The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-01-26
A rlOdej CITY Charter.

est efforts to improve existing methods
of city government in the United states
justifies some reference to this charter,
even though under the present classiti-
cation of Pennsylvania cities the latter
cannot Immediately affect Scranton.
The central feature of the charter is
that it focuses authority and response
blity in the mayor. His term is in
creased to four years, he is allowed an
annual salary of $1,000 and he has the
power to appoint for an equal term ana
also to remove for cause the heads OF
the first four of the six municipal de-
partments which are created under the
charter. namely--public works, public
safety, charities law, treasury and ac-
counts. The city treasurer and the city
controller are elected for three years as
at present and receive $4,000 yearly sal
airy apiece. The mayor may veto ap-
propriations by items and is empowered
to appoint, as often as he may think
proper, three competent persons to eX-
anime, without notice, the accounts of
any city department, trust officer or EN-
ploye. one provision in the article re-
lating to discipline over subordinates
in the department of public safety mer-
its quotation in full:
NO pohCehah OF hreihah shall pe us
missed without ms written consent, eA-
cept alter the decision Oh court elI"cI
vi lllal' OF ol INJURY uulS ueIelHil"eu anu
celIAeu III "ll'iAS " 'Lle t"aSo'' "a
Io"it 9Ha'l pe coiii'Ose" o. peI suns "
4oiiSAiS " 'He PoII.e VI iHo ioiNe Sd ~
Vi s"PeIlor III oil'ciai PoSl'io't nc Gu ~
10 the accused suen declSioh shai' ohIy
pe uetelih!I pg trlal Vi c"arseS M4''i
pain speclncatlohs liiaue pE' OF louSsu
WILL 'le uiiec'oi " 'He uepai 'i'iOi'' VI
Puoitc sa't'S' Vi Mnic" 'ilaI t"e
shaii nave que hot'ce' ana at winch ne
shaH nave 'ne iisht " pt present !" per
sui anu u pe near" iu H's oN' pete''Se .,
anu " pIo"uIe HIS "i'h''SeS "''v '''''
4t,o"S me Peioolt' uoi''posils s uOt' III ~, :
sHali pe appolhteu anu sworn py 'he VI
leetoF Oh the department. ol pup!it Saie'y
10 perform their duties lrhPaFuauy anu
Without rear OF laVor' anu 'he person Vi
H'shest RANK /" such court Shait nave me
same ""'hoil'S 10 lssu ana e'"'rot pr
cess 10 secure the attendance OF VII
hesSes' ana 10 administer oaths 10 VII
the neace in tbis commonwealth
Such charges may be of disability for
service in which case the court shall be
one OF inquiry, whose decision may De
49,, ,,r,,o1 - 49,
or violation of law or duty. inefticiency
intemperance. disobedience of orders, or
unoecoming official or personal contact,
Ia W"'c" rdse '"t Vou' s""'' "e "Ue u
~e ~ i(,'nDt,t % ,',,t,i,a
" to imnose enes and necuniarv nonaltios
to be stopped from pay, or to suspend
from pay or duty or both, for period
I'"eu NY 'hei' i'ot eAceeulhs one 9ea'' Vi
IL staIi ~ ran,r,,I far 10 ,,,roo+or 90
the department of public safety at his
discretion, to suspend from duty before
trial any person charged as aforesaid,
I. uiiUi such 'Iidi cal! pe mao, WIN OF WIN
terr6ira Irt No t,iaI shni, ba Ga,"t'ad ro,,
more than one month after charge Is
made. The finding of the court of trial or
inquiry as AFORESAID shall pc OF no erect
u'rt.t 'pp,T m {" Da '"S mlaS w. ,l u',S ','e nc
overrrla the decision of the court. and
dismiss the accused or to take such other
action as he may think proper.
Concerning municipal employes in
subordinate position the charter follows
out the principles embodied in Senator
Ouay's reform resolutions. by provid
ing that discharges must be for cause
and that amendments and promotions
must be for fitness As determined nv
open competitiye tests under specified
rules before a board of examiners
zone of the said rules shall provide that
any personal solicitation of the officers
of said board, or of the appointing
power in favor of any candidate. nv
any person whomsoeyer. unless fraudu-
lently done in order to iniure him. shall
be taken and deemed to have been done
at the instance of the candidate him
self, and shall disoualtfy him from COM
peting at any such examination or an
pointment for and during one wear
thereafter"
Among other provisions worthy or
hasty reference If NAV be said that
there is suitable safeguardine of the
honesty and fairness of nublic con-
tracts; that councils are given nower
at any meeting. either in whole mr. in
committee, to compel the attendance of
witnesses and the production of hooks
papers and other evidence i'm snv case
of inquiry, Investigation or impeacb-
ment: that all fees and perouisites are