Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-06-25
POLITICS ON THE SIDE
Governor Sprouts Choice for the New
Public Welfare pepartment-rhe
Automobile Scandal at Harris
burs-Incandescent Politics
In Pittsburgh
BY GEORGE NOX MCCAIN
GOVERNOR spRoUL. I understand

by GEORGE NOX MCCAIN
GOVERNOR SPROUL, | understand. is
~ nearly ready TO announce his appoint
ments to the new Department of Public Wei
rare, which was established by the late
Legislature.
There was great to- do by the opposition
that the head of the new department would
be political favoritC; that the new ap-
pointees were to be distinguished for politi-
cal realty rather than for scientific attain
ments.
The Governor is going to disappoint his
critics
DR. II. w. Mitchell will very likely head
the Public Welfare Department.
lie is not only distinguished alienist,
but nc is described as possessing unusual
executive ability.
At present and for some years past he has
been i'll charge of the State Hospital for the
Insane at Warren.
HONGRESSAIAN BEN X. FOCHT, of
~ the "Shoestring District" Of Pennsyl-
vania, is receiving great applause from the
people of Washington.
lie is trying to put bill through Congress
to supply all the school children of the Dis
trict with free text books.
Congress, you know. is the Common
council OF the capital city.
strange that one never hears of city
Congressman ever putting over n public
spirited proposition like that
IL was John II. Farr. of the Scranton
district. rated as n country district then,
who put the free text book bill through the
Legislature years ago.
IT Farr were in Congress now he could
help repeat his performance of score of
years ago.
THERE was fine kettle of fish upset
L few weeks ago when an auto accident
injured a couple of passengers and damaged
the machine.
1t was a State owned automobile that was
being used for the private benefit and amuse-
ment of certain individuals.
Suddenly there was an outbreak of indig-
nation, and officials denounced the practice
and the parties who were caught in the jam.
But the indignation was assumed. 1t
was fake display of outraged official virtue.
Just as IL every head of a department and
every bureau chief didn't know that the
practice of utilizing this class of state
property for strictly private purposes wasn't
so common that 1t long since ceased to be
novelty.
TT WOULDN'T be far out of the way to
l. say that every year for years past the
state has paid gasoline and lubricating bills
that had no more to do with the business of
the State than the Amccr of Afghanstan
has to do with the disturbances in Ireland.
1t is regarded as the common thing in
Harrisburg official circles for deputies,
assistants. bureau chiefs. members of COM
missions and even high appointive officials
TO "borrow' autos for their own use from
the various departments.
AS species of petty graft it has no equal
on Capitol Hill.
BY the same token. there are a lot of
officials who have costly cars maintained at
the expense of the Commonwealth, who have
no more right to them than any citizen of
Philadelphia.
1t is an abuse that has been growing
steadily. Every whippcr snapper of a sec
rctary thinks he deserves car.
If he cant mace the Government into
furnishing him one, then he spongcs on some
official friend who has one.
Everybody on the Hill is aware Of this
fact.
GOVERNOR SPROUL has forkcd into a
" fine mess now that he has ordered the
practice stopped.
There will be lot of heart burnings and.
on the side. sputtCring of awkward and
unCOuth profanity over the order.
But the Governors absolutely right.
It's graft; widespread graft, too, as | have
had opportunity to know.
1t will be, likewise, a difficult task to
break it up.
An official order promising prompt dis
missal from otfic" Of the guilty parties would
soon end it, though.
Merely in the interest of public informa-
ton, it would be cnlightCning to know who
is going to pay for the smashed car that
started the ruCkus.
DR. W. =. SNYDER went to his grave
~ with his lips sealed on the story of who
really and secretly shared in the Capitol
building graft for which he suffered
1t isn't likely that "lIill' Leib will con
sent to perish as Il martyr for the sins of