The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-06-15
Light ON the Subject
OF municipal Reform.
Interesting Summaries of Some of the Papers
Read at the Recent Cleveland Conference.

penditures, two-thirds vote being re-
quired to override his veto. Another
check on its power Is the board OF esti-
mates, forty members, which meets In
April without pay to pass on appropria-
tions for the ensuing year. This board
is one of the most satisfactory institu-
tions of the city government.
While the mayor, elected for two
years appoints certain members of
boards and commissions, he serves on
them only in an advisory way. The
city Is somewhat Handicapped because
of the Independent powers OF these
boards, which frequently come in con-
tact, which causes unfriendly STRIFE ana
expensive litigation. Perhaps what the
city most needs is some centralization
of these boards so that there may be
greater harmony in plan and eXecu-
tion.
After a description of the Judiciary,
the paper took up the execution ana
administration of the DAVIS, particular
ly with relation to saloons. gambling.
and the social evil. With reference to
saloons the several departments
charged with the enforcement OF the
law felt that other departments were
responsible for violations and that
their own hands were especially tieu'
As to the gambling Institutions IL was
stated that only five of the most proml-
nent had of late years been permitted
and that recently even these had peeh
closed, As to the social evil the poiicy
of the police has been to keep 1t under
stringent surveillance. All inmates OF
houses are known and registered. so
far as an evil can be regulated that mas
been done in Detroit. The district at
torney more than a year ago deter
mined If any persons are ailoweu 10
sell liuuor they should take out IL
cense, and from his efforts IL was
claimed that over $4,000 had peen put
into the treasury of Wayne county.
But examination proved the totai
amount to have been less than SS,ooo'
and hence the police department THIS
year announces that any house that
can secure a license must be treated as
a saloon and will be allowed to conduct
only a saloon business.
In seeking a remedy for this sore on
the body polite, Mr.. Mac1'aurin termed
the closing of. the houses as being ohiy
q. scattering of the evil, not its eraoica-
I
tion. and forcefully said: There can
be no radical and permanent cure that
does not provide another chance TO the
Magdalene; that does not destroy
vicious double standard in the practice
of society; that does not provide a res
cue and a salvation for the SHINING wo-
man as we'll as for the SHINING man.
Regarding Mayor Pingree, Mr.. Mac
Laurin said that while he has arrayed
against him the corporations, he mas
the masses of the people with him. as
has been amply demonstrated by ms
repeated reelection by higher MAORI
ties. The mayors elaboration of the
AGRICULTURAL idea, the "Pingree Potato
Farm" as 1t is called, is also com
mented on as being most benehceht
idea. which has resulted In sending INTO
the country numbers of poor people
who. finding that the earth can yield
them food, have taken to farming 10
| their own comfort and the relief OF the
overcrowded portions of the city.