8
HARRIS3URG TELEGRAPH
A NEWSPAPER FOR THE HOME
Founded IS3I
Published evenings except Sunday by
THE TELEGRAPH PRINTING CO-
Telegraph Building, Federal Square.
. J. ST AC K POLE, Pres't & Edilorin-Chirf
P. R. OYSTER, Business Manager.
GUS M. 6TEINMETZ, Managing Editor.
America^
Entered at the Post Office in Harris
burg, Pa., as second class matter.
By carrier*, ten cents a
week: by mail. 15.00
a year in advance.
TUESDAY EVENING, MAY 29
All things come around to him who
will but wait. — LONGFELLOW.
CONSERVE THE FOOD
IT appears to be generally under
stood among experts on the war
situation that the entrance of the
United States into the conflict was
the determining factor. Until this
country made Its decision the out
come seems to have been very much
in doubt and even now it may be
a question of years before a conclu
sion satisfactory to the world shall
have been reached.
The unfortunate developments in
Russia have upset, to some extent,
the calculations of the Allies, but
there is still a strong hope that
Russia will be able to recover, In
a measure her poise and participate
with real vigor in the prosecution
of the war.
Germany is suffering intolerably
from the food shortage and all the
-countries at war are compelled to
regard the food supply with concern.
There is more or less a world short
age of food, and unless the harvests
of this year are more prolific than
has been indicated in advance re
ports the conditions may grow much
worse, instead of better. For this
reason it is highly important that
ihe conservation of food shall be
brought about at the earliest possible
moment.
With the signs of harmony in the
Republican party there arc also in
dications of a businesslike close of the
legislature before the end of June.
Generally speaking, the less legisla
tion we have under present conditions
the better for the State, but there are
a few important measures still upon
the calendars which should be given
earnest consideration and prompt ac
tion.
\ SILLY 1511,1.
A SILLY bill that is giving amuse
ment people throughout the
State more worry than It
should, for it stands absolutely no
chance of passing, provides that a
tax of two per cent, shall be collect
ed on the salaries of all performers
and others employed about places of
amusement in the State, the tax to
be collected weekly by the local
management and forwarded to the
Treasury Department, together with
a. detailed report.
The measure on its face is so ab
surd that no detailed explanation as
to why it should not be adopted is
necessary, but bills of this character
cause businessmen to mistrust leg
islators and to feel that legislation
must at. all times be carefully watch
ed if injustice and unnecessary hard
ship are to be avoided. Thousands of
dollars in postage, expense of hear
ings and trips to Harrisburg are
mads necessary every session by the
presentation of measures of this na
ture.
It may be all right to put to jail
men who fail to register, but the man
woo stirs up an anti-registration plot
ought to be shot.
PENNSYLVANIA APPLES
Governor brumbaugh has
approved an important bill
which provides for honesty in
the handling of the apple crop of
Pennsylvania. This measure is in
tended to govern the grading and
packing of apples and becomes effect
ive the first of next September. No
industry in this State is more im
portant than the raising of fruit and
the development of the apple or
chards has been little less than re
markable during the last few years.
The bill which the Governor has
just approved requires that the
barrels shall be packed in a certain
way and so marked that there may
be no fraud in passing the fruit on
to the customer. One provision is
that the fruit shall be so placed that
the face or exposed surface shall
fairly represent the average of the
apples in the package. Consumers
iiave long suffered from those nice,
large, rosy-cheeked specimens on the
top of ihs trarrel.
Reports from the apple be;t of
Pennsylvania indicate an enormous
yield of fruit this year. Cold and wet
weather has delayed the develop
ment of all fruits somewhat, but this
has probably been a blessing in dfc
guise and with seasonable weather
from this time on the yield will be
larger than for many years. A bul
letin of the national Chamber of
Commerce states that the condition
of apples is generally good tfvery
where throughout the country.
