Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-04-19
PENROSE EXPECTED
TO SPEED REFORMS
Politicians Await Harrisburg
5 Visit of Senator Next Week
( With Interest
GOVERNOR ALSO FACTOR

Politicians over the State are await
ing with keen interest the proposed
visit of Senator Pcnrose to Harrisburg
next week to direct the effort TO put
through the Assembly the Philadelphia
reform legislation.
The visit of the senator is expected
10 speed legislative machinery, which
up to this time has moved slowly be-
cause of the delay over the reform
measures, and to cause resumption
in the Legislature of the factionaI war
fare.
Governor Sprouts absence from the
Capitol because of II recurrence Of the
rheumatic attack which sent him to Hot
Springs, Va. last week in search of
relief, is believed to be the only OBJ
stacle which may stand in the way Of
the determination on the part of the
Penrose forces TO force the issue on
reform.
The Governor will he big fuctor i'll
determining the fate of the reform bills.
So far he has exerted himself in an Of
fort to bring the rival elements of the
Republican party in the city together
on an agreement by which Il new char
ter. satisfactory to all hands. might be
, drafted.
Is Up TO Governor
If he should look with disfavor on
the plan to fight ii out to finish in the
Assembly there is no doubt that
sufficient number of the members of the
Senate and House would heed his advice
to cause the threatened factional out
break to fivver.
Prospects of action on the charter
bills are remote at the best because of
the hearing which will be held Tues
day morning before the senate appro-
priations committee on the DaiX bills
to increase District Attorney Rotan's
force of assistants and detectives.
Unless all signs fail this hearing will
be a long drawn out affair and will be
the start off of the factional fireworks
il they are to be set off at all next
week. District Attorney Rotan says he
will appear before the committee and
urge the passage of the bills, and Di-
rector Wilson threatens TO appear and
oppose them.
In addition TO the threatened fac
tional outbreak, the Legislature faces
a fairly busy week when it rcconvenes
Monday night after a ten days recess.
Suffragists plan to have the Ramsey
resolution providing for constitutional
amendment made a special order Of
business in the House Tuesday.
Transit Bills Reported
The Daix transit bills, which are
similar to the Saus bill of two years
ago, will be reported to the Senate.
These bills were reported out favorably
last week by Senate committee after
u public hearing.
The liquor forces also plan to have
another bill introduced which will bring
about lineup between the. wet
and 'dry" forces. Representative
William 7. Ramsey's bill defining an
intoxicant as beverage containing
more than 234 per cent alcohol is not
satisfactory to the ''wcts."
More trouble also is anticipated be-
tween the ''wets" and "drys" when
the latter attempt to put through the
Nickerman enforcement measure. A
hearing was held on the liquor and anti
liquor measures last week, but as the
wets" had no speakers it proved n
field day for the "drys."
lntimations have been made recentlv
that local independents may introduce
a ripper bill in the House next week.
The measure has been drafted. but the
decision to draft has not been reached,
The bill would remove Director VIII.
Jam Fl. Wilson, of the Department of
Public Safety, from office and suppIant
him by commissioner appointed by thc
Governor. Such measure is certain
to arouse the bitter hostility of the
Ware forces.