Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-04-05
REFORMS DELAY
SOLONSOF STATE
Independents Clamor to
Adjourn, While Ware and
Penrose Forces Clash
,sRIPPER" RUMOR DENIED
Govcrnor Unable to Bring
Rival Legislative Factions
Together

philadelphia's program of reform is
delaying the work of the Legislature,
& and may block the plans of Republican
y leaders for final adjournment on May
1b, unless some plan of action is de-
terInined Upon quickly.
4 Measures which are hampering the
machinery are the woodward charter
bills. the Brady registration measures,
the Daix bills to increase the force Of
Z District Attorney Rotan's Office and
the Dunn bill to prevent the pre-emption
Of a party title and ticket after the
primary.
Governor Sproul appears TO be de-
sirous of bringing about an agreement
among various Republican elements in
the city on measures which would af-
feet political conditions So far the eff
forts to bring the rival factions together
have met with little success.
While negotiations to bring some sort
of an agreement on the measures are
pending action on the bills is postponed
from week to week. If leaders adhere
4 10 their tentative plan to make the
date of final adjournment May Is there
Is grave danger that some of the i'm
portant measures affecting the city will
come up for consideration during the
jam of business which usually marks
the wind-up.
Two weeks ago a steering committee
press purpose Of expediting the work
of the lower chamber. II worked
smoothly the first week and succeeded
in getting a reconsideration Of the Bo-
/; lard bill to eliminate legal advertising g
In any language other than England,
and the Dawson bill, to give the auditor
general sole appointive power in the col
lection of state taxes.
The Illness of Governor Sproul slowed
up the work of the House again this
, week. His absence from Harrisburg
during the next two weeks, while re-
cuperating at Hot Springs, Va, is eX-
pected to delay action on any important
measures until he returns to the Capitol.
~ Delay Is Irritating
Independent leaders who are backing
the charter bills ana the Brady registra-
ton measures have become irritated over
the delay. and threaten to go to Harris
burg and demand action unless some
thing Is done soon. There also are signs
OF dissatisfaction breaking out among
members of the House who represent
rural districts over the leisurely man.
ner. in which the Senate is acting on
House bills.
Since introduction in February, the
\ Woodward charter bills have been tied
IN In the municipal affairs committee.
OF which Senator Edwin H. Ware is
chairman. A hearing was held two
weeks ago on the bills, at which time
advocates of charter revision urged their
passage.
\ m Next Thursday opponents will have an
" opportunity to voice their arguments al
4 public hearing to be held in City Hall
Then the work of amending the bills tc
suit various factions is expected to be.
gin. With 1t will come the real fight or
the charter measures
One of these bills supplants the pres.
ent Bullitt bill. Another revises the
civil service laws and a third puts
teeth" in the Shern law.
Senator Ware and the forces behind
him are opposed to a number of pro.
visions in the bills. The small Council
4 measure. the provision making the city
solicitor appontive and the provision
eliminating the office of the receiver Of
taxes do not meet with the Ware ap
proval
There is also dissatisfaction amonf
q present shape. AS a stand-ofT against tn,
charter bills, the Ware forces have pu
the two Scott bills in the House to TAX
the police and firemen out OF polite
and the Ware bill in the Senate to Great
o budget for the city's fiscal system.
Deny Ripper Rumor
Reports that efforts would be mad
by the Penrose forces to amend tn
charter bills SO as to include one 0
more ripper features have met with de
nial, One os the reports had it tina
the Governor blocked the ripper propo
sition.
There is no doubt that both the Var
and Penrose forces will make an effor
TO have the final say on amending tn
charter bills. The first factional line
up of the session is expected to ensue O
these bflls, and there does not seem
be any question but that the side whic
wins the support of the Governor wi
emerge the victor.
- Should the Governor keeps hands of
the Penrose forces would have sui
fcient strength to put through any Pre-
gram which they might decide on.
=. SO far Republican leaders in the Ser
4 Ate and House have seemed desirol
OF avoiding the impending faction;
clash. Whenever it has threatened
rip wide open the harmony program III
der which the Legislature has operate
"A 30 far. some powerful influence has SUI
n ceeded In adjusting the differences ten
porarily and secured a delay.
This was apparent in the manner
which the Brady registration bills al
the Dunn pre-emption measure have be,
handled. Bradys bills were reportt
out OF the House elections commits
h after a bitter row. in which the Pc
rose majority in the committee stear
reiiered the Ware forces.
II developed later that the commit
acted without orders from leader
Whenever the bills were reached on I
calendar a postponement was aske