Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-06-18
Pee;t;c4 u
Pen~o4Gsanio
BY the Ex-Committeeman


State metropolis a new charter were
enacted yesterday afternoon in the
Legislature. The bill which has been
the chief thing in State politics for
weeks and weeks and which has
held up the session of 1919 more
than anything else, ought to be well
on its way to the Governors desk
by this time.
The report of the committee of
conference was printed and sub
mitted to the two houses yesterday.
There was some discussion and one
negative vote in the Senate and no
decision and no negative votes in
the House. The House vote on the
measure seemed indicative of the
general relief that it had been en-
acted because il was 1S7 to O.
The conference report on the reg
istration bills, which are a part of
the Philadelphia legislation, has not
yet been submitted and the Wood
ward and Daix bills were on the
calendar of the House to-day.
Woman suffragsts are jubilant
to-day over the prospects for ratifi-
cation of the Federal amendment.
The reporting out of the Phipps
amendment caused some heartburn-
ings and the militant b. anch was in
clined to be more or less joyous over
the developments.
One thing seemed to be settled
about the Capitol and that is that
the organization of the new National
Guard of Pennsylvania will not be
attended by the same making of po-
litical appointments as character
hA rA1A g
the Reserve Militia. The Militia ap-
pointments in a number of cases
were made by the Governors office
and the Adjutant General was
mere rubber stamp. One case is we'll
remembered where a man in the
seventies was named. The appoint
ments were dragged out over a long
period of time and there was sharp
criticism of the military authorities,
which the present administration is
resolved shall not occur in it's time.
Amendments were made to the
Woodward ballot-marking bill to
cure defect when the bill was
reached on the House calendar The
changes, according to Mr.. Ramsey,
Delaware, who presented them, pro-
VIDE that when group of candi-
dates, such as Congress at-Large, is
on a ballot voter must mark each
one of his preferences if he goes
outside of his party column.
Practical jokers in the House
caused Speaker Spangler to take ac-
ton at the evening session. Several
members received notes asking them
to take the chair temporarily, the
notes bearing the Speakers sigma
ture. Four went up at intervals and
were surprised when told they had
not been summoned. Finally the
Speaker announced that when he
wanted a relief corps he would give
personal notice.
Democrats of the State are TAX
ing a special interest in the dinner
to be given to Attorney General a.
Mitchell Palmer at Scranton next
week. The dinner is also being
watched by Republicans because 1t
is expected that it will be the launch
ing of the boom of the Attorney
General for the Presidential nomina-
ton of the Democrats. The interest
of the Democrats depends on which
side of the party fence they stand.
There are some who would like to
have the Attorney General given a
great ovation and there are others
who are hoping for a frost.
The Scranton Republican, which
is inclined to be conservative, has
this to say about the preparations
for the big Democratic event: THE
four arranging committees, with a
total membership of approximately
200, include practically every Demo-
crat of prominence in the county.
f. J. Lynett will head the reception
committee, while Postmaster John j.
hn oh n it-f,n Of in
ner committee. The committee on
invitations will be in charge of P. ].
Nealis, and James T. McGinnis will
head the committee on seating. The
list of guests is expected to run close
to 500. In addition to Attorney Gen.
eral Palmer, Secretary of Labor
w. B. Wilson and a number of
Democratic congressman from the
State, in addition to other party
notables will be in attendance. At
torney Joseph O'Brien will be chair
man and County Chairman Joseph
f. Brennan, chairman of the even
ing"
Major w. G. Murdoch, who had
charge of State draft headquarters
during the war, was here this week
visiting friends at the Capitol. The
major, who is widely known, is at
work on a history of the operation
of the draft in Pennsylvania.
The ease with which the Auditor
Generals bills went through the
House yesterday was the cause of
much comment. There were reports
that a number of members were go
ing cunning for them with large
sized fowling pieces, but Chairman
Hugh A. Dawson, of the ways and
very little to worry about.
Governor Sproul is in Chester
to-day and there are no people hunt
ing him about appointments or
places in the State government or
bills. He will be back again to-
morrow.
John Hamilton, secretary of ag-
riculture under the Stone administra-
ton, was among visitors to the Cap
itol yesterday. He met a number of
friends among the rural members
and was given a cordial greeting.
Chairman w. F. Stadtlander's
position that what happens in con,
mittee room is privileged. sustainaN
yesterday by Speaker Spangler. was
the cause of considerable comment
on the Hill last night. AS a mat
ter of fact, hat question bobs up
about once a session and is formally
ruled upon. Yet what happens and
what gets out is matter of person
ality.