Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-02-05
,5MOCRATS WILL
DISCUSS PROBE
Attitude Toward Proposed
Inquiry Into Governors
Conduct to Be Debated
HOLD POWER BALANCE

Tho attitude of 'he Democratic members
:. enc state Senate toward the Sproul reso.
seton for an investigation of Governor
..,,,,,oueh and the state administration
IN be determined in Harrisburg this aft.
ernoon.
,rbe leaders Of both the old guard and the
-.orQanization factions in the Democratic
.er,y have called conference, at which
pa -, Democratic Senators will decide how
a., shall vote when the measure comes up
g. Anal passage in the Senate tonight
psnrose cannot pass the probe resolution
.,,hout the help OF the Democrats, who
Mold the balance of power In both branches
- ,be Legislature. Vance G. Mccormick
chairman of the Democratic National COM
mttee, will preside over the conference
Tho penrose Senate leaders also will con-
a. in Harrisburg this afternoon while the
1,amocrats are meeting. The war coun-
.,,n will arrange for springng the "sensa-
.,on, which the Penrose war board prom
ised for tonight
Regardless of the nature or Importance
=, the bombsheil, the Senator says he will
burl at his political enemies, the Senate ses-
sion tonight holds promise OF being one
Of the most belligerent In the history OF
the body Since last Tuesday, now, and until
and gavel falls at o'clock tonight. the
1 leaders of both factions have been fight
Inc are lighting and will fight for votes in
fhe case of Penrose and McNichol to sup
mort the resolution and In the case of
the Brumbaugh-Nare faction TO defeat 1t.
There are even reports that the tactics
which brough. condemnation down upon
the Governors head during the speakershlp
fight are again being employed 10 influence
Senators to fall into line with the Adm
traton The vacancies created at that time
still exist it was pointed out, and they must
be filled some time.
While the Governor, Senator Ware and
Attorney General Brown have been busy
politically since the Penrose leaders ad-
journed the Senate on Tuesday for fear
they would be defeated on a vote on the
Sproul resolution, Senator Penrose and his
allied leaders have been doubly active to
preserve their original strength and to win
votes from the other side, and the result
4 tonight is watched for with unusual in
terest
Congressman G. william Beales, of
Gettysburg, announced today that he will
not resign his seat in Congress in order, to
be sworn in as State Senator from the
Adams Franklin district, to which he was
elected last fall. Penrose wanted Beales to
enter the State Senate in time to vote for
the Sproul resolution tonight
One of the most important of the bills TO
be introduced provides that the Mayor
shall appoint the members of the Board Of
REVISION oil ldNeS, anu lndt OOunCllS small
indicate the methods of the assessment of
( taxes. At present members to the board are
appointed by judges.
Constitutional amendments also will be
introduced:
First, granting the city authority to
supervise street planning in nearby towns
within radius of three miles of the city.
Second. To assess benefits of property
owners whose property butts on public i'm
provements This amendment also would
give the city the right to buy and sell prop
erty butting on improvements.
Councils Legislative Committee met this
afternoon and agreed that the bills would
be introduced tonight at Harrisburg. When
asked what member of the committee would
Introduce the bills. Chairman Gaffney said
that had not been decided yet. He said
that would be decided after comforting with
Mayor Smith in Harrisburg.
The committee is preparing a bill to
block persons who fail to make "a proper
freturn on their personal property. 1t is
said that revenue on at least $4,000, 900
worth of property is lost to the city each
year owing to- faulty returns. The bill will
De sent to Harrisburg later, according to
tne announcement made today.