thomas W. Cunning
ham. clerk of the court of quarter
sessions and for many years the
first lieutenant of Senator McNichol
in conducting the political affairs of
the Tenth Ward, is chairman of the
committee on arrangements.
Speaker Spangler is down on
having bills put through first read
ing as soon as reported unless of
Importance. He so warned the
House.
Results of the special congress
sional election to be held in the
Westmoreland- Butler district today
win be closely watched. This cleo
ton is the first special congressional
election this year and while there
is little interest within the district
and only one place to fill some peo-
pie declare that the result will show
something of national value. No
campaigning effort of any conse-
quence has been made and Repub-
licans claim that they will win easily
in the old district which was so
firmly Democratic that it used to
be called the star of the West.
Here is a philadelphia newspa-
per view of the Democratic national
committee place situation: ut is
reported here that Judge Bonniwell
is already cognizant both of the ef-
forts to put Guffey on the National
Committee and the plans of the
Judges friends to run him, and that
he is ready and anxious to make
the fight. 1t is expected the Bonni-
well fight will start in the State
Committee. promising to make the
special meeting called to choose a
successor to Palmer an even more
interesting affair than the last meet
ing when Bonniwell, although the
party nominee for Governor. refused
to appear before the body"
1t is expected that Western
Pennsylvania will come to the front
with some candidates for the va
cancy in the Public Service Com
missionership. The western half of
the State has two members now in
Messrs. Killing and Shelby, but they
are not considered as representing