Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-02-21
'Posstsc4 &.
Pe~'ssaesa~ia
By the Ex-Committecman

The Governor has said that he re-
CARDS the non-partisan law as
worthy to be repealed as far as
eiectioh of judges is concerned, but
ne is not yet on record on the sub
Ject OF the non-partisan feature for
second or third class cities.
Some of the legislative leaders
nave given the impression that the
Governor is behind the repeater of
the second class city feature of the
act OF 1918. From an authorita-
i've source 1T is learned that the
Governor is not. Neither has he
gwen any assurances regarding the
third class city non-partisan law.
The Governor is familiar with the
way the law has operated in Pitts
purgh and Scranton and knows from
his residence in Chester how it has
worked in the third class cities.
1t is also said that the Governor
has not given his approval to the
rumored changes of council sys-
tenn for the second class cities.
The Pittsburgh Gazette Times is
taking pronounced stand on the
second class city legislation. 1t says
editorially: Reports from Harris
burg of political activities directed
against the councilmanic system of
cities of the second class should be
sufftcient warning to Pittsburghers to
be vigilant in protection of their
interests. No scheme to deprive this
city of the benefits it has derived
from the small council can sue
ceed against the protests of it's citi-
zens. There is reason to believe
that the would-be manipulators of
the Legislature would find them
selves frustrated by Governor
Sproul were theX to carry their plan
through House and Senate, which
they are not likely to do. The
Governor has virtually gone on rec
ord against any change, since he
said in this city only ten days ago
that, all / have heard is that your
present system has been very salts
factory compared with the old sys-
tenn" He correctly gauged public
sentiment here but it is evident that
certain selfish political interests have
faith that they can convince him
TO the contrary. They count on
silence by the people to give an
appearance of acquiescence in their
plan and help them to success.
Public duty is plain. therefore.
Cltizens, be on your guard. Make
known your opposition to the
scheme. That will kill it,"
Governor William c. Sproul and
Attorney General William l. Schaf-
fer, who are in Chester for the
week end, will not return to Harris
burg until Tuesday evening as they
will stay in their home city to vote
for Dick as the Governor put it
in referring 10 the special election
for senator to fill the place he oc-
cupied for quarter of century
a It'll, II.
j. Baldwin is the Republican NOM
inee. While away from this city
they will determine upon the bond
issue enabling legislation.
Governor Sproul will not act on
the Allegheny county two judge bill
this week. However, that has not
prevented friends of a number of
men from getting very busy in be-
half of appointment booms. The
name of Ex-senator Charles ii.
Kline, of Pittsburgh, continues to
be much mentioned in connection
with one of the places.
The Delaware county election
will be held at the same time as
first time such a situation has ever
arisen in the State. The election
of Frank A. Smith in Dauphin is
as assured as that of Baldwin in
Philadelphia.
The new senators will be sworn
in March 8.
Members of the Legislature who
remained in Harrisburg over the
week end were trying to climb out
from under a flood of new bills
a couple, Of truck loads having
reached the Capitol last night and
being distributed today. The House
has almost 900 bills in hand.
The resolution to ratify the
Prohibition amendment, the big
feature of the early part of the
session. will be out of the way in
Il week. The Senate has placed it
on the second reading calendar and
at least 81 votes for it, a safe
passage on Tuesday. 1t will go
through second reading Monday
night. Then the regulatory legis-
lation, which promises to be most,
interesting, will start.
1t is up to the Governor to de-
eide in the next week or so Just
what to do about the constitutional
changes. The bills for a commits
sion to consider revision have been
drawn, but will be disposed of by
the Governor and his legal advisor
IN conference Det0re long. The
main question is when to have the
election on whether to revise the
constitution and to hold the election.
If it is to be done in the Sproul
term the ways must be provided this
session.
The Philadelphia city charter
bill, which will give the views of
the revisionists and likely be antag-
onized by the Wares, will come in
Monday or Tuesday. The second
class city legislation will also come
to the surface then and a commun-
ity of interest in the hope of abolish
ing the partisan feature for
such municipalities and of secur-
ing councilmanic changes may be
sought. Advocates of throwing the
non-partisan election out of the
third class City act will get busy
about the same time.
The Pittsburgh Post is against
any more judges, especially for Allie
gheny. 1t says: The passage by the
Legislature of the bill providing
for two more common pleas judge-
ships here and the putting through
in the House of the measure Civ
/ ing the appointive school boards of
Pittsburgh and Philadelphia power
to increase the tax levy give the
citizens a subject for thought. No
matter how necessary more judges
may be, it remains that there was
no public discussion here in the
matter or any effort made to con-
vince the people of the necessity
before acting"