Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-05-28
Fight Opens on
Registry Board

continued From Pare One
of Councils should make IL possible tc
resort to the contract plan.
"While we regret that the Governor
was unwilling to accede to this add
tional check upon the contract system
those Of us in charge Of the matter fell
that it was unwise to press the matter
further, especially in view of the fact
that we are securing very substantial
change in the present law regarding con
tracts and also in view of the fact that
the other features of our charter bill
were being accepted without any mate.
rial change and our organization oi
Councils without any change what
ever"
No Occasion For Disappointment
Mr.. White. who headed the sub com
mittee which drafted the charter bill
declared today there is no occasion for
disappointment over the present status
of the charter bill. but great cause for
satisfaction. If it goes through as al
present. and any further changes oi
any kind will be vigorously resisted. II
will constitute Legislation which will
be of great benefit to the city for gen
cratons 20 come
Mr.. White explained his attitude
toward the amended bill in the follow
ing statement;
~ think it important to make clear
the attitude of the charter revision com
,mittce regarding the amendment to th'
contract clause of the charter. The
position of the committee has been ant
is that the city should, as Il matter O'
principle. clean its own streets anC
collect its own garbage. and that it ii
ease Of emergency there is a departure
from that principle, it should be agreed
to by three fourths of the Council. The
Governor and the attorney general dis.
agreed with this view and expressed
themselves as strongly of the opinion
that ma jority vote sof a rcOrganizcC
Council should have the right to do sucl
work by contract If it so determined
As we were unable to assent TO this
view. the attorney general himself pre-
pared an amendment to the bill. sub.
stituting majority vote for Il three
fourths vote.
This amendment. together with tn,
amendments proposed by the revisiot
committee. was submitted to the HouS,
committee having the bill in charge fol
its consideration. The charter revision
committee has not changed its attitude
on this question. nor was the amend
ment agreed to by it or by any one OF
its behalf. The statement of the attOr
rey general in one of the mornin,
papers is exactly correct. He said
the majority vote proposition has no
been agreed upon. but that's what i
will be The charter revision com
mittee has not acted on the matter sine,
the conference with the Governor aut
the attorney general.
Not Convinced on Position
Il am not convinced that the posi-
tion of the Governor and the attorne!
general is sound. but they have earnest
~ and Loyalty 90 operated in the cffor
to secure better charter for Phila
dclphia, have resisted many attacks
upon the bill Of which the public know
nothing and there can be no question
Jas TO the sincerity Of their belief tina
a majority vote of rcorganized coun
ell should have control of the matter
Speaking for myself alone. | am O
7 opinion that their judgment on thi
point should be accepted as final and n
further opposition should be made b.
the committee. although that is matte
for it to decide when the question come
before it.
There is no serious injury to tn,
bill, as under the amendment propose
by the attorney general no contracts car
be let for the work in question unlcs
with the concurrence of majority o
all members elected to the Council. nc
merely a majority of those voting. an,
unless the Mayor approves it. II tn
citizens of Philadelphia. under the nov
charter. elect a Mayor and Council VIII
can be trusted to do their duty. there i
no danger of n further continuance o
the contract evil.