Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-05-13

nelley as Commissioner of Labor and
Industry: or Mr.. Pinchot or Major
Stuart as Forestry Commissioners or
Colonel Martin rs Health Commissioner
or II. Il. Donaldson rs Insurance Com
missioner: or Ambassador Woods AMI
Bernard j. Myers as Secretaries of
state: or DR.. Badly in the Welfare
Department or General Beary as the
Adjutant General: or Major Adams as
Superintendent of State Police. could
be construed as having been made to
provide parts for political machine.
Has better group of administra- :
tors ever been assembled here! | am un-
qualitiedly proud of the work these men
have done and | am more than happy
in the fact that the departments under
their direction are regarded as exam
Piles of efficient and useful organization
by the authorities of other States and
by students of governmental problems
elsewhere.
Through neurology and resignation
| have had many appointments to make.
and perhaps it is the choice of Senator
Pepper that was dictated by intriguing
politicians. Then I've had thirty three
Judges to appoint during my term. |
have tried to select fitting men for these
places. as there Is no higher duty n
Governor is called upon to perform.
haven't been conscious Of much criticism
Of these judicial appointments. nor of
the scores of patriotic men and women
whom I've had the honor of calling
into the public service on the Constitu-
tional Commission. the Council OF Edu-
, cation. the Welfare Board. the Reor-
ganizaton Commission. and the numer-
Gus other commissions and boards
which aid in managing the institutions
and activities of the Commonwealth.
The Governor has to work with
the material at hand. and my successor
will find. as | have learned, that the
Governors work is circumscribed by
constitutional limitations upon his own
powers and duties: by the perogatives
Of and the character of the co-opera-
tion given him by the other constitn-
tional officers elected by the people by
the disposition of the majority Of the
251 citizens who constitute the Legis-
lature. and by the quality of those
whom he is able to induce to work With
him as public servants. | feel thar ]
have been most fortunate in all OF these
! factors. and ! shall take pride in turn
ing over to my successor govern
mental organization which is function
, ing completely and smoothly.
No Favors to Contractors
! "As for the contractor politicians
regarded as astute leaders when they
are for you-they haven't asked for any
business favors from the State during
my Administration. None of the
gentlemen classed as contractors who
are in the public life of the State,
have been successful bidders upon any
/ important State work, although firms
| in which some prominent political
! leaders are said to be interested have
been bidders upon State highway work
| In few instances, certainly not in
the aggregate : per cent of our tota
! bidders. have been awarded the con-
| tracts and held to strict aocounta
4 bility. and asking and receiving nc
( favors, they have carried on and COM
! pelted their work. When they bio
lowest again they will receive NOR,
work If they meet the requirements ot
the department; but there will be very
little more work to be done.
There will be pretty slim pickngs
for the next few years for the con.
tractors. political or otherwise. fol
until another loan is authorized. which
cannot be until 1925, there will mo-
be much State money for roads. anc
county funds and sums appropriated
from current revenues will only b,
available. So the contractor politi'
ians stake in the next administration
is not what the shouters would mak'
it appear to be.
1--WE may we'll take pride in ou
road work Commissioner Sadler ant
his organization, operating as he left it
will have completed over 2500 miles o
permanent highway in our four years
More than 800 100000 in State
county and Federal funds have beer
expended in this undertaking and il
the maintenance OF the IL 900 miles o
State highways. This greatest road pro
gram ever assumed by any State ha
been carried out without any charg
of favoritism or unfaithfulness of an,
kind. Surely this is great accom-
plishment and ] trust my pride In 4
/. and my grstituds to the splendid pub