Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-04-09
NEWS OF THE LEGISLATURE
THIRD GLASS; CITY
BILL IS AIRED
NonpartiSan Feature AsSailcd
and Home Rule" Is
= Urged

The Wilson bill to take the nom
partisan elective feature out of the
Clark third class city act and return
to the old party system of selecting
city officials. was given it's final hear
ing by the House committee on mu-
nlclpal corporations and returned to
the lower branch of the Legislature
TO resume its place on the third
reading calendar. No votes against
this action were cast in committee.
but Duncan Sinclair. Fayette, gave
notice that he contemplated a mo-
uon to cut out the provision that the
city treasurer should he elected by
the people instead of being chosen
by council. \ week ago representa-
uves of a dozen third class cities
opposed the bill and one man spoke
for ii. Altoona had the stage all
to itself yesterday and the inter-
changes on the city which has the
city manager plan became so stir
ring that an executive session was
ordered and the room cleared.
B. j. Clark. former chief of po-
lice of Altoona. was the high card
of the meeting and insisted on n re-
turn to the party system because as
he put it "Bolshevism is the next
step from nonpartisanism as sure as
two and two make four" other AL
toonians disagreed with him.
The Altoona delegation consisted
of Representative Fred Bell. James
Craig. deputy secretary of internal
affairs; James Foust, Dairy and
Food Commissioner DR.. ]. II. Find
ley, +. Woods Beck, City Solicitor
T. G. Hare, eX-RepresentatiNe d.
Lloyd ClayComh. H. J. Seeds, j.
Emory Shute, Matthew NJ. Morrow,
Charles kutZ and Mr.. Clark. Mr..
Kutz, speaking for the Central La
Dor Union, opposed repeal of the
present nonpartisan feature on be-
half of organized labor. DR.. Findley
said he thought the present system
best to retain until all can get to-
Gether on measure that will per-
nit is to run our own affairs. Rep
resentative w. T. Ramsey. of Ches-
ter, and the doctor had some discus
sions on the way the law has
worked and the Chester man said
We'll, we have had some giaring
miXupS under the Clark act"
Mr.. Hare said that from a strict
party standpoint, the bill is a mis-
take because parties get Shouldered
bles which sometimes have wide et-
fects. The Clark act needs reforma-
ton. l admit said he. but the only
feasible plan is for each city to he
allowed to conduct its own affairs
as demanded by local conditions
with a few simple prohibitions" He
favored studying the matter and
getting a plan which would give
more chance for local self govern
ment rather than a return to the
old system. The subject of getting
a workable plan should he taken up
soon. Mr.. Hare elaborated his idea
that parties were often encum bered
by local fights and said that funda-
mental local matters should not be
taken into politics along party lines.
We never had factionalism in
. the Republican party in my citv uU-
til the Clark act came alor- and
now we have nothing but ,outCn-
ton" remarked Mr.. Ramsey as Mr..
Hare finished.
Mr.. Clark modestly nounced
that he represented the sentiment
OF taxpayers of Altoona and third
class cities. Altoona has been
built out OF the mud by pa gov
ernment The tax rate as ten
mills for a long time VII i we got
nonpartisan governW mt went up
TO 13." said he. Mr.. c., then said
that advocates of repeu. of the non
partisan act always got abused. AN
Altoona paper is abusing Lieutenant
Governor Edward +. Beidleman for
his attitude on this matter. He's
the best friend labor ever had in
PennsylNar a" said he. Take the
two week pay bill and the full crew
bill. To a. he's called a politician
because % believes in doing what
, will do the most people the most
good"
In sailing the nonpartisan sys-
. tenn ..-r. clark said the State judge
ship went 20 the highest bidder
whc can pay for advertising and he
kn' Ks the pcrsimmon every time"
! u said that the first nonpartisan
! { ection put Altoona into hands of
men tphuenced by contractors and
! ticn Dr.. Findley, whom he called
"-he nonpartisan boss" got in
council of businessmen who ARE
giving the most expensive govern
menf we ever had" They're men
hey nd reproach, but they selected
. dictator, manager" said he.
j.. ter more catigation of the COM
! ission form of government Mr..
Clark charged that Mr. KutZ lived in
F., Logan township, outside of Altoona
iand yet, assumed to represent AL
ftoona laboring men. Mr.. Kutz pro
Tested and Mr.. Clark said. You
know YOU live outside and YOU got