Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-08-18
CHANCE FOR VOTERS LEAGUE
LIES IN AVOIDING JoBSTERS
Ticket Must Stand the Test Which tho
independent Voters VIII Apply
to the Character Of Its
Candidates

L the people think of it and what use they
are willing to make of it will depend largely
on the character of the mon it indorscs for
the nominations to be made at the primaries.
If it puts up a lot of political hacks of
the same type as those proposed by the
Contractor Combine the citizens hoping for
better things will have no choice. Fortu-
natey, it looks as if such blunder will be
avoided and instead a ticket named that
every voter can support without apology.
Tens of thousands of voters are eager for
better things. They wish to carry on the
fight against contractor government which
they began with the nomination of J.
Hampton Moore for the mayoralty and with
the selection of candidates for Council who
would work with the Mayor.
These citizens won at the polls, but three
of the Counclmen whom they elected be-
trayed them and went over to the Con-
tractor Combine. They have sufficient
provocation to make the victory so decisive
this year that there can be no betrayal
The Contractor Combine controls several
by appointments in those offices where there
are no civil service regulations preventing
appointment of political workers as such.
The Combine is exerting itself to the utmost
to keep control of these offices. The Mayor
and his friends are doing what they can to
secure the nomination of men who will pledge
themselves TO dry up the sources of political
patronage for the Combine and will CO.
operate with the forces which are seeking
,,.;po bo Iogt
domination from the public offices.
Under the circumstances, many citizens
are wondering just what to think of the
activities of the Voters League. They know
that it is backed by number of ndcpend-
ents who have been always aligned with the
better elements in politics. And they know
also that there are few men trying to be
controlling factors in it whose political
standards are little higher than those of the
Contractor Combine.
There is encouragement, however. in the
latest reports about the type of men the
League is considering at the suggestion Of
Mayor Moore. \. Lincoln Ackcr, Pur-
chasing Agent, is suggested for the City
Controllership; Charles Delaney, a banker,
is mentioned in connection with the City
Treasurership, and Frank L. Kcnworthy
and David r. Hart are talked of as Register
of Wills. There are others quite as ac-
ccptablc
None of these men may be nominated but
no. mistake will be made if the men finally
selected are as we'll qualified as these.
The personality and character of the can
didatcs are highly important. The Con.
trollcr, for example. should be a man free
from political or financial dependence on
others. He is more than the head book
keeper for the city, for his powers are so
extensive that he is the director of its fnan-
cial policy. He should be under nobodys
thumb in politics or finance.
This city had a Controller once who lifted
the Office into such prominence that he at
tracted the attention of the whole State.
His name was Robert f. Pattson. On the
strength Of the record he made in reforming
the administration of the city's finances he
was twice made Governor in this Republi-
can Commonwealth, although he was
Democrat.
The Controllers Office is in about as great
a need Of overhauling now as it was when
Pattison was elected. 1t needs now blood
1t is imperative, if the interests Of the
taxpayers are to be safCguardcd, that the
next Controller should be man who will
be his own master and who will originate
his own policies without dictation from any
banker or bankers, and who will co operate
with the head of the Administration in
stead of playing politics with those who are
seeking to block the plans of the Mayor.
The other offices to be filled are not so
important in a large way as the controller
ship. But If the work Of cleansing the city
from contractor influence is to be carried
on, it is imperative that the control of the
Contractor Combine over the patronage in
the offices of the City Treasurer, Register
of Wills and Receiver Of Taxes should be
taken from the politicians who are using
it to fight the Mayor with. These offices
are filled with party workers. It is this
patronage that keeps what is left of the
Contractor Machine together.
Beyond this the fee issue is involved in
filling the Office of the Register of Wills.
4 law was passed few ycsrs ago requiring
the Register to turn into the City Treasury
all the fees that he collected in excess of
$4,000 This was declared unconstitu.
tlonal, and Register Sheehan has been
pocketing the large fees ever since he was
elected. 1t is the undoubted policy of the
city that the fees should be a part of the
public revenue. 1t is prerequisite that
the Voters League candidate for the regis.
torship shall announce that he is opposed to
any system which will permit the Register
to receive more than SlOOOO year for his
services and that he believes thar all the
fees beyond this sum should be deposited in
the City Treasury to the credit of the city.
The Voters League is understood to be
committed to this policy. Consequently IL