Next to the yield of apples is the
importance of proper distributing
facilities. There has been difficulty
for many years in bringing the grow-
TUESDAY EVENING,
er and the consumer together In
some practical way. So the real
problem to-day is that of marketing
the fruit. Many kinds of fruit are
perishable and will not keep any
length of time. Consequently the
space of time in which they can be
marketed i 3 exceedingly brief.
It is necessary to avoid shipping
the fruit to a market already glutted
, ajid the attention of fruit growers
has been concentrated for a long
period in overcoming distribution
difficulties. Thousands upon thou
sands of bushels of the finest apples
have frequently been allowed to rot
on the ground because It was Im
possible for the growers to get the
fruit to market without loss.
It Is .conceded now that the apples
of Pennsylvania are superior to those
of any other part of the country In
quality and size. It is, therefore,
highly necessary that some such
measure as has Just been approved
by Governor Brumbaugh should pro
tect the consumers against fraud in
packing and delivery.
Our sympathy Is extended to hen
pecked husbands who hoped to get
relief by means of the conscription
law.
MEMORIAL DAY
r I aO-MORIJOW, Memorial Day,
should be observed after the
manner proclaimed by Commander
in-Chief Logan, of the Grand Army
of the Republic, away back in 1868:
Let us then, at the time ap
pointed, gather around their
sacred remains and garland the
passionless mounds above them
with the choicest flowers of
springtime: let us raise above
them the dear old flag they saved
from dishonor; let us in their sol
emn presence renew our pledges
to aid and assist those whom they
left among us, a sacred charge
upon the nation's gratitude—the
soldier's and sailor's widow and
orphan.
Unless a miracle shall happen next
Memorial Day will dawn upon new
ly-made graves of American soldiers
gone to their death In the same high
cause that prompted thousands and
hundreds of thousands of men to
flock to the call of the nation at the
outbreak of the Civil War. To-mor
row we shall dedicate ourselves anew
to the grim, but holy, task of winning
for the world at large that for which
every war waged upon this continent
has been fought—personal freedom
and the advancement of democracy.
We should approach our duties on
the morrow reverently, with none of
the levity and high holiday spirit
that too often have marked the an
niversary of Memorial Day In re
cent years. It is a solemn occasion.
A weedy garden Is a poor garden.
RIGHT COMMENT; WRONG TIMK
DON C. SEITSS, publisher of the j
New York World, is out with 1
a few well-chosen words in op- j
position to the proposal to increase j
the postage rates on newspapers and
periodicals. Imbedded In his lan- j
guage is a tribute to the Postoffice j
Department which, he says, has of j
late followed a persistent policy of j
assailing newspaper postage rates, {
while at the same time raising sal
aries, extending rural Toutes and en
gaging in other forms of unreinuner
ative expense.
"A properly constructed Postmas
ter General, who knew more about
business than politics," says Mr. j
Seitz, "could save a million dollars)
a week to the postofflce" and thus
render Increased rates unnecessary.
It is too bad that Mr. Seitz did not
publish something like this in his
newspaper last fall. Mr. Burleson
was no different then from now. Yet
the New York World was working
tooth and nail to keep Burleson in
office.
STI'DY THE REVENUE HILL.
THE consumption tax of a cent j
a pound upon coffee and two
cents a pound upon tea will
bring the war Home to the people in
a very literal sense.
We hope that it will serve further
to stimulate popular examination of!
the revenue bill in which this tax is!
provided. From that we hope there
will be an examination of father rev- I
enue bills drafted by the Democratic
party which at present controls Con
gress. There will then be a conven-1
ient further step in the examination
of the measures which have spent
the money thus raised. And then the
public mind should be ready to make
the additional inquiry into the reve
nue bills.
This study will enable voters to
make up their minds about the elec
tions which are coming next year.
