The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-08-28
THIRD CLASS CITIES
In CONVENTION
Mr.. Torrey Gives an Interesting Resume
OF the Work.
SOLICITORS WORK WAS APPROVED
The Receiver of Taxes Act Drafted
by ScrantOn's Solicitor Is Enthusi.
asticallv Passed..Civil Service Bill
Observation-Disclosures Enter.
tained the Convention in Most Hos.
pitable Style.

James H. Torrey, city solicitor, was
interviewed in his Office yesterday after
noon upon his return from the conven-
tion of cities of the third class held
this week in Williamsport, and in re-
sponse to a request for information as
to the proceedings of the convention,
said to a Tribune reporter:
The convention was attended by
about seventy delgates representing
fourteen or fifteen third class cities.
The delegates from Scranton were:
President Sanderson, of select council;
City Engineer Phillips and Common
Councilmen Nealis and Regan and my
self. The sessions were held in the COM
mon council chamber in the new and
beautiful city hall. The chamber is
spacious and nicely furnished and was
elabOrately decorated for the occasion.
"The business of the convention con-
sisted in the reception of and action
upon the report of the committee of
city solicitors, which recently met in
Scranton. This was carefully formu-
lated printed report of the changes and
amendments recommended to the act
ing for q receiver of taxes and a civil
service commission. Many of the
changes in the act of 1889 were designed
to harmonize that act with subsequent
legislation. Provisions We're adopted for
the annexation of a part of q borough,
permitting aldermen to hold mayors
court. enlarging slightly the class of
repairs which may be done without
contract, allowing equitable abatement
of local assessments on corner lots, de-
fning more clearly the duties of the city
engineer, etc.
RECEIVER OF TAXES ACT.
"The sessions were remarkably har-
monious and businesslike and the work
was done thoroughly and yet eXpedit-
iously. In almost all cases the amend
ments wer adopted as recommended
without long debate or division. The
receiver of taxes act was read and
passed without alteration in about fif-
teen minutes. Most of the representa-
tives wer enthusiastic in its approval
and considered the most important
business transacted.
considerable differnce of opinion de-
veloped about the civil service act. An
effort to defeat it in it's entirety was
unsuccessful by a vote of (cities) SIs
for to AZ against the act, and it was
finally adopted with some slight
changes. 1t came to our knowledge
that commission appointed by the
last legislature has ready for intro
duction a civil service act for all the
cities and boroughs of the state very
similar in its provisions to our act
and to which Senator Quay and the
Republican party are understood to be
committed.
Every attention was paid to the dele
gates by the citizens of Williamsport; /;
their entertainment including a recep-
tion Tuesday evening, at the elegant
residence of ex-MayOr Elliott, and q
trolley and carriage ride about the city
and upon the surrounding hills yester-
day afternoon.
a WORD ABOUT WILLIAMSPORT.
''In spite of recent disasters from
floods, Williamsport is q thriving and
enterprising town. They are spending
large sums of money upon public i'm
provements, including just now O large
amount of repaving, in brick and as
phalt, and many new sewers. We were
shown new brick pavement which was
being laid on a six inch concrete base
for $1.47 per square yard. 1t was a
brick of local manufacture and the con-
tractor is to be paid in full by the city
at the completion of the work, the as
sessments upon property owners to be
subsequently made and collected.
1.-THE convention adjourned sine die
yesterday noon, an effort to hold
another meeting being defeated. The
task of finally formulating the work
done, presenting to the legislature and
securing its passage was committed to
the city solicitors, who in turn placed
the primary responsibility upon a sub
committee composed of the solicitors of
Scranton, Williamsport (Mr. Crocker)
and Chester, (Mr. Cachran)
"a resolution introduced from the
Scranton delegation was unanimously
adopted pledging the representatives
of third class cities to oppose any fur
ther legislation applicable to those cit
les, whether introduced by outsiders
or by single members of the class, un-
less all of the cities shall have had fair
opportunity to examine and consider
and hoped to bind the cities closer to-
gether for mutual protection in the in
terest of Home Rule.''