Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-11-28
Proposed Measure Is Intended
a Complete Substitute for
Bullitt Act, Leader Says

in favor OF such Il reform.
Senator PenroSr has not O~ru ,pa.
suited in regard to our present nrugram
said Mr. winston Staiemeu; II CAM
not help his writing letters. Any one
who will examine the bills himself caa.
not fail to arrive at the conclusion tha'
they were never intended to help OF
hurt any particular faction or party"
He admits senator Penrosc was ask d
10 use his influence in favor Of tNe bills
submitted to the 1917 Legislature hut
points out that the Senator had no hand
in drafting those measures.
Mr.. Winstons statement aiso an
nounces a plan to cmhOd% all the u.'i,
reforms aimed a. b. the 'omwiltee Of
Seventy in n single h!l tha' virtually
win be a substitute for the Buiit char.
ter.
white Preparing BiIl
Thomas Raeburn Whit is lnW drar-
ing this document and il VIII hp uG;-
lined at the conference dinner Of char
ter revisers arranged for December ~
in the Bellevue -Stratford. This task
probably furnished the motive for NJ"
Whites refusal to serve as secretary
of the new charter-revstun committee
formed at a meeting in 'it5 Sole
tor Connely's office Tu, sday.
Mr.. Winston. in his stateme.t. uni-
cially welcomes the new committee ~
the field of charter revision and in
vites them to take part in the conr-r-
ence on December 10. He expresses
hope that the result will be single
committee to serve as = clearing house
for all ideas and present a unified front
when the legislative battle starts.
FThe statement also reveals that GER
tain of the reforms sought IA l"l7
may be sidetracked temporarily. lie
gives il as his personal opinion that
the attacks on the @Op"in,ng powers Of
the Philadelphia judges should be drop
ped Yor the present
In addition to reviewing the previous
efforts to obtain charter revision the
statement says:
"I am glad to welcome new converts
to the inadequacy OF our present ma
chinery of city government and to the
Importance Of a revised charter. The sub
iect is big enough and important enough
TO interest all thoughtful citizens who
recognize the etl;s of our present system
and are deSii Gus oe an Improvement. 7
agree with Mr.. Connolly that no Ques-
tions OF politics should enter into the
discussion The proposed new charter
should be considered on its merits.
--- senator Penrose was appealed to -
use his influence in favor OF the bills
but he had nothing 70 do with ,he prep.
aration of the bills. Senator Penrose
has not been consulted IN regard to
our present program. .'annot helm
his writing letters Any one who viii
examine the bills himself cannot fail
to arrive at the conclusion that they
We're never intended to help or. hurt any
particular faction or party.
Bound to Hurt Some One
AS matter of fact, no revision OF
the city charter that Is worth consider
IHta 4. IL
somebody's toes. You cannot reduce the
number of Councilmen and the number
OF office holders and do away with the
duplication OF city and county officials
and coordinate the city government in
representative Councilmanc body and
under the Mayor, that will not treSpaSS
upon the powers and privileges now en-
ercised by various individuals and de-
partments. Controller Walton felt that
the budget bill trespassed upon lis pre-
negatives. Our bills affecting the ap-
pointing power Of the Judges met with
opposition from various sources.
insidentaily; l may say row that
one of these bills. which had TO do with
the question of liquor licenses. will prob
ablybe dropped, awaiting a dec sion on
the question OF prohibition. If prohibit
tibn goes into effect, there will he no
need for this bill. The bill providing
for small school board affects Pitts
bhrgh and is seriously opposed by Pitts
burgh people. This bill also may be
dropped, at least until a satisfactory
reorganization of Councils is effected
Nobody would want to see the school
system become football of politics
again.
''The principal provisions of the bill
relating TO the board of assessors can
probably be taken care of in connection
with a general bill covering the re-
organization of Councils and duties OF
various departments. No one wants 10
transfer additional powers to Councils
n - M afRTcr DFNiy yAI
sure Of a provision for properly reor-
ganized city Councils and public con-
fidence Is established in that. my per
sonal opinion is that we had better not
disturb the boards now appointed by
the Board of Judges. This, however, is
4 only my personal opinion.
"a new charter in one bill Mr.
Thomas Raeburn White, who Ia chair.
man Of the subcommittee Of the charter
committee, has been requested TO coop
crate with some of the other lawyers
who were on the subcommittee in pre-.
pairing general bill that will embrace
the essential features of our entire pro,
gram. This bill will be virtually new
charter bill. Mr. White will outline the
provisions OF this bill at the dinner De.
cember 10. and there will be ample op.
portuhty for its full consideration and
Y aiscussion from all angles and from al
sources before 1t il finally presented tt
the Legislature. AS we are already as.
sured of big attendance at this din.
ner, II will he very broad and represent.
alive. and | trust that 1t will result ir
the appointment of a single committed
which VIII be the clearing house for al
suggestions, and that such committed
VIII pe able to present bill to the Leg
lsiature that vii meet with general ap
proval.at least of all of those who are
genuinely In favor of an honest revision
OF the city charter without regard tC
whom II may help or whom 1t may hurt
Such a revision OF the charter as ou
comnittee had in mind will undoubtedly
( make Il more difficult for certain inter
ests to exploit the city tor business ant
selfish purposes Opposition to our who'll
program may be expected from sucl
sourcea. Those who are opposed to ou
program will resort TO the ingeniou
methods well known to them for Sc
curing delay and for confusing the is
sues. III they find they cahnot success
fully prevent the passage of bill 10
z revised charter, they viii then seel
10 emaseulate II so ss TO destroy il
n<efulness. The sixty Representative
citizens who are sponsors for the con
ference dinner on" December 10 shoul
be a Sufficient guarantee Of Its nonpar
s tisan character.
u am nure that all these gentleme
xviii welcome the cooperation of Nj
Connely and those acting with him