STILL ABLE TO FIGHT
THERE are only twenty-eight of
them left and tliey are too old
to go on the firing line, but the*
members of A. W. Dodge Post,
Grand Army of the Republic, Balti
more, Md., still have 'the patriotism
that led them to follow the flag in
'6l. This little band of veterans—
the smallest post in the Maryland
Department, has decided that the
quickest and best service the post
can render the nation in this war
is to buy Liberty Loan bonds with
the money in the treasury. "We
want to fight with rifles," is the way
the bond application reads, "but we
can't; so we are going In for silver
bullets."
What an example for men of
younger years and for organizations
that have idle money in their treas
uries that ought to be working to
perpetuate the free institutions of
America and fighting for the exten
sion of the cause of democracy
throughout the world.
IK
By the Rx-Committeeman
In spite of the recess ordered by
the members of the Legislature from
to-day until Wednesday, June 6, it
would not be impossible to see the
general assembly close up its work
on June 28. There are some who
think that it could easily be finished
by June 21, but that is considered a
little early under present conditions.
As far as can be learned the Leg
islature when it closes its labors
will adjourn. The idea of a recess
has been put on the shelf where it
will remain unless something turns
up to ruffle the Senate, which is
moving along very serenely just
now.
The Vare dinner to Senator W. C.
Sproul to-night is accepted at the
Capitol as an indication that the Sen
ate is not going to fight any more
this session and also that the stren
uous times of last December and
January have been forgotten. Sena
tor Vare said last night that he
wanted it understood that there
would be no politics in the dinner,
just good fellowship.
—The woman suffragists may
make a demonstration in the State
Senate just to show that they are
around. When the House tabled the
motion to put the Mitchell bill on the
calendar last night the suffragists
gave up attempts to do anything in
the House, although there were re
ports that they might try some day
soon to take the bill off the table.
From all accounts the attacks made
upon members of the House by the
suffrage publicity committee and the
circular campaign caused some irri
tation.
—The third-class city bills created
some breeze in the Senate last night.
The Beidleman bill went over and
the Ramsey bill was sent to commit
tee. Senator Craig, Heaver, tried to
amend the latter bill but did not
succeed. The nonpartisan feature is
the bone of contention.
—Governor Brumbaugh's designa
tion of the regular election day as
the'time for the special election for
Congressman in the Twenty-eighth
district has created some surprise
as it was generally expected that pro
vision would be made whereby the
district would elect in June.. The
Governor made no statement as to
his reasons.
—Democratic members of the Leg
islature a'-e sitting up and taking no
tice as to the yisits of Warren Van-
Dyke, secretary of the Democratic
State committee, around the circle.
Mr. VanDylte is a most affable gen
tleman and seems to have many
friends among the postmasters.
—Reports that there is "harmony"
in the air in regard to appointments
did' not seem to be well founded
about the Senate to-day. The com
mittee on executive nominations was
still looking for the Governor's recess
appointments to-day.
—Members of the House who left
the city to-day for the recess ex
pressed the hope that when they re
turned after Registration Day that
the "harmony" so much talked about
would be substantial and that the
program for the rest of the session
would be worked out. There were
reports to-day that all appropria
tion bills might be in the Governor's
hands by June 15.
—John A.. McSparran, master of
the State Grange, who was at the
Capitol to-day, opposed the $50,000,-
000 bond issue amendment resolu
tion in conversation with legislators,
Mr. McSparran said the farmers and
many others would vote against the
amendment.
—Representative B. M. Strauss, of
Berks county, expressed himself in
regard to record of proceedings in
the House to-day. In rising to ask
a correction he said, "There was so
dog-goned much noise no one could
hear what I said."
—Roger Dever, Wilkes-Barre law
yer, who is the motive power behind
the amendment favored by the min
ers for the compensation act, was
here to-day imging a program for
action on the bill when the Legisla
ture reconvenes.
Unified Railroad Control
[From the Detroit Journal.]
In the short time that the opera
tion of the country's railroads has
been under the control of the trans
portation committee of the National
Council for Defense much has been
done. The great agricultural sec
tions have been supplied with the
seeds required for spring planting
and the farm implements ordered.
