Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-12-10
PsGKco in
Pe~~a4Gsa~io
BY the Ex-Committeeman


day will put Pennsylvania on the
y political map as far as the eRepubli-
cans go than at any time in twenty
years. The Pennsylvania Governor
is attracting much attention at the
National Capital and is mentioned in
most of the newspaper articles on
the meeting of the committee. The
fact that he did not so to Washing
ton days in advance of the assem-
bling OF the committee and circulate
among the members has been favor
ably commented upon.
In opinion of some of the older
political observers. the Pennsyl-
! Nanian occupies Il bigger place as a
possibility than some of the men who
nave been in the limelight for
months and as Il receptive candidate
ne stands right at the top. In fact.
he is regarded as in more favor
able position in the Republican party
! than y. Mitchell Palmer is in the
! Democratic ranks, because Palmer
| has lots of enemies and has to fight
: IN is own State, while Sproul has
1 many admirers all over the country
| who wish him well and are frankly
/ favorable to him after their favoritC
d sons, and he can be assured of a
solid home State dclegation. if he
says the word.
! 1t Will be very interesting to note
! the effect of his appearance and the
comments. The Washington corre-
spondents of the Philadelphia Press
and Evening Ledger say that Sproul
Is much in the talk and that he is
hA
While great deal is being writ
ten and said about the possibility of
the constitutional Revision Commits
sion ultimately deciding upon a con-
Sututional convention as the best
way TO get new organic law. State
officials say frankly that they do not
know what will come our of the de
hberationS and many of them are
against convention. holding that
when the Commission gets through
with its work the number OF vital
amendments that ii will suggest will
not be too great to cmbody in
series OF amendments TO go to Il ref
erendum.
A constitutional convention
would not be popular with leaders
of either of the big political parties.
They believe that the Commission
can do its work i'm the form of
amendments and this view is taken
by number OF people at the Capitol.
However the Commission has
authority to recommend Il general
revision and its course, which no
one can foretell now. is contingent
upon the number of amendments
that it deems essential. The drift of
sentiment. say some of the Phila-
delphia newspapers. is toward n con-
Stitutional convention. but most of
the people would rather avoid hay
ing in mind what happened i'm New
York state where II million dollars
was spent on constitution that was
rejected 10y the people. ON the other
hand, experience in various western
states has been that when many
amendments are presented voters
VIII not take the trouble to express
their desires ON 2ll OF them. This
has been true, in more limited
sense. in this State in the last dozen
years.
Belief of men connected with
the Commission is that it will be in
session long time. The open dis
cusSlons of proposed changes in the
constitution will start i'm January
Hht ia -itll IL tht iiGtAIlHSS VIII nee
gin. The commissioners want to let
everyone be heard and if the sug-
gestions for new constitutions,
amendments and conventions that
have poured in on the Legislature in
the last ten years are anything to go
by there will be plenty OF folks wanf-'
ing to be heard, \ couple of mCN
who have thoughtfully prepared
whole new constitutions have been
heard of.
Recon- that will ma
terially affect legislation and the
States printing, as well as forbid any
person elected to the Legislature to
mold a place OF profit under the State
during his tenn, were virtuallyag
upon hy the committee ON the Icgis-
lature and the executive. 1n's COM
lnittec will later on draft a very
definite amendment which wouldi
prevent the appointment during a
legislative recess of any man whose
by the Governor failed
OF confirmation by the Senate. The |
committee approved the bill of |
rights and large number of the sec
tions relative to the General Assem-
bly, and the Governor Indicating
that there will not he many changes
along that line.
The prohibition of any legisia
tor holding an Office of profit will I
be made very explicit. In recent !
years ii number of legislators have /
held places on the State pay roll. not /
by appointment by the Governor. but !
as employees of departments. This !
change would end any possibility of
ii in wears to come
In regard to appropriation bills .
the committee favors authority for /
such grants to be made in one bill ,
instead of several hundred and i'm !
legislative practice it will recommend g.,
doing away with the requirement (
that bills be read at length three +.
times on three days. which is not
done anyway. although a provision .
that il be done on demand of MEM I
bers was discussed. The Governor Z
would also be empowered to include
legislative subjects in a message to F.
a special session as well as in the !
call.
Philadelphia newspapers appear
to think that James T. Cortelyou will |
be chosen as the director of safety in !
the Moore cabinet.
Charles II. Rowland, former
Congressman from the Cleariield !
district, is being mentioned as Il pos |
sible candidate for Congress ut large. |
The Philadelphia Inquirer says
that Walter 7. Merrick. of Tioga. !
may he candidate for Congress in |
the Willamsport district. In re-
gard to Congressman at large. |