Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-03-29
LEGISLATURE HAS
SPEED-UP PLANS
House Rules Committee Is
Expected to Fix Adjourn
ment Date in Few Days
REVIEW OF THE WEEK
Espionage Act Bill and Com
pensation Amendments Will
Complete Sproul Program

Efforts 10 speed UP the important
work of the Legislature were launched
successfully this week, and next week
the House Rules Committee is expected
to FIX the date for final adjournment
! Thursday May Is, is the date tcnta-
lively agreed upon by Republican lead
ers for the closing of the 1919 session.
Governor Sprouts program of legls-
lation will be virtually concluded with
the introduction Of an espionage act and
certain amendments to the worhmen's
compensation law. The espionage act,
drafted by Attorney General Schaffer, is
expected to be introduced next week.
! Three administration measures made
! their appearance this week. Ono re-
organizes tho State Police Department
and puts under its jurisdiction the pres
ent Fire Marshals Department. The bin
increases the State Constabulary from
four to five companies, provides for
! detective bureau which would be at tho
service Of the various county authorities
and gives the state troopers authority
to aid In fish and game protection. but
does not make them game wardens.
Bill Consolidates Departments
The second bill creates a department
OF conservation. under which are con-
solidated the departments of fisheries,
forestry, game commissioners and water
supply. The third measure creates a
bureau of topographic and geological
mission of that name.
The administration also proposes to
get behind the Hess blue sky law,
which is modelled after the Kansas law
! Some amendments may be made to the
bill after it has been examined by the
Banking Department.
Under the guidance of the new House
steering committee, which Is headed by
Representative William T. Ramsey, of
Chester, the administration floor leader
the Sproul program will be speeded
! through the House as quickly as nos.
sible. In the Senate, Senator Crow, the
administra ton whip in the upper cham
ber. will take charge OF the Governors
measures.
Several measures of particular inter-
est to Philadelphia were introduced this
week. Representative Edwin r Cox nut
| in the bill advocated by Councils legis.
lative committee to provide for the re-
turn OF the mercantile tax to counties
in which it is collected.
Constitutional Amendments
Cox also submitted two constitutional
amendments, one TO permit the city to
purchase more land than 1t actually needs
for d proposed improvement, and the
other to permit increased assessments
on properties which increase in value
because of the proximity OF a public i'm
provement
Another bill introduced by Representa-
tive Cox would provide for the return
by the state to the city of $l97,66705
tax which was paid on the John G.. John
son art gallery bequest to the city. The
municipality was compelled to pay the
tax in order to validity the bequest.
A bill introduced by Representative
Richard Powell of Luzerne, would per
NIT the sale of near beer without a
license. 1t provides that no license
other than the mercantile license shall
be imposed for the sale of beverages
containing not more than one-half of
per cent alcohol
The death Of Senator Sterling r Cat
lin and the prolonged hearing on the
Philadelphia charter bills hampered the
work of the Legislature this week. Both
houses adjourned Tuesday out of re-
spect to the late Senator CatIin, and
the charter hearing in the Senate
chamber lasted 50 long that the Senate
session, which was scheduled to open at
o'clock, had to be cut short.
The charter hearing was one of the
If ~, tt@f,. A.
lators from other sections of the state
scented one Of Philadelphia factional
outbreaks and crowded into the Senate
chamber to witness the fireworks. They
were not disappointed. Senator Ware,
chairman of the committee which had
; charge of the hearing, and John G.
winston, chairman of the charter re-
vision committee, kept the ball going
back and forth while the hearing was
in progress.
No Charter Hearing Date Yet
Senator Ware has not announced tha
J date Of the hearing for the opponents
Of the charter bill. Until that hearing
is held no direct action on the measures
introduced by Senator George Wood l.
ward can be expected
The defeat Of the Rorke blue law hill
ny the House Judiciary Special Com
\ mIttee occassioned no surprise. Renre-
sentative Rorke. sponsor of the meas
ure' says he will make an effort 10 pe,
8 the bill on the calendar by a vote on
the moor Of the House. Failing In this
he plans to introduce a bill which uomiS
I. . permit Sunday orchestral concerts hu,
: would make no provision for Sundav
4 movies or lectures uay
Sunragists and anti-suffragists ara Nv
: pected to hold the center Of The 80
. iative spotlight next week. The nThI,.
:. nearing on the Ramsey resolution for .
!. sunrage amendment to the constitution
= is scheduled for Tuesday afternoon
so'h the suffraEists and the antls mia =
10 take big delegations to Harrishurc
," for the hearing.
+. some agreement on the Brady bill
10 rip out the registrat on cornmissior
IN Philadelphia is expected this weeL
The bill. along with two other measure,
affecting the registration laws. has beer
on the calendar the past two weeks hn,
has been held up pending a conference
= OF the leaders.
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