Coal for next winter has been sent
into the Northwest in advance of the
usual shipping period. Wheat has
been dispatched to the seaboard
faster than the ocean shipping and
terminals can care for it.
To have done this much in a time
of abnormal transportation condit
ions indicates something more than
a high degree of patriotism among
the railroads. It indicates that op
eration of the lines as a single unit
has been needed for a long time, that
this was the one practical cure for
congestion and embargoes with
which industry has been embarras
sed in recent maaiths.
This unified is a war meas
ure. But we may all doubt if it will
cease to be when war ceases. It is
proving too much worth while to
discard, too much like the things
which the railways have needed
since their cut-throat competition—
helping none of them and harming
all—tied them into a hangman's
knot.
Come Out of the Clouds!
[New York Herald.]
General AlexiefT has been hauled
over the coals by the Council of
Workmen's and Soldiers' Delegates
at Petrograd for characterizing
"peace without annexation or indem
nities" as Utopian. It is as Utopian
as its inspiration, "peace without vic
tory." Unless Russia, turns in and
does its full part in whipping Ger
many that Council of Workmen's and
■Soldiers' Delegates will find that
'lieie will be annexations and in
demnities "good and plenty," and
that the burden of them will fall
heaviest upon the soldiers and work
men whom It essays to represent—
for those annexations and indemni
ties will be forced by Germany.
There can be no peace in this
world until there is victory; decisive
and complete, over Germany. That
is a long v/eLy ott. Between now and
the accomplishment of that victory
all the time devoted to discussion of
peace terms or after-war conditions
is time wasted.
Speculators Less Eager
[Philadelphia Record.]
Estimates that the wheat crop this
year, both winter and spring, would
amount to 700,000,000 bushels, which
is 60,000,000 bushels more than last
year, depressed the Chicago wheat
market several cents. Tho wheat
harvest in Texas is proceeding only
in some particularly dry sections,
but will be general in about 10 days.
Corn prices in Chicago also broke
sharply under liquidating sales by
holders who were discouraged by the
increased rural offerings, in other
words, the farmers are bringing out
their corn to an extent that makes
the speculators less eager to hold
oDttona.
HARFUSBURG flfiiSAt TELEGHXPH
AIN'T IT A GRAND AND GLORIOUS FEEUN'? By BRIGGS
* 1 ----- A
You HAV6 MIADE - ANJO YOU 1 5 RE£EOT AKJO YOU IMAG'ME
UP Vouß. MIKJD YOU OUGHT- YOUR-SELF FOR /CS You HA\VJE. EVJ^RY
lo ENUS t INJ THE PHVvSICAL EXAMLNLATIOM I)ISEASE THE
- CALENDAR
W.
- /KWO AFTER YOVJ HAVE - THEV GIUE. YOU A CLEAM ~ F)O A
BEEW LOOKED OUCR BY BILL OF HEALTH AMD PRONIMJCE VVW-O W
ABOUT EIGHT YOU A FIME S?ECIM£SI OF \ Y
DOCTORS PHYSICAL f\ u / r<
EDITORIAL COMMENT
"Potatoes are as necessary as car
tridges," says Governor Stephens,
and much more digestible, it might
be added. —San Francisco Chron
icle.
There is a gray-haired wizard who
is going to cross your path, Mr. Ü
boat, and you're going on a long,
long journey.—Chattanooga News.
Mr. Balfour's enthusiastic recep
tion by Congress ought to convince
the English that we are willing to
fcrget George llr, if they can.—
Kansas City Times.
It is a historic fact that every re
duction of letter-postage in the his
tory of the government has resulted
in larger revenues. New
Morning Telegraph.
Another reason why the soldiers
of the Confederacy finally succumb
ed to hunger was >hat they didn't
know cotton-seed-meal was first
class bread material. —Dallas News.
The Mayor of Chicago refers to
that city as the sixth largest German
city in the world. That should en
chant the people of Chicago, who
have to think of it as the second
largest American city.—Kansas City
Star.
"Too proud to fight" has now be
come "Proud to fight too."—Punch.
