Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-01-26
NEW CONSTITUTION
VITAL TO STATE, SAYS
AUTHOR OF BILL
Representative Roney Says
Present instrument Is Ont
worn and Defines Needs
That Must Be Met.
LrnoM a srArr connnsrorpprr. !

HARRISBURG, Pa, Jan. B.--Reprs..n.
tative Charles j. Roney, Jr.. OF PbiIoa,,
phia, author of the bill providing for N,
calling OF a constitutional convention ~
January s, 1916. which was introduced IN
the House last night, today outlined ,be
program which he believes the oonvent,oD
should follow His measure Ia reportaa ;,
have tho backing of the adminlstratior
so that his Views reflect a part Of m.
plan of the leaders The plan proyiAo,
| for:
The establishment OF Statewide Com.
mon Pleas Court, with an Appellate hi.
| vision.
graded system of taxation,
| Removal of restrictions that now ham.
per labor legislation.
| Home rule for cities and incorporated
| boroughs.
| Standardized election laws.
Regulation of State charitable beauesta
| REORGANIZATION of the Attorney Gen.
| erals department abolishing special at
torneys for commissions and special cases
| The definite establishment of the Gov
| ernmentRl departments of the State
| THE Constitution under which we ara
now working is more than 40 years old~
| said Mr.. Roney, land this in itself worid
| be an all-sufficient reason for q revision
of n change of the same because the lnst
40 years have marked for the people os
this Commonwealth tremendous change
| in industrial and commercial matters and
an enormous increase In population and
| the social problems that come with great
| increases In population. But this of itself
is not the only reason why the Constitu-
ton should be revised There are defnits
specific and far-reaching reasons for A
new order of things.
| <,NrTr,ur c,rT
1.-THE organization of the courts is sadly
In need of radical changes. Under new
system, embracing q Statewide Common
Pleas Court, divided into convenient dis
tricts, with an appellate division Of the
same. there would undoubtedly be a
greater dispatch of business and more
prompt and satisfactory conclusion Of all
litigated matters
1.-THE bugaboo OF uniform taxation in
the same grades or classes of subjects
should be promptly and unceremoniously
kicked out of the fundamental law
Graded taxation is the only equitable
method of taxation"
Various inhibitions in the present con-
stitution in regard to certain kinds Of
legislation, particularly as to labor,
should be wiped out, and the Legislature
from time to time empowered by the con-
TO make Sucn CnanBe3 IN the
legislation regarding labor as the times
make necessary and proper.
HOME RULE ESSENTIAL.
Constitutional regulation of cities and
incorporated boroughs and districts is all
wrong Cities should have the widest
measure of home rule, and while the con.
stitutional Limitation OF borrowing ca
| oNit hn q vat
should be so high that developing cities
and boroughs. with confidence in them
selves and their financial progress. would
find no restrictions placed on their
growth.
IT think there should be some funds-
mental principle written in the constitu-
tion to standardize, so to speak, election
laws. so that there would be some great
general principle controlling the elections
written in the constitution, with Just
enough power left In the Legislature to
enable it from time to time to enact such
laws as the mobility Of the matter en-
tails.
CHARITIES AND LAW.
Moreover, the grave and increasingly
important question of bequests to State,
private and semiprivate institutions should
be taken UP and have serious thought
by constitutional convention represent
ing the people, AS the matter stands now
it Is almost disgraceful thing to have
the Legislature. so needless of their obi-
cation and so improvident with the
States money, passing charitable appro-
priations far in excess OF the revenues OF
the State. This question must be met
squarely and courageously and with the
constitutional convention considering the
matter Wholly as social and political
matter as affecting the welfare OF the
State, with an absolute disregard OF any
other question, such as simply pleasing
locality or a sect or class OF people.
"There should also be a reorganization
of tho legal department OF the State. Inc
Attorney Generals office should %
charged in the Constitution with the du-
ties and responsibilities OF the legal de'
partment connected with administration
of the Government, and should exelu-
sively attend 10 the legal business OF lhe
State. The retaining of lawyers here ana
there and everywhere in small ana Illus
matters involving the States rights has
been very expensive matter for the COM
monwealth and should without hesitauoh
be wiped out. The States legal business
should be carefully and skilfully handed
by the States own paid men, ana Wouiu
result In a much cheaper and much peP
ter representation OF the States inIelesys'
| Il think the next constitution HhVun.
establish, by constitutional provisions ~
of the departments OF the State, and lhs
question OF new ones. II necessary, sueh s
as a commission or department 70 iooA
after the public service matters, depart
ment OF Health and all other departments
that we now have, and which the eoa
stitutional convention might deem hss17
sary to add to those we already hass
SIMPLICITY A CARDINAL POINT,
81 do not think in any sense that INC
constitution should attempt to be an g
haustive treatise on the organization -
government of the various departments
under 1t, but should at least be eonp's
hensive, plainly written and unosis"
instrument for the government %
people, and there should be no reason :.
this day or at this time the eonsu.up9sa eoa. =
could not be written OF vast penehs
the people and also written and snrt ssrasat
SO that the student OF civil goNei l,i,ssii nssaai
In the 18th grade OF the grammar ssena
may read as he runs, ana thste ssea.
be little necessity, or at least Tess ~ a
sion than formerly. TO have TO wl' -
have the Supreme Court tell US WhA' =
constitution means"