Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-02-24
AN OLD FAKE
The Baker Estate Bogy UP Again.
Boosting the Constitutional Con.
vention - Why Philadelphia
Hunters Should Stay
at Home
by GEORGE NON MCCAIN

DoBERT +. GOltMAN tells inc that thc
~ o'd>"Bakcr estate fake is still alive
and kicking
The latest evidence Of this came from
Nebraska within the last two weeks.
Mr. Gormau is familiar with the subject.
for it is his business in the department "I
1ntcrnal Affairs in Harrisburg to dig out
such things
Jacob Baker. as tho romance goes. leased
for n term Of ninety nine years plot in
this city upon which some Of the largest
stores are now located in the downtown dis
trict.
The lease expired. according 10 tho gud-
Gcons. aud now Bakers heirs or supposed
descendants are trying 10 establish n claim
to the property.
At intervals for twenty fcc years the
records of the department have bcCn
searched by persons from all over the United
States.
No ono Of them. though. has ever been
able to discover the scratch of pen to
verify the story.
Mr.. Gorman aud the other officials regard
il as big Swindc from which designing
rascals have picked up barrel of money.
The last victim made his appearance this
month.
TF SOME curious individual wcrc to ask
1 tho ordinary we'll informed citizen to
name the wcalthicst county in tho state tho
obvious reply would be Philadelphia or
Allegheny.
The distinction goes to Lebanon county.
according 10 tho latest reports on tho sub
icc.
Its per capita wealth is S%GOG.:;O. nearly
four timos that Of tho entire state.
Philadelphia comes in ~ third place. with
Allegheny n second.
Away m in ihc southwestern rorncr is tho
county of Grrcrc. rural. hilly aud remote"
and II is the fourth richest county in the
state.
80 a1> hn
oru tier, is the thrfticst. Every ono of ito
people has or should have S32I - in bank.
Even Philadelphia has 10 play second +"
i. for its people have only S2T2 per capita
in bank.
~ PENNSYLVANIA State Chamber of Com
morcc. is taking n deep intCrcS in tho pro
posed constitutional convention aS urged by
Governor Sproul.
1Ic has had tho entire membership ap-
pCalcd to TO use their influence with tho
members Of tho Senate and House of Rep
rcscntativCs from their respective districts
to urge tho passage of tho convention hill.
Tho state chamber has been agitating n
now convention for n long time.
Moro than two years ago II sent out
ouc>tionnairc asking tho vicws Of tho MON
hcrshir as to whether they thought tho
proper time had arrived to undertake rcvi.
sion.
Of tho replies received more than so per
cent responded in the affirmative. All things
considered, il was n very remarkable show.
ing.
Another thing not generally known. M in.
dicating tho influence Of this body. is that
il was largely upou this action that tho Log
iSlnturc of 1919 authorized Governor Sproul
10 appoint n commission to study the sub
ic't and report its findings TO the session Of
1921.
IN TIE last few years n remarkably op-
i gaui2cd system Of information for its
members upon all subjects Of legislation in
which they arc interested. both at Washing
ton and nt Harrisburg. has been built up.
At the beginning OF every week now each
member finds upon his desk a four page
journal with sketch of every bill that has
been introduced sent to committee or passed
during the previous week at Harrisburg.
This. too. in addition to other circulars
and letters OF information mailed by the
various departments.
Robert IIaight. director Of the Legislative
Bureau. who originated this idea, also pro-
parcs at the close Of each session. and weeks
in advance of the issuing of the pamphlet
laws a review of every bill passed by the
Legislature.
This arrangement has broken UP y very
lucrative practice that for n generation pre-
vailed at the state capital,
Groups of manufacturers. insurance com
panics and railroad corporations paid large
sums to clerks. bureaus "f information and
individuals for Just that sort uf information
In addition. Mr.. IlaiGht visits various
sections "f the state delivering talks TO
groups of members Of tho chamber ON pros.
pcrtivc aud impending legislation.
Thousands Of dollars ar" thus spent every
,cHr with the most advantageous results.
'\DREDS Of Philadelphia sport smcn
L travel long distances every fall and
;r, find in ptlCr stHIO> rrCrCut ion
aud sport.
\ great deal Of their money is spent un-
necessarily that might we'll hc kept within
thC limits Of the common WCalth.
Tho Department Of E"rc~ty. operating
with tho Game Commission aud tho Depart
mpnt Of Fisheries is masking every effort to
increase tho supply of wild life in order 10
furnish better hunting and fishing for local
sport rtSmCn.
Over $4,000 persons "ampcd in 'h" state
forests last year.
The majority Of these. l%OOU at least,
wcrr hunters and fishermen who leased per-
lnsnrnr camp sitcS from tho department.
Scores Of sporting clubs erect their own
ranDs on these sites A. a permanent invest
mort
Thcy erect lodges and cabin, under ten.
year lease.
There is only undertaking department
rule: District furestc"~ are allowed T." use
the camps for shelter ~ any time,
CLIFFORD PINCIIOT !, not only giving
" PENNSYLVANIA til" finest organized for.
c.Irv system in the "ouulrl, but Il" is fight
ing the timber grabbrr> III Congress rs well.
There is Il m"HsIr" known HS the Smell
bll before Congress which provides for state
control Of timber cutting "u private prop
"rIH.
Sir. Pinchot dr~rrpn', it a. "a bin to
promote a monopo.y "i lumber in the hands
Of a few great owners Of standing timber.
4. 4 l...tI