In a historical and dynastic sense
the submarine can sink Germany.—
Wall Street Journal. >
* Made in Germany
Premier Ribot's answer to the pro
posal put forward in Petrftgrad that
the Entente Allies declare a war pol
icy of "no annexation and no indem
rtlties" was a masterly treatment of
a sophistry which was made in Ger
many. The French Premier was ready
to subscribe to the proposal if it
meant "no conquests and no covet
ousness." But he insisted on indem
nities, in the nature of damages or
reparation, for Belgium, Serbia, Ru
mania and Montenegro, despoiled and
crushed by the armies of the Central
Powers and their allies; and he re
fused to consider the restoration to'
France of her "lost provinces" as an
nexation. There would be no dura
ble peace if Germany could menace
France from Alsace with "military
dispositions."/
What Russia would ask for at the
close of a victorious war cannot be
inferred from the virtiious demand
of the radical element in Petrogiad.
Russia's western allies have looked
with complacency upon her desire to
obtain an outlet to the Mediterranean
through the Sea of Marmora. It was
a policy of the Czar's Government
from the beginning of the war, and
nothing was heard of renunciation
until the provisional government gave
way to a coalition in which the Coun
cil of the Workmen's and Soldiers'
Delegates was strongly represented.
Then German intrigue made itself felt
in the "no annexation, no indemni
ties" cry.
"bet Russia make her offensive,"
says Premier Bibot, "and we will be
able to talk of peace;" that is to say,
to Germany. A responsible Russian
Government with victory in sight
would never dream of forfeiting the
legitimate reward of the nation's sac
rifices. "No annexation and no indem
nities" Is a device of the enemy to
sow discord between Russian and her
allies.—New York Sun.
The Old Days—and Now
[Savannah News]
A Marvelous Discovery, Another
Scientific Wonder, A Revolutionary
Invention, such were the catch
phrases of the advertisers who in the
old days sought to impress the pub
lic mind with the startling qualities
and properties of the things they of
fered for sale. Advertisers ordinar
ily know what they are about, hence
it is only reasonable to assume that
the public mind was duly responsive
to the trick. Wonders never ceased
and the reading public never ceased
to marvel.
How different from their descen
dants of the present generation. Now
when there is an unending list of
things that may indeed be included
among the marvelous, there is no
one to get excited over them. The
past few decades have piled wonder
upon wonder with such dazzling
rapidity that to-day, it seems, the
entire race is quite prepared to ac
cept as a matter of course achieve
ments that would have kept our fa
thers sitting about with open mouths
for weeks. The miracle age has
brought forth such a multiplicity of
wonders, In fact, that comparatively
few of us are even aware of half of
them.
A Good Tip
•> Jacob H. Schiff's opinion that the
Liberty bonds will go to a premium
is about as good a hint as any in
vestor could ask. There is no better
financial judgment in the country
than Mr. SchlfC's, —New York World.
PATRIOTISM AND S
ALIKE URGE EACH TO BUY A BOND
The Great Resources of the United States Can
Quickly Absorb the Issue Now Offered
[From the Bache Review.]'
THERE are in national banks
nlonc in the United States 16,-
* 750,000 depositors.
In all the banks there must be
over 35,000,000 depositors.
Over one-third, then, of all the
people in the United States are de
positors of some kind.
This would'constitute a vast army
—larger than all the fighting forces
now in the great war.
It is upon this army that the Unit
ed States now depends to render the
first great service which this country
can offer in the fight for civilization.
That service is the raising at once
of the funds for the first Liberty
Loan.
Every one of these 35,000,000 de
positors is probably able out of future
savings, to take one or more of the
$54) bonds.
They must not be paid for, in any
considerable amount, out of present
deposits, as that would weaken the
banks.
If each of the smaller depositors
took one of the bondu, this, with
what the larger depositors have al
ready subscribed, would give the
government many times the amount
called for.
