Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-05-10
PINCH BILLS AND FRANKS
A Bill That Had "Miliions In IT,"
Nieknsmes Of Legislators.
Some Practical Jokes
Ry GEORGE non MeCAlN
THE reference. TO pinch bills

AN"@N NsNSEhsAN
THE reference to pinch bills" in
connection with the present council
manic investigation in this city recalls
that this is term or legislative colo
duialism peculiar to Pennsylvania, or
rather to Harrisburg.
1t is intended TO he descriptive Of a
bill not introduced in good faith. but
designed to pinch the individuals or
interests affected and cause them to seek
! the quashing Of the measure for fuan.
cial or other consideration.
In other states this type of legislative
blackmail is recognized under different
appcllations. In the West It is known
as squeeze.
AS rule, in former wears they were
aimed Mt interests peculiarly susceptible
to this sort of legislation, such Ms race
tracks. liquor. pawuhroking and the
class OF corporations thst were Known
TO be trcadinE dangerously near the
limits of the law.
Some OF them arc 80 Cnnrnsly dc
vised and worded, 50 SsIlmllS Camou
tiaged. as to their real NurpNSc, Iha,
they are very difhcult cf detection, and
are only brought TO the attention "
those whom they arc intended 60 reach
after the bill is well on its way 10 third
reading aud final passage.
A L THE session of tSlS a member
"A from Allegheny county. serving his
6rst term and. innocent Of the devious
ways of pinch -bill' methods. present cd
legitimate bill affecting tho LIQUOR in
terests with which he was connected.
IL was, i'll recall, proposed remedial
legislation designed to correct an error
or an injustice in the existing law.
The member in question was notified
by colleague that mis- measure. owing
to its character. had mighty little chance
of being passed
But, my dear friend, il is absolutely
necessary that this bill should become
law. Don't You know that there arc
millions in it?' exclaimed the innocent
ono.
What he intended to ,Ynvcy by the
latter remark was that millions of dol.
lars were involved. But the other fel.
low accepted his expression at face value
and the word passed around among the
buccaneers like a June zephyr that there
were millions in VS. BILL"
That settled its fate. 1t was n
liquor bill. The liquor interests wanted
1t passed, and what more natural than
that there should be millions in it,?
lnsvain did the author Of the bill
plead beseech and explain. As the
phantom millions failed to materialize
the bill never got out Of committee.
LIVERY session Of the Legislature
- produces some member whose pecu-
liar characteristics stand out conspicu-
ously from the general mass of men.
There was Austin L. Taggart, of
Montgomery. county. who during his
career covering three or four sessions
earned tho cognomen of Farmer"
Taggart until his death in 1894. He
was big, kindly, outspoken man, and
not particularly distinguished either for
bucolic expressions or appearance.
The late William T. Greasy gained
the title of Farmer" at his first ses-
sion in 1883, and it clung to him until
he died few months ago.
Benjamin X. Spanglcr, of Cumbcr-
land. was known as star Spanyled
Spangler'' from his disposition to break
into patriotic oratory on the slightest
occasion and wave the old flag lust as
post bcllum statesmen waved the
bloody shirt"
John Donahue, of PHILADELPHIA a
massiycly built Democrat with a broken
nose, was universally known as big
John"
George McGowap, Of the Second dis
trict of Philadelphia, who served during
the two sessions of 50 and 81 was
in his day the best and most carefully
dressed man in the House. He was an
able lawyer, slight. agile, dapper, and
among his colleagues was known as
Dandy" George.
John III. Fow, of PHILADELPHIA who
represented the Seventeenth district
was one of the ablest constitutional law.
yers and most skillful parliamentariaps
the Democrats ever had on the floor
He was short, of Falstaf6an figure and
the possessor of powerful voice. He
earned aud retained. as n result. tho
title of "Foghorp" Fow.
IN THE impulse of q moment and
" regardless of the consequences Fow
would perpetrate the most unlocked for
jokes and outlandish harlequinades.
After the fashion Of that day in GER
tain hotel bars, the Harris House had
its ceiling gaudily decorated with pcn
dant circles, diamonds, curves and other
geometrical figures formed of pinkcd and
perforated tissue paper in vivid colors
1t served the double purpose of decora.
tion and fly roost.
One night in the bar of the Harris
House. on the mad impulse of an in.
stant, Fow lit spiral of paper. stuck
1t up among the pendant masses of