The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1913-03-12
FOR ELECTION
ON CONSTITUTION
House Passes Bill Submitting
Question to People.
FOLLOWS A WARM DEBATE

Bill introduced In Senate For vice
Commission-Senate Passes Resolu.
ton Providing s5o,ooo.ooo For State
Roads.
Harrisburg, Pa, March IL. - The
bills providing for submission to the
voters at the November election OF
the question of constitutional con-
vention, and providing for the election
of delegates at the same time, were
passed in the house after an hours
debate.
The chief objection to the measure
submitting the question was that 1t
combined the question of a convention
and election of delegates. Efforts were
made to send the bill to the appro-
priation and constitutional reform
committee but were defeated.
Shuck, Westmoreland; Watson, In
diana: Flynn, Elk; Baldwin, Della
ware, and Rockwell, Tioga. spoke
against the bill, and John R. K. Scott
and Roney. Philadelphia, and Humes,
Crawford. advocated it. The vote was
1872 to IL.
No objections were voiced against
the bill regulating the conduct Of the
election. but thirty votes were cast
against it and IA in favor of it.
Representative Baldwin, Delaware,
made the motion to send the bill to
the reform committee, stating that he
believed it should be more carefully
prepared. He questioned a provision
carrying an appropriation of $450.00O
to pay 165 delegates $500 each.
IF the constitutional convention
plan is defeated at the polls and these
delegates elected" he said. "the ques.
ton would arise as to whether the
state treasurer should pay them"
Representative Allen, Pittsburgh,
ridiculed this suggestion by Mr.. Bald
win. He said that if the voters did
not favor a constitutional convention
the delegates could not serve and
draw pay.
Senator Clark, of Erie, introduced
in the senate bill providing for the
creation of state department for the
suppression of vice, to be conducted
by a vice commissioner" to be ap-
pointed by the governor for four
years
The commissioner, under the pro-
visions of the bill, must be a physician
of at least ten years experience and
a graduate of legally constituted
medical college The bill further pro-
vides for an advisory board of three
members to assist the vice commits
sioner, without salary. The salary of
the Commissioner would be $4,000 a
year.
It would be the duty of the vice
commissioner to enforce the laws di-
rected toward the suppression of vice.
The commissioner might from time to
time employ competent persons to dis
seminate information through lectures
or in any other manner deemed advis-
able.
The senate passed finally the joint
resolution proposing an amendment to
the constitution permitting the state
to issue bonds to the amount of $780,
100000 for highway improvements.
The resolution passed the last legisla-
ture.
The Walnut bill establishing a
municipal court Of nine judges in
Philadelphia, with salaries of $4,000
each. the presiding judge to be paid
$4,000. passed finally in the house by
q vote of 134 to 40.
The sale Of the eastern penitentiary
In Philadelphia and the consolidation
Of that institution and the western
penitentiary into state penitentiary,
to be centrally located, is called for in
a bill by Representative Wiltbank. of
Philadelphia. A site in Center county
for the purpose has been obtained.