Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-12-08
Eur,1tap Gl1at


begin its deliberations preliminary
to recommending to the Legislature
or is2l its ideas for changes TO tho
paste law of the State, will be thr
Iirst important body in the State gov
ernfnent to have women in its mem
oershlp. This is the first recognition
IN an official way of the fact thai
women will have the same voting
power as men in the governmental
aHalrs of the Commonwealth. Mrs
barclay IL. Warburton, of Philadel-
Pnia' and Mrs. John O. Miller of
1iItuspurgh, appointed by Governor
w imam =. Sproul as the representa-
ives OF the coming voters, will rank
the same as the Attorney General of
e onlteu states when it comes to
fo formally upon propositions
LOT changes in the constitution. Both
are women of unusually extended ex-
perlence in public affairs and fami-
mar with the State governmental
scheme Considering the fact that
mere nave never been any women
members OF the Legislature or of
Sourts ana that only in recent years
nave the ladies been given represen
tatlon on State boards and commits
slons, this is all the more striking
TO people at the Capitol. AS far as
known, there never was even q sug
sestlon of woman for delegate In
any OF the constitutional conventions
OF proposed for that which the peo-
PIE OF the State declined to authorize
carry In the nineties. Owing to tho
presence OF women on the Commits
ololl' Whlch was not expected by
ihahy many men IN politics, the work of
the pennsylvania board will he
side of the State as will the Man of
having the proposed amendments
thought out for the Legislature TO
discuss.
Under the provisions of the act
creating the Commission, il may rec
ommend addition to, alteration or
omission of any section. being
charged with the duty of consider
ing the document in the "light of
modern thought" There has been
no general plan outlined except that
work will be started promptly to-
morrow. The idea of Attorney Cen
eral William I. Schaffer; designated
Dy the Governor as the chairman. is
10 nave the Commission organize
atter formal opening, at which sur
VNors OF the constitutional conven-
VIII
be guests, the public being invited
and there being no cards of admis.
sion. All sessions of the Commits
sion will be open and all will be
stenographically reported Just as a
legislative session. The dignity of
a session of the General Assembly
VIII surround the open meetings and
at the Inauguration of the session
the Secretary of the Commonwealth
| Will formally present the appoint
ments. 1t is probable that Mr..
Schaffer, as the representative of the
| Governor, will outline some of the
work to be done, although as far as
the subject matter of the constitu-
ton is concerned that will be left
to the committees to discuss. While
word has come here of one or two
drafts of whole new constitution
and of very exhaustive amendments
they are the work of individuals not
| connected with the Commission. No
| general program has been prepared
| by the State. The Legislature, did
not provide for one, although when
the bill creating the Commission
passed it was generally understood
that the amendments proposed in
the score or more of resolutions ap-
| pearing each session lately should be
referred to the body. Organizatio
of the Commission will be effected
through committees. When the Of
| ficers are selected and rules outlined
and there will be as few as posi- BILE
of the latter, the Commission will
provide for committees on related
subjects and begin work. Addresses
presentation of the necessary docu-
ments and such other ceremonies as
l F1aa l.
much over an hour and it is the
| hope of the Attorney General ia
| have such sections as should be al
lowed to stand to be reported upon
The opening declaration, or Bill OF
| Rights" will probably be the first
matter to be considered in open ses-
sion.
The recommendation of the Com.
mission cannot reach the people be.
fore 1924, so it is held here that
there is ample time for considera.
| ton of them and that the plan of al.
| lowing years to pass between pre-.
sentation and action will be thor.
oughly safeguarded. The Legisla.
ture of 1919 gave, in effect, author
ity to this Commission to make up Q
report for the session of 1921 upor
the necessity of changes to the or.
ganic law: The Commission mus
report to the Legislature that will bC
elected in November of 1920, which
will be a presidential election a,
well, and when the sentiment o
the people will be thoroughly mani
tested. Any recommendation tina
fails to pass the Legislature of 1872.
will fall, as the amendment CLAUSE
of the constitution provides tina
proposals for amendment must pas
two successive Legislatures in identi
cal form before going to the people
The action of the session of 1923vwil
also have n very definite influence oI
the amendments. 1t may reject any
thing that was passed by that o
1921. Furthermore this Legislature
will be charged with the duty o
providing for the submission of th
amendments to the people. This sys
them of checks and provision 70
study in the most deliberate way i
, added to by the ruling of the At
, torney Generals Department twic
, within a year that. constitutions
amendments may be submitted onl
; at general elections. This mean
, only in even-numbered years. TIL
elections in odd-numbered years. un
der the provisions of the constitu
tional amendments of 1919, concer
only county and municipal official
and questions, unless when a judg
of the appellate courts is to b
chosen.
Among the first steps will be
> recommend changes to accord wit
! the Federal Constitution, includin
woman suffrage. One of the mos
important subjects for considerable