Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-01-25
FIXINGOURBULWARK
City officials Talking About q Con-
stituti0nal Convention.
AUSTRALIAN BALLOT ADVOCATES.
Personal Tax Called Cheap Method Of
Wholesale Bribery.
PEOPLE WHO object TO TISKERlNG

Governor Pattison's suggestion ihlt it
might be we'll to hold a constitutional con-
vention has received considerable attention
around City Hall, where daily assemble
many persons who keep a watchful eve on
everything pertaining to State government.
Controller Morrow is rather afraid of hav-
ing the Constitution tinkered with, but
thinks the Australian ballot system should
be adopted. He believes, however, that the
Constitution could be amended in this re-
spect, without the aid of convention.
The Controllers chief clerk, e. E.
Phelps, also indorses the Australian ballot
in the following language: 81 would be
willing to offer a big premium for every
honest man outside of politics who does not
favor this system, and am confident that
would not have to pay cent"
Wholesale Bribery at Low Rates
Delinquent Tax Collector Ford, on the
other hand, wants the Constitution over
hauled for several reasons. In the first
place he wants better system of registra-
tion preliminary to voting. In the next
place he goes on to say: 81 want the per-
sonal tax, as requirement for voting, wiped
out. I have come to the conclusion that the
personal tax affords the cheapest method of
wholesale bribery known. Every time the
matter is brought before the Legislature
the members from the country
districts object 1t may be possible to col
lect this money in therural counties, where
the collector knows each individual, but it
is almost impossible in the cities, and it
only amounts to SO cents a head, anyway.
believe that a convention of honest, intel
ligent men-and we have plenty of them in
the State-would soon see the policy of
abolishing this tax, if only for the purpose
of abolishing the wholesale purchase Of tax
receipts just before election day."
Chief Bigeiow, of the Department of Pub
lie Works, would like to see Constitutional
convention. He believes the constitution
embodies too many arbitrary and annoying
details. He would like to give the average
citizen a little more leeway.
Not Stuck on Tinkering.
Judge William Ramsey does not see any
necessity for a con,titutional convention,
and is afraid that such body would revise
the bulwarK of our Liberties clear out of
sight He sees nc reason why vote on
constitutional amendments should not be
sufficient. and thinks the time it would take
to pass them would give every voter time
enough to discuss and become thoroughly
familiar with the subject to be voted upon.
Mayor Gourley has not given this matter
much thought as he is busy preparing his
address of welcome to the newspaper men
who will arrive in thiscity on Tuesday. His
Honor feels that the present Constitutions
a very able document and has proven to be a
very heavy club when welded by the Su-
preme Court, of which august body the
Mayor has stood in much awe since the re-
cent street act decision.
| Chief Brown, OF the Department of Pub
lie Safety, does not worry himself about
constitutional conventions, if, indeed, he
worries himself about anything but tine
suppression of the almost irrepressible
speak-easy. He said yesterday: $50 far as
my department is concerned, the present
Constitution is perfectly satisfactory. 1t
strikes me as being very able document.
Perhaps it needs some changes, but if it
does the people will determine what is nec-
essary. am nrm believer in the good
sense and power Of the people of the State
of Pennsylvania,