Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-06-10
PseiKc4 L.
Per'eeqeeo~io
BY t1ae Ex-Con1naitteeman

| Abrupt ending of the fighting over
the Philadelphia charter bill is one
of the most interesting developments
months and the way is now cleared
for the Legislature to finish up its
work and go home. The fighting
over the Philadelphia registration
bills will not have very much effect
on the State at large, not nearly as
much as a continuation of the con-
troversy over the charter would
have had if an agreement had not
been reached last night.
| The way the charter bill now
stands, the charter revisionists get
u new law for Philadelphia and a
single chamber council; the Penrose
element receives some things which
1t has wanted and the Ware people
obtain several things for which they
have contended in season and out
and Governor Sproul and Attorney
General come out of the discussion
as the men who prevented a break
and forced compromise when it
looked as though the close of the
session would be disturbed and the
W
many parts of the State.
Few more amazing incidents
have occurred in the Legislature this
session than the defeat of the Ram
sey bill, establishing any liquor con-
tanning more than two and three
fourths per cent. of alcohol as a
real drink and the reconsideration
OF the defeat of the measure at the
instance of the men who defeated it
and who attempted reconsideration
as means of slaughtering the bill
The men who engineered the move
played into the hands of the wet
element, which demoralized by the
defeat of the bill. were rounding up
members favorable to their cause in
move to try the very same thing.
1t is understood that the men who
essayed it were three times warned
by Representative John w. Wicker
man, of Allegheny, the leader of
the "drys," not to attempt it and
that his words were ignored. The
result was that the attempt to kill
| the bill revived it. with votes TO
spare. The VETS are now schem-
ing to get the bill through.
The Daix- Brady bills, changing
the State registration commission
laws so that Philadelphia shall have
its own board and making numerous
amendments to the statutes, were
amended and passed on second read
ing in the House without the ex-
pected contest. When the bills came
up, Mr.. Brady, Philadelphia, pre-
sented amendments, including one
increasing the membership from
fOIlr tn five Mr nj
expressed the hope that there would
be no opposition at this stage and
when Mr.. Cox, Philadelphia, had
asked If he would not oppose going
into committee of the whole and
been informed that he would not,
the amendments were adopted. The
bills are to be storm center to-day.
The bill increasing the Allie
| gheny county board of tax revision
from four to seven was passed in
the House last night after having
been defeated two weeks ago and
reconsidered. The bill secured 116
votes. or IL more than needed. The
bill was the cause of a lively inter-
change of remarks among Allegheny
county members. Mr.. Simpson urg-
| ing it, while Messrs. Marcus and
/ -hN iSeii bCNlti cu lntIt was no nceu
of the legislation except to create
jobs.
/ Members of the woman suffrage
organization were jubilant to-day
over the attitude of Governor Will
liam c. Sproul in favor of the suf-
frage amendment and confident that
| his message to the Legislature urg-
| ing immediate ratification of the
amendment would be taken up by
Republican leaders and lead to ratifi-
cation by the Legislature. How
| ever, there were signs that the oppo-
sition was making some combina-
/ tions the other way.
| Considerable interest is being
manifested in regard to the appro-
priations for the colleges which are
due to appear tomorrow Some big
cuts are reported Chancellor s. B.
| Mccormick, of the University of
Pittsburgh. was among men here for
the meetings last night.
Representative Rottenberger, of
Berks. is reported seriously i'll at his
home.
-Ex-Speaker Charles A. Amber
looked in on the House last night
and remarked that things were in
clined to he strenuous.
The Scranton Republican wants
action on the mine cave proposition.
In an editorial it saws: There have
been many propositions for tho so
lution of the mine cave problem
Some OF them have failed because
they were so drastic that their en-
actment would cripple the great in
dustrv which forms the basis of in
dustrial prosperity in the mining
valleys. But there is a reasonable
remedy. and we believe ii is 10 be
found in the passage of n Just and
common sense law placing tax on
coal such as will provide a fund euf-
ficient to nav the cost of its pro-
duction. including an ADEQUATE com
pensation for damages TO all sur
face nropertv. Such a law can and
should be passed before the present
session of the Legislature adjourne. {"
Ira McNea1. formerly of this
CITY. and a brother-in-Iaw of Or
Harvey r. Smith. will be a candi-
date for District Attorney of Mercer
county.