The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-04-03

material OF which they are constructed
and the cost OF the same. as has also been
appended to the sewer maps.
The completion of those drawings now
renders it possible for every citizen desir.
ing 10 acquaint himself with the work the
city has been doing in this direction to do
so by consulting them as placed on trial in
the engineers department. This is the
first time that this information has been
| placed in concise and satisfactory form at
the disposal of every citizen.
POLICE DEPARTMENT.
| The fina adoption by the honorable
councils of last year of the ordinance pro-
viding the rules and regulations for the ad.
ministration OF the police department in
| conformity with our present charter and
providing for tho addition of ten more
men to the working force is most crafty
| ing, While the number Of policemen is
still insufficient to give the city proper
patrol service, which its population aud
area might reasonably demand, the will
ingness Of the councils to provide, from
time to time additional men is evidence
that they are awake to the Importance OF
maintaining the efficiency of this depart
| ment.
The dnties Of an officer are not at all
times Of the most pleasant character, and
while 1t may appear that hs IL too exact
ing in the performance Of that duty, We
must remember that implicit obedience to
the law among some classes is entirely de-
pendant upon the activity and prompt
ness in the enforcement Of those ls WIS by
the officers OF this department, and must
OF necessity be upheld by the authorities
| The efficiency attained by this depart
ment is largely due to the untiring efforts
| Of the chief of police, who has devoted his
time and energy with one object in view,
which has been to give the public the best
| possible police service, with the limited
force at his command.
During the early part Of last year the
police quarters in the city building having
been completed we removed the First pre-
cinct from its old quarters III the Center
street station into the new apartments.
The condition Of their new quarters is eX-
cellent, as is also that Of the Second and
Fourth Precinct station houses, but the
condition of the Third Preciuct or North
End station house, which is located in the
basement OF the building occupied by the
Liberty Hose company, is miIerabls and
unhealthy. The sanitary arrangements Of
the house being poor, after every rainstorm
the floor is flooded with water. The Cen
ter Street station house, having lost its
days OF usefulness as police STATION, and
being located in that portion of the city
which makes the lot desirable for the loca-
tion Of business block, would advise
your honorable bodies to direct the proper
authorities to dispose of said property and
devote the proceeds to the repairing Of the
Third Precinct station house and the bal
ance to be used for the police department
The total arrests during the past year, a.
Is shown by the monthly reports submit
| tal l,-f ha rf 10 hAu
orable councils was 1921. The total fine
collected through this department from
various sources was "a, jsS63, which ha
been paid over to the treasury, as requires
by law. This amount shows an inci east
OF *, 2l3, 9S cents over the preceding year
NEW LEGISLATION.
During the past year, in attempting Il
enforce tie ordinances which provide TO
the cleaning OF our sidewalks, the abatinl
OF nuisances, the removal Of obstruction
from he public highways, the digging "
Of our streets without permit, and tn
enforcement of the ordnance regulating
the erection of buildings within the fir
limits, it has been found in many case
that these ordinances either have no pen
nlty attached or were so losely drawn tha
they could not be enforced.
There is no question Of the statutor
power of the councils to pass oroiuhn ce'
which will elfectually regulate all thes,
matters. But as soon as an effort Is mad
TO enforce them they come under tht
critical examination of experienced law
yers and therefore the greatest care anC
the highest professional skill ia necessar,
in thalr prepara ton. | would therefor
J ask your honorable bodies to have thes
ordinances referred to the Judiciary com
: mittee in conjunction with the city sOllcl
| tor to prepare the necessary ordinances &
cover these irregularities. IL is highly im
portant that this matter should be at
. tended to at once and that not only in til
! present case, but that in all future legisla
|, Ilon ordinance having penalties attache
: aud ordinances providing for the gradiui
of streets and the construction of sewer
! it be necessary for them 10 receive the NJ
, proyal of the city solicitor before thei
final passage through the councils.
| There has been considerable interes
manifested OH the part Of our citizens u
= TO the advisabillty OF taxing the poles G
: the various electrical companies whicl
b. are doing business 10 the city.
In the consideration Of this subject W
I must not be unmindful Of the fact, first
> that il was in tie promoting Of some {
: these business enterprises that we wey
: aided so materially in the rapid and pei
maueut growth OF our city, and aeconC
7 | that while many of these companies al
t enjoying free from all taxation the vail
. able franchises granted them by the city
4 there is one company which is paying
. fair price for the privileges granted it l.
g the municipal authorities. | refer to th
% Scranton Illuminating Heat and Powt
I company, which is furnishing the cit
I building and engine houses their light at
. cost, | am Informed, of about &. QUO p,
=. annum in consideration of the irauchis,
u granted.
g Iwould suggest that u committee |
i appointed to wait upon the managemrI
e Of these various companies to determl
the actual number Of poles necessary
mean by this, a case where single pc
could be used in common by two or MOI
i, companies) and report their findings
= your honorable bodies, and upon that bas
pass an ordinance providing tor tax upC
= the excess. by this method we would n
: move many Of those poles which are u
y questionably u mar to the otherwise u
=. LraCtive appearance Of many of our mo,
= prominent thOroughiareS.
-, also desire to urge upon your hoDol
"a able bodies the passage OF IA ordinant
" compelling the Scranton Traction compar
- to use tenders upon its cars for the bett
- protection Of the lives Of our citizens; all
- 10 regulate the speed dt which it shall ru
!, it's cars through tho streets Of the cit
= and to prohibit the charging Of doub
~ fares within the city limits.
% Our city ordinances are entirely lackin
y. in the regulations and restrictions whiC
= it is customary with other cities to pla,
:, upon the public cab service for the prote
II tion Of the public in general and especial
=. for the benefit Of strangers whom buslne'
|. or pleasure brings into our midst. Rumol
have recently come to me that 1t is a con
! mon practice with some Of our local ca
>, men to charge strangers eXorbitant rate
y which is not only an injustice to the ira
= eler, but also to us ps u city, and If allow,
= to continue will eventually attach II rep
! tation to the city which il undesirable al
a unnecessary. therefore suggest that IL
-, ~ honorable councils pass at tueir earle
., convenience an ordinance dealing wi
this matter. which shall regulate the tt
80 rate tor cabs and also establish cab stan
- at convenient points throughout the ci
" and provide penalties for the violation
" =. its provisions
:, As the city Of late has been either a
" quiring or negotiating for the possession