Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-01-21

that the outcome will be measure which
will materially relieve landed property in
the Commonwealth from the burdens which
have too long laid upon it.
| The authority of the State in regulating
local taxation should not, however, extend
further than the constitutional requirement
Tor the enactment of general laws to secure
uniformity upon the same class OF subjects
within the territorial limits of the authority
levying the tax. A multiplicity OF taxing
officers is also vexatious and wasteful. The
people demand the abolition of the Office OF
Mercantile Appraisers. All mercantile
taxes are levied upon subjects purely. OF
local concern, and ought to be applied, ii
applied at all, for the benefit OF the coun-
ties In which they are derived. In adver-
tlsing mercantile taxes and in collecting de-
llnquent mercaptile taxes the State need
lessly e1pends thousands of dollars.
The Government of Municipalities.
No corporation in the world are. as a
rule, so helpless as the municipal corpora
tions of America. In Pennsylvania these
bodies have few rights guaranteed to them
in the fundamental law which the Legis-
lature is bound to respect Nearly one
half of the people of Pennsylvania live in
cities. The tendency of our times
has been toward the enlargement OF
the power of municipalities in the
management of such affairs as are
entrusted to their administration. An
effort has been made to regulate them by gen.
eral laws to the end that well-defined princi-
pies OF government might pervade all our mu-
nlcipal charters. One great aim in this direc-
tlon has been to concentrate official responsi-
biity to the electors by vesting all power in the
Chief Executive of the municipality. But in
theory W a
lost sight of the accountability which the mu-
nicipality owes to the State? All powers vested
In the cities and in municipal officers are theor-
etcaily, at least delegations from the whole
people, and the State should preserve its super
visory power by regular methods to prevent
possible abuses through undue concentration
OF power, patronage and the means of corrupt
influence.
The new charter of Philadelphia was granted
upon the express stipulation and provision that
the vast powers conferred upon its Executive
should be absolutely free from political inter-
ference or control, and that public officers
should be trustees for the whole people, for the
minority and for each individual. And yet at
the last election the city employees were re-
peatedly assessed. upon official approval to
promote the success of the ruling party. Many
OF the powers of the municipality. notably that
OF the police, were used with virulence against
lne rights OF the minority, which the people of
the entire State are bound to protect. Would
1t not be wise to reserve to the Commonwealth
the power to remove an official whose abuse of
authority transgresses the rights of the minor
ity or of the individual? y
There has been an utter disregard of enact
ments prohibiting the removal of public serv-
ants for political reasons, and the inaction of
the state, or rather its abandonment of its
servants to the personal authority of party
leaders, reduces independence to a dream, not
Tor the public servants only, but for the COM
munlties which, in their turn, are overridden
oy them. While patronage, as recent ex-
perience has shown, does not strengthen par
ties, 1t does strengthen party leaders of a GER
tain type; indeed, without patronage men of
that type could not become leaders at all. The
great defect of our municipal organization in
Pennsylvania, as elsewhere, is the want of per-
manence OF the civil service.
The Safety of Public Funds.
The people demand that the greatest pro-
lection be given for the safety of the public
funds. The places in which the Treasurer
shall deposit the public moneys should be
designated by law. The discretion vested in
the Treasurer to select the places of deposit is
dangerous one for him and for the State. 1t
subjects him to personal importantly, and
admits of favoritism and abuse. The financial
management Of the State should be based upon
plain business principles, and there is no
reason why the public moneys should not be
deposited in such manner as to afford equal
security and profit with like capital of
individuals.
The Constitution commands that the General
Assembly. Immediately after each United
States decennial census, shall apportion the
tricts." The decennial census has been taken.
The constitutional period for action is at hand
There will not be more important measure
for the consideration of the Assembly than that
OF apportionment. 1t touches government in
its most vital parts. Fair and just representa-
tion TO all scntjcus of the State the General
Assembly and in Congress underlies the whole
fabric of our political system. 1t is the corner
stone of our Government Considerations of
party, of factions. of locality or of individuals
have nothing to do with the subject of appor-
tlOnment. ShOull hy
the Legislature upon uniform and just prlnci-
pies. There should not be one rule for one part
of the State and a different rule for another.
The Constitution commands that the districts
shall be composed of compact and contiguous
territory" The rule should be observed
throughout the entire State. 1t is palpaoly
violated by the present appOrtionment.
Some Other Suggestions.
In the limited range of discussion which such
an occasion as the present imposes can merely
refer to number of important matters
Among these might include the necessity for
an effective civil service in the State appoint
ments, the substitution of salaries for fees the
inspection and regulation of State and private
banks, and an extension of the power of.the
Auditor General so as to include within his
audit all the State accounts, and the rigid en-
forcement of the law referring to the invest
ment of the sinking fund money. The mining
code should be revised in such manner as will
insure the payment of damages in case of in
jury or loss arising from the neglect or parsi-
mony of the mine owner.
The tasa before us is far-reaching compris-
ing within its scope the whole field Of material
and political improvement. In administering
the affairs of the Commonwealth we must seek
to enlarge the sources, to increase its comforts
and TO promote its prosperity and greatness, SO
that the people, in harmonious progress and
fulfilling the peaceful destiny, may illustrate.
in the grandeur and wisdom of their self-cou.
troll and in their majestic movement toward a
more perfect society, the power of a pure
democracy to solve every problem that taxes
the intelligence or strains the virtue of civil
lied humanity.