Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-02-17
GRUNDY|TES DROP
FIGHT ON CHARTER
Manufacturers Head Centering
Influence to Oppose Sproul
Revenue Program
MAIN ATTACK ON COAL BILL
BIZ a sto6 Correspondent

Harrisburg, Feb Il. -- Governor
Sproul and administration leaders are
not at all pleased over the activities Of
the so-called Grundy group in the
House and the personal presence here OF
Joseph r. Grundy, president Of th"
Pennsylvania Manufacturers Associa- =
tion.
State administration leaders, in this
connection. pointed today to the confer
ences Mr.. Grundy and his chief Of staff ,
Chester W. Hill, had among others WITH
John N. Flynn. Democrat. Of hIH
county, and Representative Hess, Re
publican, of Lancaster county. IN"
members who have been conspicuous in
insisting upon an investigation OF de-
fciency bills
There was nothing secret about IN"
Grundy conferences thcr" was nothing
of the star chamber atmosphere. IA
. matter of fact, Mr.. Grundy held his
conferences with his friends on the floor
OF the so-Cnllrd third house the
section used BY spectators behind the
brass rail inClosing the legislators IN
the lower chamber. II is believed tha'
Mr.. Grundy's appearance of feeling
quite at home" did not make much ct
q hit" with the state Administrations
Only DiScordant Note
The leaders representing the Coy
ernor regard Mr.. Grundy and his allies
rs representing the only diSrord in the
Republican state organization. Tho
Governor and others are satisfied with
the attitude Of Senator Penrose. but II
is understood there was n lot Of gossip
following the Grundy conferences. Some
teferred to the fact that Speaker SpRng
Ter, in rather unprecedented fashion
appeared before the House appropria
tions committee and personally urged IL
members to exercise the greatest care II
scrutinizing all appropriation bills. III
urged economy, and, where deemed ad
visable, Investigations into requests for
appropriations. As the speaker is d
friend of Mr.. Grundy it was said that he
was rejecting the Grundy idea. How
ever, the speaker has been making sim
liar suggestions since he took office
The Spangler speech to the approprin
tons committee was delivered uncG
pectedly late yesterday afternoon, fol
lowing the appearance Of Mr.. Gruudy
has nevertheless stirred up wealth oI
gossip. II is pointed out that The
Spangler speech fits in very well witt
the Grundy plan Of insisting upon econ
omy so that tax on manufacturing
corporations will not be forced by III,
state administration.
One definite thing has emerged from
the Grundy conferences and that is that
the coal operators and the manufGC
turers will Join forces to try TO dcfca
the administration bills proposing taXo
on coal and manufacturing corpora
tons.
Reports that the manufacturing in
tercsts would support the administra
tion's coal tax hill in exchange for
withdrawal Of the bill taxing manu-
featuring corporations. were vigorOusl,
denied. II looks a. II in tho last tw, NJ!
hours n hard and fast alliance has beer
formed between the coal and manufaC
turing leaders with tn" object Of battling
the revenue raisers.
Lines Drawn Sharply
Both sides. the interests and th" ad
Iinistration, expect there will bo
sharp fight over III" tax measures, whoI
the real strength of the interests vii
BE- shown in the House. However, nd
ministration leaders predict their who'll
program, Or SO much of it as Is desire,
in the last analysis, will pass both III,
House and senate.
For example. word was passed ont 70
day that the state administration wouIc
surely nush the bill for the C0nStitu
tonal convention. II was declared b,
high administration leaders that N" iii
would certainly pass. Add 70 this n
statement by friends Of Mr.. Grund,
that mo one vas enough interested il
the constitutional convention bill TO lea
O fight against 1t. and il will b" seen
4 was explained. that tho submission {
the people Of 'h" question Of calling
convention was A. much of Il ,"giS'a
tive certainty nS anything can be unit
IL Ia finally nchiCvCi.