Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-04-22

FEATURE STAYS
House Defeats Attempt to
Amend the Third Class
City Election Law

The Wilson bill repeating the
nonpartisan elective features of the
third-class city code and making thC
city treasurer elective by the people
instead of by city council. was de-
feated in the House shortly before
midnight after an extended debate
The vote was SO ayes to "a noes. )
number of members present failet
to vote.
Most of the Ware men voted will
the country" members. although
few voted with Mr.. Wilson, who
halls from McKeesport. The Harris
burg members did not vote, but thu
two Dauphin rural members Hotet
in the Affirmative. The bill has beer
called a pathfinder" for some muni
cipalities larger than Harrisburg
for instance.
Mr.. Wallace. Lawrence, viSorousl.
defended the present system, saying
that the nonpartisan system was use
iul and that there was no rcasCr
why the Republican party shoult
assume the burden of repeal, whe1
the law was put on the books by 1t
The nonpartisan law gives the great
est measure of self-government ant
every man elected under it has tC
have clear majority, said he. Repea
of the law, he said, would result il
election of Socialists N cities -
Pennsylvania.
Mr.. Wallace said the nonpartisar
law had operated successfully II
judicial elections and quoted United
States Senator Boies Penrose a:
opposing the repeal.
The third-class cities of the State
do not want the law repealed. a:
evidenced by delegates here agains
the bill and by protests filed by 6
score, declared the Lawrence mem
Der, who said: There is no goot
argument against the nonpartisar
system" The Thompson reelection
in Chicago was used by Mr.. Wallace
as an argument against the bill.
MessrS. William Davis, Cambria
and Woner. Butler. opposed the bill
for the bill. said nonpartisanship haG
not been eliminated from election:
under the law as it now stands.
Ramscy'S Reasons
Mr.. Ramsey, Chester, said that he
from third-class city councilmen anG
not from people generally. Repea
of the act, he said, would benefit
third-class cities instead of proving
a detriment. In Chester, he said
the Democrats have not had coun-
Gilman since the Clark act was
passed. Years ago they used to gel
a few. Mr.. Ramsey urged the bill
because it also provided for election
of city treasurers by the people.
Mr.. Willert, Erie, said his people
do not want the law repealed and
Mr.. Boland. Crawford, said cities il
his county felt the same way.
Mr.. Wallace said the city treas
urer could be cared for in a separ-
ate bill.
A bill placing city assessors and
all persons connected with the
assessing department of third-class
cities under civil service, was pre-
sented in the House by Mr.. Brislin
Luzerne. The city council is au-
thorized to name a civil service
board to conduct all examinations
The West bill increasing salaries
of legislators and several bills
the school code, were re-
called from the Governor for amend
ment.
A petition was presented by the
United Business Mems AssoCiatic.'
of Philadelphia, asking that the day
of the parade of the 2Sth Division
in Philadelphia be made a legal
holiday.
Motor Bill Goes Over
The Dithrich motor vehicle bill
was passed on the postponed cal
endar and the Wallace third class
city bill amended in the shade tree
section so that rights of corporations
and individuals using wires shall be
protected and making deputy to SUI
perintendent of finance subject to
of council.
A calendar of over 20 second read
ing bills was cleared.
The House passed finally:
Authorizing county commissioners
to abolish useless election districts
Providing payment for damage
done to farms by bears.
Authorizing courts to investigate
where constables report no viola
tions of law.
Increasing salaries of Philadelphia
Municipal Court judges to $4,000
The vote was 144 to "a.
Just before the House adjourned
at midnight, a flare up occurred over
the action of the House in recon-
mitting the Helt and Woner county
salary bills for a hearing by the
counties committee. The sponsors
complained that they had not been
consulted and Mr.. Flynn. Elk, said
he had no thought of discourtesy
but that the bills were in conflict
and he believed a hearing the best
procedure to meet the situation. Mr.
Beaver, said the recommit-
tai was "camouflage." The recommit-