Evening star., 1923-01-30
P|NCHOT ECONOMY
PROGRAM STARTED
New Governor Plans Sharp
Cuts in Pennsylvania State
Office Personnel.
WARS ON B00TLEGGERs
State Police Pressed Into Campaign
for Enforcement of y
Dry Law.
WARS ON B00TLEGGERS
Special Dispatch 10 The Star.

Special Dispatch 10 The Star.
HARRISBURG, Pa, January 90
Clifford Pinchots first acts as governor
of Pennsylvania have been along three
lines most likely to arouse opposition,
but how far it will be able to go in
hampering his Legislative program is
problematical: AS governor, Mr.. Pinchot
has power he never before possessed
He can veto. he can hire and fire and
lie can prosecute. He will probably
have to do all three before he gets
through
The three lines he has laid down are
adoption of budget system. which
would put things ON "a stable financial
basis and do away with the generation
Old method OF giving hospitals allow
anceS Of state funds in favor of d sys-
TEN OF grants on d basis of service ac-
tuafly rendered free to INDECENT sick or
injured; economy, through reduction
of 26 per cent on the averag ge. of de-
partmental appropriations. which means
the dismissal of scores of people. many
of them adherents of the organization
MIR. Pinchot worsted at the primary,
and retention or replacement OF others:
and, lastly, rigorous prohibition en-
forcement.
Political Feeling High.
ine TrSt tWC Will require Sklll1ul
handling of legislators and county lead
erS whose constituents face dismissal
and who would lose the prestige of get
ting an appropriation bill through for
an institution in the home district.
But as economy is in the air there will
probably not be as much opposition in
the final analysis as now because the
primary elections for county and muni-
cipal offices are coming along and po-
litical feeling IS still running high as a
result of the passing of Penrose and
the old order Mr.. Pinchot put through
without trouble orders requiring all tel
eplfones paid for by the state. to be
taken out of residences, for stamping
machines on the indicia plan instead Of
stamps, uniform hours on capitol hill
and one color with Il state seal on the
doors for all state-owned- automobiles.
These minor reforms have been sought
III years gone by, but as they affected
many in high place. it has remained for
Pinchot to tackle them.
That the Forester means to buck
the bootleggers is evidenced by the
formation of a special prohibition
squad of picked men of the Pennsyl-
vania state police and insertion Of
s250,000 in the budget expressly for
law enforcement" and to be ex-
pended lii the discretion" OF the gov
ernor. The state police began jump
ing trucks loaded with beer at the
gates Of Harrisburg within twenty
four hours after the cold water
squad" had been formed. and con-
tiscated the supply for we'll known
club of the state capital, and it Is the
plan of the administration to- call In
or designate district attorneys as spe-
cia! deputy attorneys general to ham
dl" liquor cases. This can be done
under an old law, and no prosecutor
chance to shine. If he does, he may
face energetic state action.
Mr.. Pinchot has been In office less
than two weeks and has displayed
more courage in tackling things
against which ne inveighed in his
campaign than was expected in political
circles. The question now is what
his strategy will be when opposition
to him starts in Legislative halls. 1t
is already operating in the corridors
and lobbies.
Survey Ii Issued.
Probably one of the most interest
ing phases of the infancy of the Pin
chot regime was the issuance Of a
Sc rieS of reports or surveys on actiyt-
ties of various departments. financial
policies, charitable and penal methods
conducted by experts for the Pinchot
citizens committee, an unofficial body
which, through force of circum
stances. became 4 vehicle for inquiries
of wide effect. These reports have
turned some cherished institutions
upside down and especially, In the
case of the workmen's compensation
board, denounced men strongly en-
treenched behind political influence.
Some Of the reports have stirred up
bitter controversy, and others will
start more when embodied into bills.
Pinchot has shetched out his first
Two years in office. and is prepared to
fight. Whether he has taken Oh too
much Will develop as the session of
the legislature progresses. The real
temper Of the two houses has not
been tested, but 1t stands 10 reason,
because OF the overturn in the pri-
mary, Pinchot will have support from
interior districts. Some city blocs and
some democrats occupy unusually in
teresting positions.