Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-05-17
URGES CLAR|F|CAT|ON
OF CHARTER CLAUSE
Attorney General Would Re-
write Budget Feature of
Revised Measure
GOVERNOR ASKED REPORT

Attorney General Schaffcr has recon
mended that the budget clause of the
| Woodward charter revision bill one Of
its fundamental features. be rewritten.
The attorney general says the clause
is "too complicated and not understand
able"
Mr.. Schafrr conferred with Thomas
Raeburn White. one of the members OF
the charter revision committee. aud
George W. Coles. chairman Of the
Town Meeting party. They went over
the charter revision bill in detail and
! Mr.. Srhafrcr recommended several tech
uical amendments. They discussed the
contract clause of the bill and also the
clause providing for a small Council OF
twenty one members. Mr.. Schaffer said
he had no recommendations to make
respecting these clauses. but that he
expected both Of them would be fully
discussed at the hearing on the bill be
fore the House committee on municipal
corporations at Harrisburg Tuesday
next.
Legal Viewpoint Only
The attorney general is examining the
bill from legal viewpoint only. He is
not concerning himself with matters OF
municipal policy or practice. 1t is
understood his recommendation respect
ing the budget clause is based upon the
fact that that clause contains, many un
usual phrases and technical terms. Mr..
Schoffer explains that. while these
phrases and terms may be correct from
an accounting viewpoint they may have
an entirely different definition in law
and, therefore. possibly could not stand
a test before the courts.
Mr.. Schaffer's recommendation that
the budget clause be rewritten is being
considered by Mr.. White. The oues-
ton will be submitted to the charter re
vision committee for deliberation. The
work of drafting the clause as it is now
written took many weeks. It was an
extremely difficult task. because of the
complicated nature of the subject. In
cidentalIy. the clause. while providing
a system of accounting which is ac-
knowIedgod to be in line with the most
modern developments of that science.
has been criticized from many directions
because of its technical language.
Covers Ten Printed Pages
The budget clause. which embodies
Article Is of the main charter bill.
covers ten printed pages in the pamphlet
issued by the charter revision commit
tee
Drafted to suppIant the present
pay as you go act" it WOULD require
the Mayor TO submit to Councils each
year an estimated budget for the ensuing
year. II is to include the estimated
expense of the ensuing year and the
estimated budget deficit of the current
year. if any. together with the estimated
revenue for the ensuing year.
After the budget shall have been con
sidered which the clause requires to be
not later than December |. Council is
the ensuing year.
F'inaI Action DELAYED
Governor Sproul recently said he had
requested the attorney general to ex-
anime the charter bill and added he
would place confidence in Mr.. Schaffer's
recommendations Should the charter
revision committee decide to accent tbe
recommendation of the attorney general
and in view of the Governor de-
pendence for advice upon Nj. Schaffer
it is altogether likely the recommcnda
ton will be accepted-final action unon
the measure will be delayed some weeks.
Both the Governor and the attorney
general will attend the hearing upon
the bill on Tuesday. The Governor said
Yesterday he would be present as spec :
tatcr. merely to 'sec what was going