Evening journal., 1905-05-06
RIPPER MEASURES
WERE ACTED UPON
Governor Pennypacker Ap-
proves One Bill and Vetoes
Two Others
GOES into EFFECT APRIL 1907

Harrisburg. Pa. May 6.--Goyernor
Pennypacker signed one Of the bills
known as Philadelphia Ripper" ana
vetoed the two companion bills. The
bill signed provides for the election by
city councils instead of appointment
by the mayor OF the directors Of public
works and public safety. The bills We
toed provided for the election Of the
directors of public supplies and public
health and charities. The bill signed
goes into effect the first Monday Of
April, 1907, when the next mayor takes
office
The governor comments on his action
/ in a long opinion in which he discusses
his action on the three bills. He says
that there can be no element Of uncon-
stltutlonality in these bills as in the
former Ripper" bills as the elements
are entirely antithetical, inasmuch as
no one is ripped out of office, and, since
the bill does not become effective be-
fore the first Monday in April, 1907, IL
gives an opportunity to the people
through their representatives in the
legislature to repeal the law.
BY citing historical examples Of the
governments of Charlemague and Abra-
ham Lincoln. the BourboRs and the
revolution in France, the Stuarts and
Cromwell IN England. he claims that
experience shows the concentration OF
power 10 be more dangerous than It's
dissemination, and as such to be avoid
ed. In this country. the governor says,
that both views obtain, though for the
last 40 years the tendency has been for
the concentration Of power in national
affairs and the division of responsible
ity in state and municipal affairs.
He says that "the most thoughtful
observers and those most familiar con-
cede that II would be better for the adj
ministration Of public affairs in Phil
adelphia If the power which Is given by
existing laws to the mayor could be in
certain directions, at least, lessened." ."
BY his control of from 1000 to 1000
Offices. the mayor has ample opportun-
ity to exercise his power corrupuy the
governor thinks, as well as to use his
power for political effect, and for the
reason that Philadelphia has such a
large delegation in the legislature, this
condition is of interest to the entire
commonwealth. He refers to a num-
Der of Philadelphia mayors who at
tempted political power through their
offices, and suggests this as a reason
for apprehension.
The governor says that it is admitted
that the present is not the most salts
factory form OF city government in
Philadelphia but claims that he ha.
been urged to veto the present bills
In justifying his action, the governor
y says that the veto power Of his Office
s. was intended to be used only in th'
event that a bill passed the Legislature
7 with less than a two-third vote. Bu
, since the present bill was passed bJ
e the legislature by considerably more
than a two-thirds majority, in which
the Philadelphia delegation was al
most unanimously represented, to vet'
the bill would be an exercise Of power
. not intended by the constitution.
Thus. with these views, the governo
n feels at q disadvantage, and had ther'
been four bills, one for each depart
. ment. instead of the present arrange
ment, action would not be so difficult
Nevertheless the governor concludes
"a modification of the proposed plai
il is possible to make by approving th'
bin which changes the method of Sc
lecting the directors of the department
Of public works and public safety ant
disappearing the two bills whicl
s change the method of selecting the di
o rectors OF the departments Of publi
I health and charities and supplies"