If one-third of the number of de
positors in the United States each
subscribed for the loan there would
be about 12,000,000 subscribers —
the largest number ever subscribing
to any loan in the history of the
world.
The number of subscribers to the
last loan of Germany (with fi5,000,-
000 inhabitants) was 6,000,000.
In Englond (with 47.000,000 in
habitants) the great British loan of
$.i,000,0(f0,000 had 8.000,000 sub
scribers.
The United States, with over 100,-
000,000 inhabitants, should have at
least 12,000,000 subscribers to the
first Liberty Loan.
Every true American should take
Mothers Will Not Weaken
\\'hat are we going to do, then,
we mothers, when the tumult and
the shouting have died, and the long
wait comes? We will pray. The
churches of France are full of kneel
ing women. And we will work.
There is no spectacular work for
mothers in a war. They cannot drive
ambulances, or guide aeroplanes,
although they are capable of doing
both. There will be need of the
wigwagging that some women are
so painfully learning! But they will
work for the Red Cross, and they
will make up such little packets as
only mothers can make —tooth-
brushes and chocolates and fresh
socks and gingerbread, and a Bible
and playing-cards and cigarettes.
And in between times, they will
wait, in that quiet that is not peace.
That is what millions of women
are doing just now, while you are
reading this.
There are two wars being waged
to-day. One is the war of hate, and
one is the war of love. And this last
is the bitter wftr, because it is being
fought in women's hearts, between
their fears and their patriotism. I
know.
And becatise fear is evil, it will go
down to defeat. Women are brave,
and mothers are the bravest of all
women, for they have faced the
Oethsemane of child-bearing. They
will not weaken now.
MART ROBERTS RINEHA RT
in "The Altar of Freedom."
Every One Must Enlist
[Philadelphia North American.]
The people of this country are
gradually coming to realize that the
United States Is a participant in a
struggle compared to which all other
conflicts in history have been trivial.
The truth is penetrating their minds
that the war is not an enterprise to
be conducted by the army and navy,
but Is an undertaking which will tax
the resources, the energies and the
endurance of the whole nation. They
are beginning to recognize that it is
not merely an overshadowing subject
of news, but a fact bearing upon the
life of every man and woman and
child in the land, and that it creates
tasks which can be accomplished
only by united and unsparing effort.
In millions of homes the war is
now the most absorbing topic of dis
cussion, for there is hardly a family
which does not face the prospect
that a member of it, or a relative or
friend, will soon be summoned to
bear his part under arms. The neces
sity cannot but be sobering and sad
dening; yet it is being met with for
titude, and the test Is awakening
that spirit of patriotic resolution
which lies deep in the American
I character.
♦ lie greatest prifle in being one of
the subscribers, as an act of patriot
ism.
It is the same spirit in which ev
ery man with a musket crowded on
to Lexington in the birth hours of
the republic.
It is an essential and substantial
way of helping the revival of the
soul of America.
If the bond were only fairly good,
if even there were some doubt about
its ever being paid, and if the inter
est rate were much lower, it would
be the duty of every citizen to sub
scribe.
But it is to-day the best bond in
the world. The interest rate is high
for such a bond and it is free from
taxes of every kind.
No s*ch opportunity has ever
been offered in any country in the
history of the world to combine pa
triotism, safety and good income.
The bonds will appreciate in value.
From forty years experience we
would certainly look to see these
bonds go to a premium after the war,
as the one bond that will be the
most desirable of all the world's is
sues.
And In the meantime, as com
matiding the highest credit and low
est terms for borrowing at the banks,
they tvlll be in demand as collateral
by borrowers, who will be willing to
pay a premium for them in exchange
temporarily for other collateral, in
to make loans at the banks
at the lowest rate.
In addition to this the bonds are
convertible into the bonds to be is
sued in the future, if the government
then has to pay a higher rate than
3% per cent.
This will probably be necessary.
The bonds btnight now will thus, by
exchange, become even more valu
able.
The thing to do now is to sub
scribe at once to the Liberty Loan.
