Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-04-02
Pee;t;ca IL
Pe~~eqeSonio
By the Ex-Conmnitteeman

The TACT that representatives OF
a dozen Pennsylvania cities opposed
in vigorous terms the repeal of the
nonpartisan elective features of the
Clark code for third class cities was
not lost on legislators here to-day
and coming so soon after Senator
| Boies Penrose'S declaration against
any change in the election laws is
| taken to mean that the third class
city bill will be lucky if it gets out
of committee.
| Probably the most significant re-
mark made by legislator inter
ested in municipal legislation came
from Hugh A. Dawson, the leader
of the Lackawanna men, one of the
most experienced men in the House
and one of the most influential. He
said that the statements of w. NJ.
| Bertolet, of Reading, that repeal OF
the nonpartisan law meant q So
cialist administration in the Berks
county seat, had impressed him and
added in full hearing: I'm view of
the declarations of Senator Penrose
and Governor Sproul against any
changes in the election laws think
we are wasting time"
| This is taken to mean that there
will not be much doing on second
! class city repealers either.
If the woman suffrage resolu-
tion passes this Legislature it will
have to pass that of 1921 before the
proposition can be submitted to the
voters of the State. The Ramsey
resolution would therefore go to n
vote the fall of that year.
Representatives Zook, of Blair;
Ffnney, of Crawford. and Rothen-
berger. of Berks. were absent this
week because of illness.
Representative Richard Powell
is in charge OF the municipal cor
porations committee just now.
Chairman W. F. Standtlander was
called home and left Mr. Powell to
boss the committee. Mr.. Powell is
chairman of electric railways and
also handles all of the fish legisla-
ton that is officially countenanced.
He is able to look after il all fairly
well, too.
State Chairman William T.
Crow who has had charge OF the
administration legislation this ses-
sion, has about finished work. There
may be more but not much. It is all
going through very nicely.
philadelphia legislators have
been trying to find the springs of
the stream of stories that a PROPOSE
tion to rip" Mayor Thomas B.
Smith. OF Philadelphia. out of office
has been made and turned down.
There was some talk of that early
in the session. but when the leaders
of the Penrose wing and the in
dependents both deny knowledge of
the latest stories, the legislators ad-
nit that they must turn to the Capt.
tol park SQUIRRELS for further in
Spiration. One man remarked that
yesterday was April /.
Representative David Fowler, OF
Lackawanna county. will present the
labor amendments to the compen-
sation bill. He is the leader of the
labor element in the House and
while as vigorous as in the 1917
session when he gets started, he
does not start so much. Last ses-
sion not many people paid much at
tention when he talked. 1t is diff
ferent this session and when he
rises he gets a respectful hearing.
Fowler is n Philippine veteran and
has been connected with the organ
izing end of the miners in his dis
trict of the State.
Major r. p. Schoonmaker, of
Bradford, we'll known to many leg
islators as one of the active third
class city solicitors. was here yes
terday to whack the non partisan
repeater. He is just back from
France.
Another man recently returned
from France and who is highly
thought Of among legislators was
here yesterday. He is Major David A.
Reed. chairman of the Commission
which drafted the Workmen's Com
pensation code by appointment of
John K. Tener and whose work
is being recognized.
Chairman J. P. Gaffney. of the
Philadelphia councils finance COM
mittee. was here yesterday arrang-
| ing for a hearing on Philadelphia
| finance bills on April %.
Reading Republicans are pre-
pairing for a big time at the Berks
county seat next Wednesday when
the annual dinner of the Republi-
cans will take place. Governor
| SnrntII ic fn ha ha