Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-04-15
PENROsE's OPPORTUNITY

SENATOR PENROSE'S Endorsement Of
~ the proposition to revise the city
charter is likely to be welcomed by all
broad-minded friends of betterment.
They may suspect that he does not care
so much for reform as for legislating the
Ware Councilmen out of office and open
ing the way for a new apportionment Of
councilmanic districts that will favor his
followers. But they will not care what
his motives arc so long as he is willing
to fight with them for the thing that
ought to be done.
The Senator does not go far enough,
however. Now that he has started on the
road to revision he ought to go all the
way and demand the calling Of conven-
tion TO revise the States Constitution. It
is forty-fvC years since it was drafted.
In that time many things have happened.
The conditions which made compromises
necessary in 1873 no longer exist. 1t is
possible now TO eliminate many Of the
anomalies in the document and it is pos
siblc also to cmbody in it the conclusions
Of the best thinking on what a constitu-
tion should be.
The revision Of the charters Of cities
by legislative enactment, for example.
cannot accomplish the needed reforms in
city government 50 long as the General
Assembly in Harrisburg has the power to
meddle. What is needed. in addition to a
modern charter, is Il sweeping and com
prehensive home rule provision in the
Constitution broad enough to make the
large cities of the State virtually indie
pendent. 1t might not be wise to Get
them up as free States within the greater
Commonwealth, but that condition of
freedom should be approXimated rs
closely as possible without interfering
with the control Of the Legislature over
taxation and elections and the general
peace powers Of the Government.
Such change would do moro for
decent government here than anything
else save new spirit in the citizens
themselves. The city would cease to be
the football of factions, and one wing Of
the party in control in the State capital
would be deprived Of its power to inter-
fcre with another wing in control in the
City Hall. Tho present conditions have
continued because neither faction was
willing to surrender the chance Of doing
to the city through Harrisburg what it
had failed to do at homo.
While Senator Pcnrose should not stop
with his demand for revised charter.
the constitutional convention would fail
in its duty If it stopped with granting
home rule to the citcs. All the detailed
Legislation should be swept from the
document and it should be based on tho
nationa Constitutions. That is, VIC
should have a fundamental law made up
of "a body Of principles and grants of
power unincumbered with body of
detailed and specific directions that can
be better attended to by the Legislature.
Principles are permanent. The best
method Of applying them changes from
year to year.
If the Senator will back the demand
for q constitutional convention with his
undoubtcd influence he will find the best
sentiment Of the State supporting him.
lie will find also that the leaders of pub
lie opinion are not frightened by the
thought that modern radicalism may br
in control IN the convention The loagcr
the thing is postponed the greater be.
comes the danger Of extreme radiCaism.
We want n Constitution that is pro-
gressve and up with the times. And this
means that We want Constitution which
will free the cities from pernicious med
ding at the hands Of outsiders and that
will give to the Legislature power to
enact all the social laws which experience
seems to make desirable.
Every candidate for the Legislature
should be pledged TO vote for conven-
tion. It matters not to what faction he
owes his allegiance or whether he be
Democrat or Republican, The issue is
neither partisan nor factional in it, broad
implications. It is an issue of efficiency
and fairness which should appeal to all
citizens.
Win Senator Pcnrosc lead or will he
let some one else jump in and take the
honor from him?