The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-06-12
THE MAYORS LETTERS.
He Writes Scathing Letter to the Coun'
cil-Scores Mr.. Reutichubcr.


cil-ScoIes Mr.. Rcutiehubcr.
At the city council meeting last night
two scathing letters from Mayor Mich
OILS were read, the full text of which is
given below:
Wilkes Barre, Pa, June 10, 1895.
City Council:
Gentlemen--I my inaugural address of
this year !, inter ALA. undertook to con-
Vince your honorable body of the necessity
OF providing u new system of management
for the administration of our city govern
ment. The organization recommended In
this deliverance requires the establish
ment of definite line of partition bet"eeii
the provinces of our executive and legs
lative branches, and the subdivision OF
the latter into departments each having d
chief superintendent solely responsible Tor
the performance of the services allotted
to his jurisdiction. Your treatment of this
suggestion justifies, in my mind, the con
clusion that you are unwilling to furnish
the legislation 1t proposes. Hence | deem
1t proper to continue my effort to demon
strate the need of its adoption and, for this
purpose, respectfully invite your atten-
ton to the inharmoniouS conditions now
existing in our public service. These con-
tent!ons are destructive of good govern
ment and their presence here is wholly
due to governmental management in
which the spheres of duty and respons.-
billty are not aScerta!ned and the funua-
mental allotment of civil powers and pre-
negatives ignored. Thus destitute of fixed
boundaries each of the major and minor
divisions OF our municipal service is con-
tinually disturbed and weakened by the
aggressions and usurpations of the others.
Every public servant IS subject to the do
m.non of many masters frequently exact
ing Of him obedience to conflicting rules
and policies. Twenty-one custodians of
the councilmanic or legislative power,
supported alone by the authority of an un-
lawful custom, through the voice of their
ruling number, their committees and the
chairman Of these committees, are the su-
preme directors of the operations of every
executive department OF the government.
Under such an illogical and dscordant
regime, vigor, efficiency and harmony of
administration are impossible.
Especially Is this statement true con-
cerning the relation of the mayor to the
council. His jurisdiction embraces all
powers whose supreme function Is to COM
pei obedience to the laws, and he alone is
responsible to the public for the execution
of the trust thus contided to him. Any at
tempt on the part of the council or conf
mittee or member thereof to abrldge this
range of authority or to influence public
agents assigned to Its service to disregard
the mandates and wishes of its representa-
tive Is an act of usurpation of the most
reprehensible character. Nevertheless,
during all the time have been permitted
to allege that II am the mayor of this
city," like all my predecessors, / have been
hindered and exasperated in the effort to
discharge the duties of the office by just
such invasions and lnterferences. / shall
not at this time make specific application
of this charge to any member or branch
of the council other than the chairman
OF the police committee. He has contin-
ually and in the most offensive and tyran-
nical manner controlled the management
of the police force, both in dctations TO
the commanding officers and reprovals
and suggestions to the individual patrol
man. The authority he thus arrogates to
himself, accompanied with the menace in
the power Of appointment and dismissal
entrusted to him, overcomes and renders
nugatory all orders of the mayor not In
conformity to his will or in any manner
denying the supremacy Of his rule. The
immediate cause of the antagonisms in
the police service recently exposed in the
public press resulted from the unlawful
and insulting actions of this functionary.
Through his influence the mayor is de-
prived of the active and willing co-opera-
ton Of the chief of police in his effort to
dislodge from their ancient intrenchments
and Danish from our city the presence Of
certain hideous monsters of public vice.
In this arraignment l do not mean to
impute to,him sympathy for the criminals
I would have undergo the laws punish
ment, or desire to have the haunts of i'm
morality / would have eXtrpated, con-
tinued in this community. But motives
are not relevant to the issue. l am con-
strained to submit to the consideration of
your honorable body. The questions
am determined to press to a final solution
are: First. Who Is the commander Of our
police force. and, second, If the chief of
police Is the lawful occupant of this posi-
ton, is he not bound to execute the orders
Of the mayor pertaining to the preserva-
ton OF the public peace and the enforce
ment. of the laws and ordinances? OF
fhnca ri,
subjects for the attention of a judicial
tribunal. Still, you can, In the exercise of
your legislative power, give to them de-
termination free from all uncertainties
Indeed am positive that the ordinances
touching these questions, now in exist
ence, fully support the rightfulness of my
objection to the interferences Of the chair
man of the police committee. The COM
mand and direction Of the police force are
wholly committed to the chief and he
cannot, therefore, submit to the dictations
of others without violating the obligations
of his office.
But the vicious practice against which
am protesting has been so long tolerated
that 1t cannot be abolished until con-
demned In either some prohibitory legis-
lation or Judgment Of the courts. Hence
] respectfully suggest the adoption of an
ordinance specifically forbidding the chair
man OF the police committee from UNDER
taking, In any manner whatsoever, to
Ils
action of the chief of police in the dis
charge of his duties or the exercises of his
authority. Such measure would release
our police service from the shackles of
fear now demoralzing its discipline and
enfeebling Its efficiency. The men en-
ployed in this service are willing and we'll
qualified to faithfully and fearlessly per,
form every duty and assume every respon-
sbility connected with their stations. If
: assured that obedience to the rules pre-
had ff,rf IN. y1ryf,v
mands of their chief were the only price
required for the continuance Of their en-
ployment, am sure that public vice and
crime, In this community, could not escape
the ceaseless scourgings Of the laws pun
ishment.
The benefit thus attainable, however.
cannot be fully realized without accord
ing to the mayors office authority to COM
pei the execution Of the orders of it's rep
resentative. The notions heretofore enter
tained, concerning the prerogatives and
powers Of this official are destined to be
speedily revolutionized. He is the chief ex-
ecutive OF our city government, and the
recognition due to this position must be
yielded. have In the plan of reorganiza-
ton referred to, indicated a method by
which your honorable body can elevate
h.s Office to this grade of dignity. But IL
you persist In your refusal to grant the
legislation necessary to Its Introduction.
the sentiment Of this people will soon force
us ihto tne Seneral municipal system or
the commonwealth. They appreciate the
absurdsty and inexpedieHcy OF scheme
Of management that ebhfers upon the
council the privilege Of appointing and
controlling. the public servants charged
with the duty Of procuring obedience to
their legislation. They realize the fact
that disease In the. public service Is REM
ediless unless responsibility for its exist
erce Ia, easily aseertaanable. Their loc, Al
Pride and civic patriotism prompt them TO
insist upon 9 treatment OF the mayors Of
nee that will secupe forr its administration
men qualified to represent their city, at
home and abroad. in manner cores pond-
ing to their intelligeQce and enterprise.
Why DO you disregard sthis demand Of the