Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-06-12
PotihcA Il
Ps't~e4eeo~iA
By the Ex-Conmitteeman

Latest objections to the Philadel-
phia charter bill. which developed
after the bill had been passed
i through the House with only two
votes in opposition, are not regarded
as serious and the general opinion
is that the charter bill will find Its
way to the Governors desk week
hence. The objections were raised
| by Senator E. H. Ware, whose House
people had acclaimed the bill as
one of the grand pieces of legisla-
ton of the whole session, but the
temper of the members of the Gen.
eral Assembly is against any fur
ther delays because of the charter.
The objections were not consid-
cred serious either by Senator Boies
Penrose. Attorney General William
/. Schaffer or John C. Winston,
chairman of the charter committee.
when they were told about them,
Mr.. Schaffer being as insistent that
the bill was all right as he was on
the amendments, which the charter
people accepted and which the Ware
element cheered SO heartily. 1t is
the plan to make such changes as
would be needed to complete the
Philadelphia legislation in the reg
istration commission BILL which is
in the hands of a conference COM
mittee, and let the House amend
ments to the charter bill be con-
Cured in, which would result in the
bill being passed early next week.
No matter what else is done there
will be a ruction over the registra-
ton bill, but as it will be In the
Nnnfarannn 80
disturb the Legislature until the
committee reports.
The woman suffrage people
were disappointed yesterday in not
getting action on the ratification
resolution. The judiciary general
committee did not meet and Cover
nor Sproul, Senator Penrose and
Senator Crow were out of the city.
However, the committee is to meet
again on Tuesday. On that day
there will be a mobilization of the
pro and anti-suffragists in Harris
burg and some strenuous times may
be looked for. There is talk of a
hearing, which will be opposed by
the suffragists. Strong pressure is
being brought to have the resolution
for ratification acted upon next
week.
Opponents of the fishermen's
license bill, who lost their fight in
the House this week, are planning
TO carry their campaign to the Sen
ate, whose committee in charge of
the bill has not yet given any signs
of action. The point that the bill
will raise enough money to care for
the Department of Fisheries and
thus relieve the State Treasury to
extent of probably half a million
dollars in two years, is being much
mused about the Capitol, while much
the same argument is being used
against the bill as was used against
hunters licenses some years ago. 1t
was said about the Capitol to-day
that the opponents of the bill would
have been able to defeat it if they
had been able to keep their people
in the House. AS it was, Richard
Powell, in charge of the bill, seized
a favorable opportunity and called
the bill up. The men fighting the
bill were caught off their guard
Many members voted against the
effort to recall the bill as establish
ing dangerous precedent, especial
ly in the closing days of the session.
NSllCobCl -. OLtSEg COIL
nected with the Pittsburgh Dispatch
as legislative correspondent and now
active in insurance affairs, was here
this week to see the Legislature at
work.
The Philadelphia Press says re-
garding certain features of the Phil
adelphia charter bill: THE provision
against the participation of police
and tiremen in politics merely SUD
plies some strong teeth to the pres
ent toothless Shern law. To keep
the armed and uniformed police
from active participation in city poll
itics has been the aspiration of re-
formers for half a century. The
Fifth Ward troubles of two years
ago show how greatly such exclu-
sion is needed here. This part of
the bill is large reform. To check
the pernicious political activity of
City Hall clerks and employees in
city politics was also aimed at by
this bill, but there it failed. The
elimination of this feature is one of
the concessions which Attorney
General schaffer made necessary It
weakens the bill, but doubtless
aided it's passage" q.
The Philadelphia Inquirer pays
this compliment to Speaker Spang-
ler in it's Who's Who" column:
Robert S. Spangler, Speaker of the
House of Representatives received
an exceptional expression of conf
dence and appreciation from his fell
low members of the General Assem-
bly, in the vote sustaining his ruling
last week upon the appeal from his
decision in the Philadelphia charter
legislation fight. There was mani
tested evidence of friendship and
regard even from those who for
factional or other considerations
spoke against his contention that
the proposed referendum vote was
in violation of the spirit of the
State constitution. Speaker Spang-
Ter has shown a disposition to be
absolutely impartial and while this
has been a remarkably harmonious
session, compared with many pre-
vious gatherings, whenever there has
been brush on the floor, the dis
putants have had no occasion to
question the fairness of the Speaker.
Probably not for years has
there been such an absence of parti-
san or personal feeling among the
great body of the membership of the
Legislature. Governor Sproul has
been supported in practically every
measure of general scope which he
has sponsored. Even the Democrats
have concurred in what are known
;ct IT,, 4,