The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1895-03-06
SENATOR
COYLE ACTS.
An Effort to Make Supervisors Elec-
tive Officers.
SOME RESULTS EXPECTED.
The People Will Select Men to Furnish
Good Roads and Streets by a Direct
vote-POpular Movement.

The stir that has followed the organi-
zation of the Borough Council is another
argument in favor of having the appoint
ments of public officers, which are now
subject to the whims and fancies of any |
Councilman who may have an axe to |
grind, made direct by the people. Such a
step is especially essential in connection
with the office of Supervisor. Too much
care cannot be given to this part of local
administration, because upon the faith
full discharge of duty by the Supervisor
the borough is dependent for good and
clean streets. Unfortunately, great
many people give the streets but passing
notice. They do not give the matter
proper thought and realize that street
out of repair is an avenue for suits
for damages against the borough, and
a recovery means a drain on the pockets
of the taxpayers. Clean streets are also
absolutely essential. First impressions
cannot be disregarded, and dirty, ne
elected streets and alleys will do more
| to prejudice the interests of a borough,
town or city than almost anything else.
| Clean streets denote a well regulated
local government and such a government
has great weight with investors and pro-
| jectors.
! The question of having certain borough
officials elected direct by the people, in
stead of through Councilmen, is not a
new one, but it is only recently that it
| has been given serious thought. The
i HERALD agitated it for several years, but
no one seemed inclined to take
step toward making change.
! About a week ago the editor of this
paper decided to make an individual ad-
vance, and this he did by laying the
matter in writing before Senator John J.
Coyle, of Mahanoy City. That Mr.. Coyle
| holds himself in readiness to promptly
do anything calculated to benefit the
people of his district and is open to any
suggestions bearing upon that end, is
evidenced by the following communica
tion
"SENATE OF PENNSYLVANIA.
"MAHANOY CITY, PA, Mar 2, 1898.
! "H. G. Boyer, Esq., Shenandoah, Fa
| Only DEAR SIR AND FRIEND II am in
| receipt of your letter of recent date con-
tanning the suggestion of having a law
passed favoring the election of Borough
Solicitor, Supervisor, Treasurer and
Town Clerk and have given it very care
full attention.
"In accordance with the same, l win
introduce at Harrisburg on Monday next
a bill providing for the election of Super
| visors in all boroughs and townships in
| the State of Pennsylvania.
81 thank you most sincerely for your
suggestion and thought, and hope to be
able to have the same enacted into law.
Every truly yours,
"JNO. j. COYLE."
There can be no question that such a
law will give general satisfaction. All
! applicants will then have an equal chance
5 before the people, who will have a fair
| opportunity to Judge the qualifications
r of the Office seekers and place the proper
) one in the position. The law should be-
accepted by those upon whom the duty o.
making the appointments now falls as &
source of considerable relief