Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-04-21
PENROSE CALLS
FOR MORE ACTION
Says That Time Enough Has
Been Lost in the Legislature;
Coming Back Monday

United States Senator Boise PEN
rose, who came to Harrisburg last
night for his first visit to this legis-
| lative session, declared that weeks
enough had been spent in discussing
| legislation and that it was time for
action. He was particularly interest
ed in Philadelphia bills and teachers
salary bills and said that he expected
to stay here until Wednesday eve
ming and would return Monday or
next week. The Senator indicated
very clearly that he meant to insist
upon some things and the talk was
that there were going to be some
understandings reached on good
many subjects before the Senator
| goes home.
| Almost as soon as he reached
Harrisburg the Senator said The
| time has passed for discussing legis-
lation. 1t should be expedited. L
have come here to make an effort to
get action on bills and will remain
until Wednesday at least and come
| back Monday"
The Senator remarked that he had
appointments with men from all over
the State for Harrisburg, this week,
and expected to see them here. Il
shall visit the Hill and call upon
some heads of departments no doubt
and will also see Senator Crow and
other Legislators" said he in dis
cussing his plans. 81 did not come
here to speak to the Legislature es-
pecially," replied the Senator, when
| asked if there was anything to the
report that he might address the
two Houses as he has done on pre-
vious visits. However, l may do
| so, but l am here to get some action
on the so called Philadelphia bills
and Others"
Does that include the Brady
| bills?" was asked.
For Teachers Increase
Yes, and the school teachers
| salary bill and a dozen others on
what not much progress has been
made" answered the Senator VINO
went on to say that he had been
oppealed to by teachers inasmuch as
| he had added to the deficiency Dill
an increase for the teachers of the
District of Columbia. Unless teach
ers are given adequate salaries, ne
pointed out there will not be teach
ing staffs in some of the districts:
When asked if he had heard that
a one mill tax on manufacturing
capital had been suggested as
means of raising money to pay the
teachers, the Senator said Yes, that
has been mentioned, but there
is no definite plan. l think the state
has enough revenue without addl-
tional taxation"
The Senator said that he had
heard the suggestion that local dis
tricts should bear half of the cost
of the increased salaries, if the State
met fifty per cent, and continued
Ever since 1885, there has been a
sentiment in this State against tax
ing manufacturing capital. 1t has
grown to he strong because 1t has
brought many industries to Penn
sylvania, and think we should loath
to disturb the situation in that re-
spect. The United States and this
State-the whole country in fact
have been taxed to the point of
strangulation, and if pushed much |
farther it might result in paralysis
of industry"
The Senator said that he expected |
an effort to be made to get the Wood
ward bills out of committee as soon
as possible and that District Attor-
ney, Samuel p. Rotan, and his as
sistants would be here Tuesday
morning on the district attorney bills,
which he said should be acted upon
without any more delays.
In reply to questions he said that
he thought if the Police Commission
bill went in, the Woodward bill could
be amended so as to dovetail with
it, and that minor amendments
which would not make any radical
changes to the Woodward bill might
be offered. These, he said, would
be presented in the House as the |
bills had been delayed in the Senate
long enough. He said he did not
know about an amendment giving |
councils right to make contracts.
Will See Governor
When asked if he expected to see |
the Governor, he said that he hoped |
to do so, but that he could not speak |
for the Governor on the Philadelphia |
charter bills. The Governor will |
speak for himself. l can only refer |
you to what he said at banquet in |
Philadelphia on that subject" re-
piled the Senator.
The Senator said he had not given |
much thought to the bill for an |
elective school board.
In a formal statement as to rea- |
sons for his visit the Senator said:
MY purpose in coming to Harris
burg is to lend my influence in sup
port of the Woodward charter reVl- |
sion bill and other legislation having |
for its object the attachment of mu-
nicipal good government. Months |
ago [ gave my public pledge to the !
clIlLeTS iCfiA'NN !
purpose of framing this legislation,
that / would do what l could to |
favor its adoption, and ] shall re-
deem that pledge to the best of my |
ability.
THE Woodward charter bill is, l |
believe, a very meritorious measure. |
1t represents the thought and work |
of n large number of public-spirited |
citizens of all shades of opinion, men |
who have given years of study to |
the problems of municipal govern |
ment. 1t has received the indorse- |
ment of the city's principal business
and civic organizations, of church, |
labor and fraternal bodies, and un- |
doubtedly is in accord with over |
whelming public sentiment in favor
of lettering civic conditions.
with the framing of this legis-
lation, | had not the slightest part,
having been entirely occupied by my
duties in the recent session of Con-
gress. But it is entirely in line with
the position I have maintained for
MANY wears in reference to municipal
affairs in Philadelphia and the de-
fects in the Bullitt bill. AS long as
fifteen years ago 1 publicly declared
nv conviction that the misuse of des-
motto powers placed in the hands
of the Mayor by the present charter,
particularly the abuse of the police
~ ,olitics was a public evil that