The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-03-09
THE GERRYMANDERIN BILL.

THE GERRYMANDERING BILL.
SENATOR DAVIS spportionment bill passed
the Senate yesterday, after slight modifcs-
tion affecting the Representative districts of
this city. The Republican Senators made
determined assault upon it, but the Demo-
| cratic majority of one insured the defeat of
all the amendments offered by the Republi-
cans, and its final passage by strict party
| vote. The debate which preceded the vote
was animated and bitter. Senator White
took occasion 10 pitch into Speaker Wallace
in the most approved style, alleging that the
grand OBJ ject of the measure was the election
of the latter to the United States Senate in
| 1872, at the expiration of Simon Camerons
term. MIR. Wallace, in defending himself
from these assaults, did not deny the soft
impeachment, and Senator Dill even went SO
far as to admit the propriety of such an ZEN
| dorsemeDt" of Wallace's claims upon the
party. Thus the entire Democratic platform
is placed fully before the people, and if it
should succeed, the apathetic Republicans of
the First Senatorial district of this city, who
suffered Colonel Dechert to be elected to fill
the seat made vacant by the death of the late
Senator Watt, will have to bear the mix ture
of odium and glory which will attach to the
election of William w. Wallace to the United
States Senate.
This contingency is by no means improba-
BILE. Senator Rutan yesterday submitted an
amendment to the Apportionment bill which
would have made the Senate Republican by
one majority and the House by eight majo-
rity. The amendment failed as a matter of
course. Under the bill as it passed the Senate,
the Democrats expect to have control of the
Senate by a majority of three and of the
House by majority of six, and this despite
clear Republican majority of several thou
sand on the vote of the State at large. If the
Senate apportionment bill should become
law, nothing short of great popular revolu-
tion could keep Speaker Wallace out of the
United States Senate. The House of Repre-
sent4tives, however, is Republican by fair
working majority, and the Governor was
elected on the Republican ticket. II nobody
sells out, therefore, Speaker Wallaces ''ittle
game" will be blocked. But there is great
danger that somebody will sell out. The Re-
publicans have majority of twelve in the
lower house, and a detection of
seven members is all that is
needed to push the bill through
and place the people at the mercy of John w.
Geary. The grand commission schemes for
the plundering of this city are to be controlled
| by nominal Republicans, scheme which the
Democratic majority of one in the Senate
could defeat. The probabilities therefore
point to compromise, whereby the commits
sions will be pushed through the Democratic
Senate, and the bill for making Wallace
United States Senator through the Republican
House. This bargain and sale is so monstrous
that the ingenious public may dscredit it,
but in view of what has been done at Harris
burg in the past, it is well to be forewarned
and on our guard. That Governor Geary
weuld lend himself to such double-headed
| job is by no means improbable. 1t would
upset his own Senatorial aspirations, but
there are as good fish in the sea as were ever
caught, and he would not go unrewarded.
THE PROPOSED COMMISSIONS.
The most superficial examination that can be
made of the three bills introduced in the
Legislature for the creation of Commissioners
| Of Public Works, Commissioners of Police,
and Water Commissioners, will prove to any
one how dangerous they are, and if each sepa-
rate section is carefully considered by ITSELF
/
the opportunities for indiscriminate plunder
that are afforded by these measures is enough
to startle the most apathetic taxpayer. Let
us begin at the beginning and consider the
organization of the commissions. The bills
provide that the three Boards of Public
Works, Water, and Police shall each consist
of six individuals, who shall hold Office until
November, 1876, and until their successors
are duly qualified. On the second Tues
day in October, 1876, the citizens of
Philadelphia may, by the gracious permission
of the bills in question, elect successors
to the individuals whom it is now proposed to
place in Office by legislative authority without
consulting the citizens of Philadelphia as to
whether they desire the eighteen Harrisburg
appointees to rule over them or not. The
bills propose to give the voters of Philadel-
phia voice in the election of commissioners
In 1876, provided, however, that this impor-
tant clause is not repealed in the meantime.
as it undoubtedly will be if it suits the pur-
poses OF the men who now propose to place
the government of the city in the hands of
irresponsible commissioners. If there is in
huence enough now at Harrisburg TO procure
the passage Of these bills, there will be moro
than enough at the next and at all subsequent
sessions Of the Legislature TO have any de-