Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-04-29
Pee;Eca L.
Pe',~oqeoa~io
By the Ex-Commftteeman

| Illness of Senator Edwin n. Ware
last evening prevented the Philadel-
phia bills taking the center of the
stage in the Senate and may inter-
fere with to-day's program and in
terest in the Legislature shifted to
the House of Representatives, where
the bill to increase the State Police
force by one troop to be located In
| Harrisburg and reorganizing the de-
partment was defeated. This meas
ure is an administration bill and
was beaten by big majority. 1t
was the first check the administra-
ton has had, but it was predicted
that a rebersal might be expected
very soon.
While the Philadelphia District
Attorney bills were being passed by
the Senate, the House was reconsid-
ering the defeat of the Wilson bill,
repeating the nonpartisan elective
feature of the third-class city code
and paving the way for the defeat
OF the Police bill. The Legislative
League, which opposed the repeal
of the nonpartisan elective provision,
turned in almost solidly with the
labor forces to defeat the Police BILL
| Governor Sproul let it be known
! last evening soon after his arrival,
that he did not think that there
should be anything done on the
Philadelphia bills while Senator Ware
was i'll and had a talk with Senator
William Z. Crow, who also saw Sen
ator Penrose. Senator George Wood
ward, sponsor of the bills, gave out
letter he had sent Senator Ware
opposing any more delays. But the
Governor seems to have had his way
a rfn Ii1Ic racfnH
No more striking illustration of
the changes that have come about
in pennsylvania politics in the last
few years, especially since the at
tempt of the Wares and their west
ern and central allies to capture
control of the State through the
Brum baugh administration and va
rious local enterprises, is to be
found than in n two-column editorial
in the Philadelphia North American.
This newspaper, which has fought
Penrose consistently, energetically
and increasingly for years, reviews
the appearance of the Senator ad-
vocating reform measures and con-
cludes: MANY of our friends are
likely to be perturbed by the sug-
gestion that credit be given to Sem
ator Penrose for any good acts or
intentions; commendation of such II
man, they believe, might be useful
to him later If he turned against
the public interest. Yet our judg-
ment is that even if that danger
were obvious, it would still be our
duty to recognize present facts and
to commend him for whatever help
he is able to render to a good cause.
AS we have stated many times, the
commentator of this newspaper is
not only earned, but compelled, by
n public servant who prom notes the
principles and policies for which it
stands. That we have to say good
words for Senator Penrose under the
resent circumstances seems to us
q matter for public congratulation,
rather than for alarm. After all,
the novel and conspicuous activity
of Senator Penrose is a secondary
consideration. The thing OF chief
concern is that this city, which has
suffered so long and so grievously
from constructor misrule, is at last
to be enabled to free itself from that
blighting power, and to become a
self-governing, sclf-respecti genu-
! inely progressive municipality"
The Philadelphia Inquirer in
discussion of the Philadelphia char
| ter bills speaks of them with words
| of finality, saying: These reform
| bills-one and all-are the product
of independent thought. 1t is a citi-
| zens' movement. The only object
| aimed at is to give Philadelphia q
! chance to redeem itself-to govern
itself. 1t is impossible for any mem
| Der of the Legislature who seeks for
| the facts to arrive at any other con-
clusion."
The following is printed. about
! one of Secretary of the Common
wealth Cyrus +. Woods appoint
ments: Lieutenant Leon Metzger, of
Johnstown, who was appointed chief
| of the new registration bureau at
Harrisburg, is the first Pennsylvania
soldier wounded in France to be Sc
! lected for a place in the State gov
| ernment under the new reorganiza-
| ton act 4 German bullet tore off
a portion of the heel of his foot, and
! he is now in the Parkview Hos
pital, Pittsburgh. He expects to be
able to assume his new duties May
! /. Lieutenant Metzger was gradu-
ated from the Indiana Normal
school and the law department of
the University of Michigan.
| Considerable interest is being
taken by legislators in reports that
Philadelphia labor people are urging
that the plan of William Findlay
Brown for more latitude in Sunday
sports in Fairmount Park be allow
! ed. The sentiment of the legislators,
especially from Philadelphia, has
been against any letting down of the
bars in regard to Sabbath observ-
| ance.
|