Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-09-08

/
L biographical work, The Mirrors of
| Washington" remarks in his sarcastic al
lusions to Senator Pcnrose that ''he began
| his political career as reformer.'
| The writer was familiar with his subject.
Senator Penrose did inaugurate his re-
markable political career as reformer
| happened to be witness to the fact
| thirty six years ago.
| Not only then. but at irregular intervals
since, he has been sporadic reformer.
| That admirable provision in Philadel-
| phia's new Charter which takes policemen
and iremen out of politics is a Penrose
| measure.
1t originated with him twenty years ago.
| As n political proposition IL was regarded
| with doubt and dsdain by his lieutenants.
| 1t was so doubtful seemingly so radical,
| from an organization standpoint, that two
| of his licutcnants declined to present the
| bill in the Legislature.
DAN1EL J. SIIERN. author of the Shern
| - law. now a leading member of the bar,
was one of the members of the Legislature
| at the time 1t was in the extra session Of
1905 that he declined to present the bill in
| the House.
Mr. Shern was quite as astute and able
| in the practice of politics at that time as he
| Is today in the practice of law.
| Senator PenrCSc had drafted the measure
and sent 1t to Representative Shcrn to be
put through.
1t was strategy in this instance rather
than REFORM tnat was the fulcrum by which
| penrose proposed to hoist the bill to success
| He was after his political enemies with
| the club of legislation in one hand and the
| nSc-aX of organization in the other.
! Representative Shern was from the Pen.
rose district. 1t was up to him to get the
| measure through.
lie saw the impOssibility of It's success
| He buntly informed the Senator that the
| bill hadn't chance in the House as
| straight measure.
Then he fronnpd his oare nd eot,1od
self back in his seat and awaited develop
| ments.
And they came.
| rTHE Bullitt Bill was an issue that ses-
i sion. Fortunately. Representative Shern
had retained a copy of the bill.
, one night he called Senator Penrose on
that 1t was more than possible he could get
the Police and Firemen's Bill through
Pcnrosc was tickled to death and told him
to 60 the limit: Mr.. Shcrn had his own
way of doing things.
1t was introduced in committee as an
amendment to the Bullitt Bill 1t went
through. but not without terrific fight
Governor Pcnnypacker objected to the
imprisonment clause. 1t was eliminated,
after which the measure came into being
1t has gone down in history as the Shern
law.
When the new Charter fight was on at the
session of 1910 the imprisonment clause was
added. The bill was thus restored to its
original form as prepared by Pcnrose and
put through by Shern.
TNHE trouble that would have been averted
i in Philadelphia politics had the original
pcnrosc Shern measure then been enacted
with the penal clause attached is immeas-
urable.
Governor Pcnnypacker tenacious for the
fullest freedom to the individual. erred.
nevertheless. in eliminating the penalty of
i1NnNNr rtGnN ont In shn
By this year of 1921 the departments of
police and fire doubtless would have been
free from the dominance of ward and pre-
cinct politics.
The Eppley election murder in the Fifth
Ward would not have shamed Philadelphia
in the eyes OF the world.
Police boards and civil service reform
commissions would not have heard inter.
minab!e stories of police crime or crooked
ness through the Intervening years
The Shern bill might not have been n
panacca it certainly would have proved a
purlhcatlon.
o,,,s
N'hhiS EahLE started quest some
AN1 months ago for an unfinished portrait
"t George Washington.
1t ended. seemingly. in what was supposed
to be solution of the problem.
1t was an uncompletcd portrait by Gil
bert Stuart. said to have been executed
some time between lI9o and 1900 of an
other person.
The ending came in the discovery that
Stuart, who had executed a replica of his
famous portrait of Washington and failed
| to copyright It. mad refused to finish a por-
trait for Mrs. William Bingham. whose
husband was responsible for the blunder.
II happens, however, not to have been
the correct answer to Mr. Earle's inquiry
DR. GEORGE w. DOUGLAS, my COL
! - league, with the persistence that marks,
The unfinished Bingham nortroit does NOT