The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Ripper act \Rip"per act\ or Ripper bill \Rip"per bill\
   An act or a bill conferring upon a chief executive, as a
   governor or mayor, large powers of appointment and removal of
   heads of departments or other subordinate officials. [Polit.
   Cant, U. S.]
   [Webster 1913 Suppl.]