Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-02-15
'Pssstsea IT.
Ps~~aqesa~ia
BY the Ex-Committecman

y
regarded that Governor Sprouts re-
mark that he did not think that the
State primary system should be
changed except in regard to the
| nonpartisan judicial system means
that few of the numerous election
law changes in hand will be even
reported out of committee. The
compulsory voting bill is meeting
with opposition from rural members.
who contend that some times it is
impossible by reason of weather or
pressure of farm work for farmers
to vote, while there is a disposition
to go slow on changes which would
be more advantageous to cities than
smaller communities.
one of the bills which is favored
is that from Senator Marshall Phipps
for a change in the corrupt prac-
tices act which would relieve candi-
dates or treasurers OF committees not
receiving any money and not making
disbursements from necessity of fil-
ing statements. Every year formal
statements have to be filed by can
didates who either do not spend n
under $50 need not be filed in detail.
The name of DR.. c. ]. Marshall.
state veterinarian, now in United
States service is being mentioned for
a change in the department of agrI-
culture.
The Philadelphia Press says ed
torially:-"Senator Knox gets d
Presidential boom from his neigh
bors in Pittsburgh by whom he is
personally best known. Nobody can
guess what the situation will be
year hence. but if the contest in
the national convention is to be one
of favorite sons-and that now looks
probable-Pennsylva will have
favorite son who measures up to all
the requirements. and we shall not
tamely consent to be forever penal
lied by the party on account of our
great Republican majorities."
Mayor z. V. Babcock of Pitts
bbrgh has gone to Florida to join
his father, aged IS, who has been
there for Soome time convalescing
from a recent illness. The Council
men at Pittsburgh. agreed not to
pass important legislation for 4 week
or so. Under the law bills passed
ny SOullC4l DtCOIHe Ia" III ten udyS
without the signature of the Mayor
consequently ordinances to which
the Mayor might be opposed could
be passed and become effectivte dur
ing Mr.. Babcock's absence. It was
for this reason he asked the Coun-
cilmanic Finance Committee not to
take action on legislation which he
ought to have an opportunity to
pass opinion upon, and the commit
tee readily acceded to his request.
Considerable thought is being Civ
en- by members of the Legislature
to the problems attending revision
of the constitution and there is no
question but that Governor Sprouts
plan for a commission to make q
study and recommend revision is
very popular. There are some ambi-
tious members who have been sub
mitting bills for commissions to
make studies. for elections and for
holding q constitutional convention
without waiting until the governor
makes up his mind. During the
coming week the governor and at
tornev general will decide upon the
scope of the constitution changes.
If the constitution is to be changed
in the Sproul term the convention
to be drawn up by the attorney gem
eral. The governor has not yet in
dicated how he feels on the subject.
Governor Sprouts statement on
the Kooser appointment TO the ju-
dicial vacancy in Somerset is taken
to be notice to factions in various
counties to get together before they
come to Harrisburg seeking appoint
ments. There are counties where
every suggestion is sure to be an
tagonized and the governor evidently
thinks such matters should be COM
posed before they reach Harrisburg.
Probably he means to give a gentle
hint to people in Philadelphia who
are agitating charter revision and
third class city law discussers.
The fact that Idaho abolished
the direct primary was not lost on
legislators who remained here for
the week end.
Discovery by Clearfield county
legislators that the Alexander bill
to increase salaries of judges and
reported out by the House judiciary
general committee, was amended in
committee to leave out their county
has caused some stir here over the
weekend. Originally the bill AL
lowed counties having more than
30 600 population to share in the
raise. The amendment makes 100
900 population the limit and Clear
field with $4,000 is left out. The
Brady bill. which provides increases
for the judges of the appellate and
Philadelphia and Allegheny courts
is still in committee. The Alex
ander bill affects only counties he
tween 100000 and 100000 popula-
ton.
"Alexander's bill would raise To
$40, coo the salaries of the judges in
LuZerne, Schuylkili. Westmoreland
Lackawanna, which are now in the
$500 class; Berks. Fayette, Lam
easter, Washington, Montgomerv
and Cambria now in the IS, 900 list:
Blair, Chester. Erie, Lehigh, North
um berland. York and Northam pton
now in the $1,000, while other dis
trict salaries would go from $4,000
to $1,000 and Clearfeld stays at
$1,000.
Dauphin county would rank with
York and Northampton and its
Judges get the additional compen-
sation allowed for handling state