Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-12-20
Positic4 i~
Pt~n4tgSa~io
BY the Ex-Committccman

| tToh NuElOuS SeCtIOnS Oh EeHHbJi-
vania, who have been here the last
week on business at the State Cap
itol and observations of people ac-
tive in politics the sentiment of the
voters of the state Is being mani
Tested in opposition to the making
of a new constitution for a couple
of years at least. The general i'm
preston. according to visitors to
the HILL" is that the powers that
be and arc to be should await the
settling down OF things before un-
dertaking changes in the organic
law of the state. 1t is generally
recognized that the state needs a
new constitution. and much dissat-
isfaction is shown throughout Penn
| sylvania counties at patchwork
amendments, rather curiousiy en-
phasized by the defeat five years
ago of the road loan amendment,
which went through this year with
quarter million votes and more to
spare.
The idea of constitutional study
to be made by a commission of en-
inent men devoting a couple of
years to the task and reporting to
the Legislature of 1921 which
| could then authorize submission to
| the voters the question of selection
| of delegates to a convention to draft
new constitution seems to be
meeting with favor.
The Philadelphia Inquirer
warmly praises the speech of Sena-
tor Penrose on the revenue bill. 1t
says he has been called the fore
most exponent of the principle of
protection to American industry,
and in the really notable speech
which he made in the Senate on the
pending revenue bill he has easily
demonstrated that his political con-
victions upon that point are based
upon a thorough knowledge of our
financial conditions and upon the
economic history of the United
States"
The Allegheny county legislative
delegation has organized for the
Legislature of 1919 by electing Rep
resentative John II. w. Simpson, of
Dravosburg chairman and Repre-
sentative Carl C. Baldridge, of Will
kinsburg, W. ]. McCaig and w. G.
Wagner were chosen to represent
the congressional districts of the
county on the House Slate Com
mittee, the body that distributes the
patronage. The delegation adjourn
ed to meet in the House Caucus
Room at 1 o'clock p. m. Monday,
January s.
The action taken yesterday is
customary before each session of
the Legislature, and the members,
says the Pittsburgh Gazette-Times,
all agreed that big problems affect
ing reconstruction plans would
come up for consideration and the
leadership of Governor William C.
Sproul could be followed with safe
ty."
-Coatesville, one OF the new
cities of the third class, has set its
that 1t will cost the town $1S6,S11.-
79 to operate it's business. Appro-
priations to the various departments
have been made to cover the above
amount, a trifie less than the city's
income.
Erie, which gave the Commission
government for third class cities its
start, is said to have some amend
ments in store which will materially
change that act.
Pittsburgh people have not in
dicated much desire for new legis-
lation.
RESOLUTIONS commencing the
action of the grand jury in recon-
mending indictments against cleo
tion boards charged with ballotbox
stutfing in the May primaries, were
passed at the meeting of the Scran-
ton Surface Protective Association.
-Pittsburgh's council is not
showing much regard for Mayor
Babcock's budget recommendations.
Several items were cut out without
even meeting the mayor.
Says the Altoona Tribune:
Lieutenant Governor McClain is
entitled to the lasting gratitude of
the people of Pennsylvania for the
splendid manner in which he infiu-
.nced the board of pardons to dis
pense Justice and not favor"
An Allegheny county planning
commission is to be created at the
suggestion of the County Commits
sioners to assist in determining what
county improvements shall be un-
dertaken and how they shall be
| carried out. says the Pittsburgh
Dispatch. There will be twenty two
| members. fifteen named by the
County Commissioners and ten by
the organizations named. The pub
lie improvements planned by the
commissioners include roads,
bridges, a tunnel through the South
| Hills. and so many other public
| works which various sections are
urging, that the Commissioners de-
termined to organize this planning
commission and be guided largely
by its decisions.
"A Washington dispatch to the
| Pittsburgh Gazette-Times says:
There is every reason to believe
that the bill appropriating $525,O00
ior the enlargement of the post Of
| flee at Scranton, Pa, will be passed
at this session of congress. The
| officials of the treasury department
| realize the urgent need of greater
facilities for conducting the post
| office business in that city and are
anxious to see the bill introduced
| by Congressman John r. Farr, OF
the Lackawanna district become a
| law. 1t was introduced several
years ago and in the last Congress
was passed by the House, but was
held up by the Senate"
1