Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-02-15
IMPROVED PROSPECTS FOR
A REVISED CONSTITUTION
Popular Interest In the Subject Has
Grown Because Of Recent
Events

TT is beginning to dawn on the conscious
l. ness of the people that the only certain
way to get rid of the scandals arising out OF
the dual system Of government here is
through an amendment of the state constitu-
tion which will merge the county and the city
governments and empower certain city Of
fcers to perform the constitutional functions
of such county Offices as have to be pro-
served
The Municipal Court complications have
arisen because the court is described in the
law of 1913 as court for the county Of
Philadelphia and because the county COM
missioners were empowered to provide quar-
ters for it. Plainly, that part Of the law
dealing with the provision of quarters BY
the county commissioners was repealed by
the charter of 1919. which puts the construc-
tion Of all buildings in charge Of the De-
partment Of Public Works. Good lawyers
insist that this was the intention of the
charter. The courts however, have not in
terpreted the point.
If the revised constitution should provide
for the consolidation Of the city and county
governments it would wipe out oil conflict Of
authority over the Municipal Court. But
it would do more for it would at once extend
to all the so called county Offices the civil
service regulations which govern the city de-
partments Then it would be impossible for
the politicians whose followers were removed
from one of the existing city Offices TO find
places for them in the county Offices with
out the preliminaries of a civil service ex-
animation.
The anomalous conditions have existed for
years. The politicians have been interested
in preserving them because these conditions
have enabled them to profit by the distribu-
ton of spoils without interference and be-
cause they could mandamus the city TO pay
their bills. There is no greater need for
correcting the abuses now than there has
been for n generation. But there is a grow
ing realization Of the existence Of the abuses.
1t is almost impossible to change a bad
law from which some one profits. 1t must
be impressed on the mind of the people that
they suffer because of bad law before they
will bestir themselves. And even then It Is
usually necessary for some interest that seeks
to advance itself to take the lead in de-
manding the repeal of the bad law.
The use Of the patronage Of the Mu
nicipal Court to strengthen men who are
fighting Mayor Moore spurs the worthy in
tent Of that official to extend the control Of
the city government over what was created
as county court If he can bring the court
within the jurisdiction Of the city beyond
al possible question he will accomplish
,,,,,,.a. 80 tba oner'io. nf ,nnd anvo-rr,.n. ~
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Tbnro ora haro I, phiIodoInbio lor,.
,,,,'hor oF mon booii,a .ho Me- r,ha a. ro
oi.n haolirn tho rlon - tho I:oyornor sor -
convention to revise the constitution. For
rInntcly for the city. the changes which they
sock ran be defended on sound cOnStitu
tonal theory. And fortunately for the pros
poets of success Of the plan for a convention,
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No one need be seriously disturbed by the
criticism launched by r. Lowry ltumes. OF
PITTSBURGH, against the plan for the cleo
tIon or delegates 10 the convention. Mr.
ltumeS is Democrat and an able man.
When he objects TO the election OF four tfthS
of tn" delegates on party tickets and to the
appointment OF the remainder by the Gov
crnor he is speaking ms a Democrat anxious
that his party may have fuller representa-
ton in the convention than the people Of
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