Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-06-29
ONE LAW JUSTIFIED AN EN-.
TIRE SESSION AT CAPITAL

TIRE SESSION AT CAPITAL
T,HE million dollar" Legislature, so de-,
scribed because its upkeep cost the
Commonwealth that sum of money and
not because its appropriations amounted
20 so small a sum, has been violently do
nounced and criticized for its slothfulness
and inability to measure up 70 tho re-
quirements OF the times. II was, how
ever, true to type, and neither better nor
worse than its predecessors Of similar
political origin. When the people dele
gate the selection of their representatives
10 few so.called leaders. they may con-
ndently expect those representatives to
be true, TO the powers that gave them
position. Factionalism at Harrisburg
means simply that few bosses are in
nght The herds follow orders.
Legislation Of vital Importance, such
as the revision of the insurance code, was
ignored, but hundreds OF useless and oh.
solete statutes were cleared away. The
increased appropriation for public educa-
ton is distinctly gratifying. Undoubtedly,
however, the most important piece Of
work done, in itself justifying the entire
cost Of the Legislature and certain to be
productive Of enormous benefits to the
Commonwealth and the nation, was the
passage Of the dope" bill. That it will be
the means Of saving thousands OF men
and women, otherwise destined to the
gutter; that It will reduce the criminal
record and that It will assist in restoring
self,respect to many who have hitherto
been without hope, seems certain.
The history of this bill is in a measure,
q recital OF the virtues of political bosses
for bosses have virtues as we'll as vices.
District Attorney Kane, aroused by the
universally and growth of the drug evil,
appointed committee, of which Edward
Box was chairman, to look into the sit.
uation. This committee. supplying its
own funds, organized an independent in
vestigation which verified its worst fears.
The attention of Senator Ware. in the
meantime, had been called to the
evil through the articles appearing in
the EVENING LEDGER. Indeed, a tragic
case in South Philadelphia aroused in
him a determination to use every power
he possessed to drive out the evil.
He was prepared to go ahead on his
own account. even II there had been
no committee. Likewise, Senator Nc
formation revealing the horror OF the
trafic, put his powerful hands behind
the committee. Both Senators gave the
proposed legislation their enthusiastic and
unceasing support. guiding It safely
through all legislative pitfalls and bring.
ing It at last to triumphant and unani-
nous passage.
w ~ hSS NAAAAiN AAAuSll VI Allc SyslGIIli DuJ
the experience Of Mr.. Bok's committee
seems to show that good movement may
often be brought more promptly TO a sue
cessful conclusion by a plain report for
Organization aid than by tempestuous
campaign to compel political assistance
for the undertaking. The two Senators,
representing the sort OF politics they do
represent. are not often the subjects of
encomium in these columns. We more
than suspect, nevertheless, that angels
stood beside them when they gave their
hands and their hearts to this superb
piece of legislation.
We trust that when the next elections
occur the voters. remembering the kind
of representation they got generally
during the last few months at Harris
burg, will put on their own thinking caps
and do their own electing. They will then
get a Legislature worthy OF this great
Commonwealth and its traditions.