Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-01-11
CHARTER BACKER
SEEK HOME RULE
Revisionists Find Strong
Sentiment for Various
Changes
LOOK INTO CONTRACTS

Strong sentiment in favor OF more
home rule for the city Government has
been found by the charter revision sub
committee on city contracts and munich
pal works, which Is headed BY DIR. Will
liam Draper Lewis. dean of the Uni
Nesrity of Pennsylvania Law School.
Doctor Lewis and his committee have
spent the last week investigating the
methods of letting city contracts, with
the View TO making recommendations
10 the charter revision committee.
The recommendations of the commit
tee will be submitted to the subcommit-
tee, headed by Thomas Raeburn White,
which will draft the charter revision
plan, at a meeting in the Chamber Of
commerce, Thursday evening.
People. To Have Say
Later the recommendations will be
submitted 10 the general committee on
charter revis on. and then to the people
for their approval or rejection.
In conducting its inquiry the commit
tee headed by Doctor Lewis has inter-
viewed Mayor Smith and members Of
his cabinet members of former cabinets
and county officials, together with all
methods employed In handling city con-
tracts.
We have had interviews with per-
sons of practical experience in handling
contracts for the city," said Doctor
Lewis this afternoon in discussing the
work of his committee.
The question has been discussed with
directors OF past and the present ad-
ministration.
our chief object is TO find out and
report TO the general committee whether
ii Is desirable to make any changes in
the legal restrictions which now require
the city to have annually re-occurring
work performed by contract
Long Period Contracts
We are also interested in the ques-
ton whether there should be any relax
alton In the restrictions on work like
the collection of garbage. which limit
contracts to one year and determine
IL it would be advisable to give Coun-
ellis and the city government power to
make contracts for a longer period, and
IL 80, how long.
80 far we have found consider
able sentiment in favor of greater home
rule and a wider discretion on such mat
ters on the part of the city government -"
l'ONNOL Lewis Sd III ltldl HIS GDlllIllttce
had reached no definite understanding
yet, but would whip its report in shape
as soon as the investigation was COM
pleted.
General endorsement Of the proposed
changes in the city chartet continue
to pour into the headquarters of the
Philadelphia charter committee.
The New Century Club and the Phil.
adelphia Drug Exchange have sent writ
ten endorsements
That the medical profession stands
for charter changes. particularly affect
ing the health of the Philadelphia pub
lie, is indicated In a letter from Dr.
James ". Anders, which reads as fol-
lows;
First, That the work OF street clean
ing, sewage disposal and garbage collec-
ton should be done by municipal en-
ployes. thus abollshirg the contractor
system.
Second That enabling legislation for
health laws applicable to Philadelphia,
provided that they do not conflict with
State laws be enacted.
Third. It is recommended that the
so-called poor districts" known as Ger
mantown, Bristol. RoXboro. oxford and
Lower Dublin. Franlitord and Delaware.
be abolished
The Pennsylvania Association of
Women Workers offers the following
suggestions in charter revision:
First. Smaller Councils.
Second. Shorter ballots.
Third Doing away with the nagis-
trates' court.
Fourth. That the city take care of its
own street cleaning. ashes and garbage
collecting and not give the work to con-
tractors.
Fifth.That municipal markets be es.
tablished 50 that prices may he reBu-
lated 10 more greatly benefit the con
sumsr
Sixth. That public utilities commit
tee be appointed TO take care of light
ing, etc, In the city.
Doctor TomIins's Recomme ndation
The Rev Floyd W. Tomkns, rector
OF Holy Trinity Protestant Episcopa
Church, submitted the following recon-.
mendations
First. The magistrates should bt
abolished and in their place ther,
should be chosen a few, but not tot
many, judges who should have charg,
of all preliminary trials. | think thl
is done in New York,
Second. The chiefs of departments
such as the Public Safety and tn
Health Departments, should be selected
by the smaller council, or IL selected b,
, the Mayor should depend for their hold
ing office upon the approval of III
council.
Third. There should be some mean
! whereby when laws or city ordinance
are ncc enforced, an appeal could b
made either to the Courts or TO tn
Council, which would enforce proper reg
In