Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-04-08
RECESS IS help
TO REPUBLICANS
LEGISLATURE Leaders Aim to Es-
tabIish Harmony and Pre-
vent "Slip-Ups"
CHARTER IS AGAIN DELAYED

The real reason behind the announce
ment of proposed adjournment of the
Legislature from tomorrow until April
21. is openly declared in Harrisburg to
be a desire on the part of Republican
leaders better to organize the Repubh-
can majority in the House and Senate
and whip it into shape TO prevent any
s.slipups' IN organization legislation
Illness of Governor Sproul and the
Easter holidays have been given as OH =
ciat reasons for the holiday plan.
Considerable dissatisfaction among
rural members of the House greeted the
announcement of the proposed recess,
but they made no outbreak on the
floor. The plans for the recess were
evolved at a conference yesterday OF
state leaders with Senator Penrose, in
this city.
incidentally, the recess will delay
action on the charter bills aud other
Philadelphia reform legislation.
Governor Recuperating
Governor Sproul is recuperating III
Hot Springs, Va, from a severe at
tack of rheumatism. His physician
has ordered him to take complete
rest for two weeks. His condition IS
reported by his secretary, Harry ).
McDevitt. to be improved.
A number Of the members protested
to Senator William Il. Grow, state
chairman, about the proposed recess
resolution. Several state leaders are
said to be planning to visit the Gov
erpor next week to confer on important
legislation.
Leaders declare the recess will not
DELAY the final adjournment OF the
House more than one week. The date
had been tentatively set for May 10.
Opponents of charter revision as out
lined in the Woodward bills are quietly
preparing for the attack that will be
staged Thursday afternoon in Coun-
ellis finance chamber before the Senate
committee on municipal affairs, OF which
Senator Ware is chairman.
heuuCtfOu oppOScu
y City officials. if present plans arc
carried out, will figure largely as foes
70 tie measure. Both branches Of
Councils are on record as opposing any
change that would result in the rednc
ton of members. A number of coun-
cilnnen will argue in favor of the pres
cIt ward representation, and they hope
for the presence and support of Uncle
Dave Lane.
Senator Ware has declined the request
of Senator Woodward to permit pro-
ponents of the measure to reply at the
meeting to the attacks made by its
Z opponents. No one. it Is announced,
i will be allowed to talk who in any way
favors the measure. This ruling is
expected to lead to another hearing at
which both sides will be permitted to
sum up their arguments.
Necessity of a third hearing will
cause further delay and action on the
revision plans is not looked for until
the latter part Of the present month or
early in May. Those favoring the bills
as drafted by the charter revision com
mittee claim this delay could be obvi-
ated by hearing rebuttal evidence at
Thursdays meeting.
x Defend Contract System
Not only will the smaller Councils
provision be attacked, but an effort will
Jbe made to show that the city benefits
most under the present system of let
ling street cleaning contracts to con-
tractors rather than to have the ms-
nicipality clean its own streets.
This is one change proposed by the
reyisionists that City Solicitor Con-
nelly has gone on record as being
against. Street cleaning experts will
be called, among them possibly Director
Datesman, of the Department of Pub
lie Works, to attempt to prove that
5 the contractor system is better than
Il the suggested substitution of city bu
reau.
The changes in municipal fnanccer
ing proposed by the budget will also br
the subject of attack. They are being
opposedoip a general way by Controller
Waltony Joseph l.. Gaffney, chairman
Of Councils finance committee; Cit,
< Solicitor Connolly and others.
II