The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-03-16

For additional spsc,a, Notice, 90. inside nao...

Bsy" TO THE HONORABLE THE SENATE
and House OF Representatives OF the Com
monwealth OF Pennsylvania in General Assembly
The undersigned, citizens and taxpayers OF Phils-
delphia respectfully request your honorable bodies
to repeal the various acts respecting the erection OF
Public Buildings in the city OF Philadelphia.
Ihey 10 40 thIs ifom @ an earnest CONVECTION that
in question, which remove expenditures for matters
OF local concern from the control of those who alone
have to bear the consequent burdens.
In this your petitioners do not In any way deny
the legal right OF the Legislature TO enact the laws
referred to- but they respectfully submit that In the
act OF August last, the Legislature of 1870
ctsed Its power In manner at variance with the
principles of republican selgovernment by creating
and nominating commission endowed with autho-
rity such as Is never granted even to representa-
tiyes OF the people by community mindful of its
j. With the exception OF three ex-onicio members
out OF eleven, the commission is not in any way re-
IL It has no absolute term of service assigned to
It, so that 1t can be rendered virtually perpetual at
the pleasure of its members
nj. It has the power Of filing vacancies in its own
body.
". 1t has authority, without limitation save its
discretion TO expend the money OF the citizens
OF Philadelphia, and to enter into contracts binding
on the city without check or supervision
Such O concentration OF power in the hands OF a
small and irresponsible body OF men can scarcely
fail to become the source Of the worst political cor
ruption and public decentralization. The prospect
OF An unwise and stupendous expenditure has
already alarmed the prudent and honest, and will
allure the selfish and INSCRIPTIONS.
Your petitioners would further submit that the
legislation creating the existing commission was
procured without application or petition therefor
from the City Councils or people, aud that it was
VIGOROUSLY in conflict with the well-setled views of
both.
Many OF those whose names are appended hereto
voted at the election Of last October in favor OF Penn
Square as the site OF the public buildings. They
have been convinced, however, that the best to
be made OF that square is to convert it into open
plaza, which, with It's neighborhood, would shortly
become the most attractive spot in Philadelphia,
from the beauty of the editces that would speedily
be erected around it by private capitalists and public
institutions. For the ornamentation OF such plaza
public spirited citizens have already pledged them
selves to contribute many thousands OF dollars and
its proper treatment would give Philadelphia
metropolitan development without rival on this side
OF the Atlantic. To neglect the opportunity now
presented would be, in the opinion OF your petit
tioners, to throw away chance that can never
occur again.
In view of the sound principle that those who pay
taxes should be permitted to control the eXpendi-
ture Of them-a right dear to every city and town
OF the Commonwealth, each OF which in the future
may suffer from the application OF the unhappy pre-
cedent that has been made in the present instance
In view OF the papable fact that Philadelphia her.
self knows better what she wants than can possibly
be known to the representatives OF her sister cities
and toWDs-that her development industr1aly and
socially, her public morality, general prosperity,
and future welfare alike require that herself should
be entrusted with the absolute management and
control OF so great and weighty matter as this in
question, involving taxation to the extent OF many
millions, your petitioners ervently urge your honor
able bodies to speedily grant the relief herein