Then get as many moro people as
you can to do the same.
Punishing Newspapers
[New York World.]
representative Sloan of Nebraska,
a member of the Ways and Means
Committee, used the right word
when, in announcing his opposition
to that section of the War Revenue
Bill which imposes killing postal
charges upon newspapers and maga
zines, he said he would not support
'a punitive expedition against these
publications."
A punitive expedition it is, and it
had its origin in a spirit hostile to
the press not unlike that, which In
spired the Censorship Bill as origin
ally drawn in the Department of Jus
tice. Taxation is one thing but con
fiscation is another. Newspapers
have entered no protest against tax
ation, although, like other business
enterprises, they are heavily burden
ed but if they are to pay taxes their
industry must, not lie destroyed. A
Bovernment which taxes with one
hand and slays with the other is de
feating its own ends
In spite of all that is said of cen-.
sorsh'ps, reasonable or unreasonable,
this war cannot be carried on with
out newspapers. Intelligent officials
at. Wash'ngton recognise the fact and
have no hesitation in suromoti'ng to
the'r assistance a power which lipver
ye. failed of generous resnonse. Why
should anvbody ir> the departments
or in Congress lie allowed malicious
ly and vengef'illy to bankrupt an in
..s?itut;on without which armies, na
vies and loans will be sought in
vain ?
Where Is He?
In these times of war and hunger
what has become of the scientist
who could put the nourishment of a
pound of beefsteak in a capsule?—
Florida Times-Union.
The Race Is On
The race between American ship
building and German submarlnos is
on, the winner to take the Atlantic
ocean.—Kansas City Star.
Charles M. Schwab says:—
If a young man entering an Industry
were to ask me for advice, I would
say: Don't be afraid of imperiling
your health by giving a few extra
hours to the company that pays your
salary! Don't be reluctant about put
ting on overalls! Bare hands grip
success better than kid gloves. Be
thorough In all things, no matter how
small or distasteful! The man who
counts his hours and kicks about Ms
salary la a self-elected failure.
MAY 29, 1917.
fw
EtottUtg (Wjat:
The present Legislature has many
xvi^r"" 8 features about its work
which are commencing to attract at
tention outside of Pennsylvania and -
to cause the participants In the ses
s on to some wonder them
'?. be,rln wlth ' th iegista
with " I ' n session a long time
off with y J r ?f' output- It started
passed un m f . Propositions and
5S?d ° f them - " has sur
ten al outbreaks and got
beine nmivh H- War K a ' arms without
a nyram d disturb)e d. it has tackled
a pyramid of new bills and turned
out surprisingly few, preserving "he *
statute law almost intact, but ad
vancing the codifications. But while
an efemnnt so the, e hils been
nnrl Ivi uncertainty about it
and the unusual political conditions
(>f N feei?ri£r 1- in f l,r ' OUB expressions
of feeling. ior instance, the other
day some department heads were
rather sharp in their criticism of
InauPrfn* tak^ n T y le ßislators in
tnquiiing into minute details of the
operation of their branches of the
government, quite overlooking the
point that the legislative authority
grants the supplies and funds and
has a right to ask for what thev are
, Anrt the same day there
wete heard some legislators who
were resenting what they termed
the interference" of departmental
heads in legislative matters. Ob
jections were made that legislators
in charge of bills dealing with de
partments were in the habit of con
sulting the heads of the Highway,
Labor and Industry. Banking, In
surance and other departments and
of talking things over with the At
torney General before committees
acted. Two years ago they were
roasting the Governor for mixing
into legislation and attending com
mittees and now the presence of de
partment heads at committee meet
ings is occasion for legislative dis
cussion fully as warm as that among
department heads over what they
term the inquisitivenesa of the law
makers.
