The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-03-12
THE READING CONVENTION
Meeting Of Representatives Of Cities
of the Third Class.
SCHEMES FOX GOVERNMENT
An Address by DR.. l.. :. Rowe Legislative
Needs Of municipalities OF the
Glass with Less Than 100.
900 Inhabitants.

The cities represented are Allentown.
Altoona. Bradford. Chester Carbondale,
Erie. Harrisburg. Hazleton. Lancaster,
Lebanon. McKeesport. Monongahela
City, Reading, Scranton, Williamsport,
Wilkes Barre and York.
Mr.. Keppelman in calling the cOnven-
tion to order. made a brief address IN
which he outlined what i'm his opinion
third-class cities should ask of the
Legislature. I'VE need better legisla-
tion." he said. "and the turnout today
indicated that other municipalities are
interested in the same object. ! hope
the results of this meeting may prove
entirely satisfactory to our people as
we'll as youls.'
The committee on permanent organi-
ZatiOn reported the following, and they
We're elected without opposition:
President. John II. keppelman. or
Reading: vice presidents. j. II. Torrey,
Scranton, II. J. Saltzman, Erie: A. A.
Cochran. of Chester; treasurer. George
&. Fagman. of Bradford; secretaries.
w. l.. Shollenberger. of Altoona. ana
Colonel II. H. Hammer. of Reading.
Mr.. Keppeman. in taking the chair.
thanked the convention for the honor
conferred and proceeded to business by
Introducing Dr. l.. $. Rowe. lecturer on
municipal affairs of the University Of
Pennsylvania. He spoke as follows:
DIR. ROWE'S REMARKS.
The present convention marks a new
epoch in the history OF municipal legisla-
ton in this country. 1t means something
more than a mere conference to consider
:he iegisia tive needs of cities of the third
class. 1t is IA step and an important one
toward the recognition of the principles OF
MUNICIPAL home rule which has been
fruitful of results in other states. No mat
ter what the ultimate outcome of the la
hors of delegates may be, We have here IA
definite assertion of the principles that
the communities are the primary and
most competent judges as to the needs
scope OF activity. II requires no deep
insight into the history OF municipal leg
islation In this commonwealth. especially
as regards the larger cities to convince
one that this principle has not received
anything like recognition. The classic in
nee, of course. is in the government
OF the first class but the same has been
true TO II greater or less extent of cities
of the second and third class. The prop-
lem We have before us Is to give to our
municipalities definite place In the politi-
cal system of the state, and to So frame
legislation as TO make IL adapt able 10
committees Of various sizes. All political
experience points to the fact that as
regards governmental organization, the
needs of IA community with "a population
of 1U.OGO. and one with population or
100000 are radically different. The same
is true of the methods of procedure In
the carrying out of municipal functions.
The safe guards TO be provided in the lat
ter case. owing to the larger interests at
stake, and the great difficulty OF careful
supervision, must be far more minute and
carefully prescribed. Again in the scope
of municipal activity, the problems In Il
city with Il population of 100000, call for
additional powers and more complicated
machinery as we'll AS nicer adjustment
of the relations between municipal author
tiles than l. & ths case in cities Win "a
ciidi Legislation in the l'ni;ed States. ;is
we'll as in Europe, clearly shows tn II
these necessities of Legislation will de
mand recognition in spite OF constitutional
and other Limitations. An excellent lluS-
tration Of this fact Is in The history OF To-
cal and speca legislation in the United
States and more especially In PennSylva
mia.
In spite of the manifest inten; of the
fiLmcrS of the important constitutional
amendments Of 1874, the courts have found
themselves compelled by the very necessI-
ties Of the case to recognize right of
classification. ln many states this has
striclioIs. In Pennsylvania the supreme
court, while recognizing such rights, has
seen iii to set Il limit to such classifca-
ton in making three classes the maxi
mum.
CITIES or THE THIRD CLASS.
The Legislature. in its wisdom, placed
all cities with Il population between lO."y"
and 100000 In the third class; and then
proceeded to pass u general law prescrib-
iny the organization and powers of all
arises: In what way is il possible 10
reconrilia;e the needs of r!ties of tn.
third class OF this method of incorporn-
ton? The Legislature is stopped from
making any discrimination between cities
within this class The political. social and
aud economic conditions existing with
those cities call for "A difference in gov
einmental machinery and methods. 1t is
at this point that the work of L convcn-
tion, such as this may do Invaluable SER
vice in contributing 10 u more vigorous
vel, tIt,.. al ins finn,
this com nmonwealth. The first question
that ought to be considered is the elr-
ments of q good city charter. and here
the experience of every city must be
carefully examined. Does the form OF
government proposed in the act of May
q. 1889, meet with the needs of cities OF
legislative and executive with veto power
the best form OF government for "a small
city with the population of l0,nO or 20,vp:
Is il necessary In such case to devise
Il systeS of checks and balances? Would
not "A much simpler form be closer har-
mony with their very nature: Again. is
the procedure prescribed i'm .he execution
of municipal functions adapted to the
needs of all cities? In how far are The
provisions OF the act of 1889 generally ap-
plicable to all cities of the third class /?
THESE questions will call for consdera bl {.
research and careful analys and upon
their decision will depend the form Of
charter TO be recommended for adopti on
by the state legislature. One Of three
methods is theoretically possible. but un-
der the present system the last Is the ONLY
immediate feasible plan. These methods
are: First. 20 allow all cities to frame
their own charters: second. to further s,l b.
nvide the cities into classes; third re-
prescribe a form of government so gen
eral I'm character as to make IL readily
adaptable to the needs of every city no
matter what Its size.
THE FIRST METHOD.
OF the first method which has been
adopted by Missouri, California and
Washing ton. public opinion in this COM
monwealth Is probably not sufficiently ad-
vanced. AS to the second. the decision of
the supreme court in Ayars appeal has
placed an unsurmOunta BILE barrier The
broad plan. however, Is one that mig /, I
readily be adopted and is perhaps a step
toward the first In this respect the ex-
perience of Illinois and the very recent
tendency in New York Legislature. are ex-
tremely instructive. Under such system
the city may practically determine its own
form of government subject to state la VS.
that merely prescribe the briefest outline
The recent reports of the New York
commission on cities of the second and
third class all tend in that direction. 4
the ultimate results of this convention
will be to furnish permanent basis COR
our municipal development, taking into
consideration the questions here pro-
pounded, its influence will be felt beyond
the borders Of the state.
In conclusion DR.. Rowe stated tina
the services Of the University of Penn
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