The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1891-01-23

| that all classes OF property will bear their
equal share. To this end revenue com
mission, which has prosecuted its work
laboriously during the past year, has pre-
sented diverse reports for the considera-
tion Of the people and their representa-
tives. / will not anticipate the discus
sion which must attend an examintion
Of the several bills and plans offered,
except to invoke for the whole subject
thorough consideration and deliberate ac-
tion. and to indulge the hope that the out
come will be measure which will ma
terially relieve landed property in the
commonwealth from the burdens which
have too long lain upon It.
| The authority Of the state In regulating
local taxation should not, however, ex.
tend further than the constitutional re-
quirement for the enactment OF general
laws to secure uniformity upon the same
class of subjects within the territorial
limits Of the authority levying the tax
multiplicity Of taxing officers Is also
| vexatious and wasteful The people de-
mand the abolition of the office of mercan-
| tile appraisers. All mercantile taxes are
| levied upon subjects purely of local con-
cern, and ought to be applied, II applied
at all, for the benefit Of the counties from
which they are derived. In advertising
mercantile taxes and in collecting delin-
quent mercantile taxes the state needlessly
| expends thousands of dollars.
Tho Government of Munici paIities
No corporations in the world are as
| rule, so helpless as the municipal corpora
tions of America. In Pennsylvania these
bodies have n few rights guaranteed to
them in the fundamental law which the
legislature 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 manage
ment of such affairs as are intrusted to
their administration. An effort has been
made to regulate them by general laws to
the end that well defined principles of
government might pervade all our mu-
nicipal charters. One great aim in this
direction has been to concentrate official
responsibility to the electors by vesting all
power in the chief executive of the muni-
cipality. But in perfecting this theory
have we not neasurably lost sight of the
accountability which the municipality
owes to the state? All powers vested in
the cities and in municipal officers are
theoretically, at least delegations from
the whole people, and the state should
preserve It's supervisory power by regular
methods to prevent possible abuses through
undue concentration of power, patronage
and the means of corrupt influence.
PhiIadeIphia's New Charter.
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 interference 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 repeatedly
assessed, upon official approval, to pro-
mote the success OF the ruling party. Many
of the powers of the municipality, notably
that of the police, were used with virulence
against the rights Of the minority, which
the people Of the entire state are bound to
protect Would it not be wise to reserve
to the commonwealth the power to remove
an official whose abuse of authority trans
crosses the rights OF the minority or of the
individualf
There has been an utter disregard of en-
actments prohibiting the removal Of pub
lie servants for political reasons, and the
| inaction of the state, or, rather, its aban-
| donment of its servants to the personal
authority of party leaders, reduces inde-
pendence to dream, not for the public
servants only. but for the communities
which, In their turn. are overridden by
them. While patronage, as recent expert
| ence has shown, does not strengthen par.
ties, 1t does strengthen party leaders of
| certain type; indeed, without patronage
men OF that type could not become leaders
| at all. The great defect OF our municipal
organization in Pennsylvania, as else
where, Is the want OF permanence Of the
| civil service.
Safety Of Public Funds.
The people demand that the greatest
protection be given for the safety of the
public funds. The places in which the
should be DESIGNATED by law. The discre-
| tion vested in the treasurer to select the
places of deposit is a dangerous one for
him and the state. 1t subjects him to per-
sonal Importantly, and admits Of favorit-
ism and abuse. The financial manage
ment 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.
| ApportionnAent.
| The constitution commands that the
general assembly, Immediately after
| apportion the state into senatorial and
| representative districts"
The decennial census has b cen taken
The constitutional period for action is at
hand. There will not be a more important
measure for the consideration OF the as
sembly than that of apportionment 1t
touches government In its most vital parts.
Fair and just representation to all sections
of the state in 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 APP
portionment. This duty should be per-
formed by the legislature upon uniform
and just principles. There should not be
one rule for one part of the state and a
different rule for another. The constitu-
tion commands that the districts shall be
composed of compact and contiguous ter
ritory." This rule should be observed
throughout the entire state. IL is palpably
violated by the present apportionment
| 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 i might include
the necessity for an effective civil service