• • •
One of the signs that the legisla
tive session is drawing to a close and
that what it may do has been dis
counted is indicated by the dwind
ling of inquiries. A month or so ago
there were inquiries at the offices of
the two houses and especially at the
Reference Bureau about
this or that bill or other legislative
details. Now the questions have de
clined until there are only a few a
day and they are chiefly to keep
track of the progress of various
steps in the committees or on the
calendars. The legislators will be
able to close up pretty quickly once
certain matters are adjusted and
possibly the social amenities which
are so much discussed among poli
ticians will have the effect of bring
ing that about.
Insurance Commissioner J. Denny
ONeil was in New York on Friday
night and "Billy" Sunday had him
making an address in the big taber
nacle in which he is achieving sucu
a success on Broadway. When Sun
day was in Pittsburgh some years
ago Mr. O'Neil was one of the "lead
ers in his campaign. It huppened
that Friday night the Insurance
Commissioner was In the audience
when Sunday spied him.
"Come on up, Denny" he shouted.
There was nothing to it except to
go up. Mr. O'Neil went up and the
crowd cheered. Then Sunday pro
ceeded to tell what a fine man the
Commissioner is and how he worked
in his county. "Now, let him talk to
you himself," concluded Sunday,
which was his way of telling Mr.
O'Neil he was to address the audi- >
ence.
The Commissioner faced the big
gest audience of his life and got
through with it.
• • •
Harrisburg has one meniber of
the American Press Humorists' As
sociation, mention of the annual con
vention of which, soon to be held in
New York, was made in the TELE
GRAPH last evening. The local
member is M. H. James, of 1859
Market street, secretary of the Wil
liam Penn Highway. Mr. James has
been a member of the Press Humor
ists since 1912, when he conducted
a "colyum" in a Western Pennsyl
vania dally. All the press humor
ists, wherever they may be, are now
on strict diets in preparation for
the June convention, according to
Mr. James. "A Press Humorists'
Convention," says Mr. James, "is just
one joyous banquet after another.
The humorists get so much 'supreme
of guinea hen' and things of that
sort during their annua! reunion that
they spend the next lifty-one weeks
in training. The banquets and
lunches average four a day, with a
picnic every afternoon that it doesn't
rain. .Along about "Thursday of the
week such well-known humorists as
'Striek' Gillilan. of Baltimore; 'Ed
die' Guest, of Detroit, and 'Dix' Mer
ritt, of Nashville, are ea'ting court
plaster with each meal, so it'll stay
down. 'Jim' Waldron, secretary of
the bunch, has written each mem
ber asking for an autographed copy
of his or her latest book, these books
to be sold for the benefit of the Bel
gian relief fund."
"And," inquired the Chat man,
politely, "I presume you have sent
him copies of your complete works?"
"My 'complete works.' said the
William Penn secretary, "is six years
old; and he rides the smallest bicycle
in Harrisburg."
1 WELL KNOWN PEOPLE
—William T. Ellis, the religious
writer, will take a trip to the Cau
casus to study conditions.
—John L. Morrison, Greenville
editor, is discussing politics in his
original way In Mercer county. He
is keenly interested in ttye governor
orship.
—The Rev. Dr. W. H. Foulkes, of
Philadelphia, is in Texas looking
into cotton lands as forms of in
vestment for Presbyterian church
funds.
—Dr. James B. Ely, the Philadel
phia clergyman, who is having trou
bles with his city officials over re
ligious services, has held meetings
for years in Fairmount Park.
—W. W. Fraizer is suggesting
that the government use German
prisoners on Pennsylvania farms.
Ex-Senator Bayard Henry has de
clined to act as president to the
Germantown Y. M. C. A. any longer
owing to business cares. He served
thirty years.
1 DO YOU KNOW | 4
That Harrisburg steel Is used
in making keels of Uncle
Sam's destroyers?
HISTORIC HARRISBURG
People In Harrisburg had regular
committees to escort troops from
Camp Curtin to trains during the
Civil War.
\ ————————
War Odds in Agriculture.
The Only kind of food gambler that
snould be tolerated is the optimist
who plants a pint of seed and takes n
chance on his neighbor's chickens.—
Boston Transcript.