The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-01-07


Halt on the Bond Issue Until the
Result of New Assessment Is Known
Mayor Bailey's annual message was
| submitted to select council last night.
1t was document of eight typewrit-
ten pages of legal cap. but was not as
exhaustive as will be another message
to be submitted in April, although 1t
covers in a general way many of the
present municipal problems.
The me ssage was read by City Clerk
I.avelle Immediately after the opening
of the session and was ordered ere
ceived and filed 1t is not likely that
its subdivisions will receive anv par
ticular attention or action by commit
tees, councils or departments as it has
been the custom to await the spring
message, excerpts from which are dis
tributed among the committees and
departments for whatever considera-
ton or action may be deemed proper
Following is the message in full
| To the Select and Common Councils of
| the City of Scranton:
| In accordance with the requirements OF
the Act of 1889 relating to cities of the
| third class, / present herewith for your
consideration my annual message. The
language of the statute in question is
this: He" the mayor, shall commune
cate to councils at their first stated meet
ing in January of each year, and from
time to time as he may deem expedient,
a statement of the condition and affairs
of the city In respect to its government,
finances and improvements, together with
suggestions and recommendations OF all
such measures as he may deem conducive
q tl.xt t,1tz ,a,a1 Co.. hnr h
Is my purpose in this message to follow
closely the spirit of the statute and the
first consideration will therefore be
THE GOVERNMENT OF THE CITY.
Scranton occupies a unique position
among the cities of the United States in
the matter of the number of police officers
and the efficiency with which the few
policemen do their work. In proportion to
its area and population Scranton has the
smallest police force In the United States.
When the number of its policemen and
it's area and population are considered to-
gether, it shows forth as lhc best gov
erned city and the freest from crime and
disorder in the nation. These are not idle
surmises, but facts founded upon careful
ly compiled statistics.
Under the command and guidance OF
Chief of Police Frank Robling, jr., the
Scranton police force has. during 1897
! proved itself a terror to wrongdoers and
an invaluable protection to the lives
safety and property of the citizens OF
Scranton. 1t is neither fair. reasonable
nor just however to expect that the
mere handful of men now doing patro
duty shall continue to be held account
5 able for the peace and good order of sc
great a city as this Scranton of ours
Their numbers should be speedily anC
substantially augmented. In a case o.
this kind, II is false economy to delay
, making provision for so apparent a mum
= cipal need.
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
The fire department of the city o.
Scranton is also to be congratulated upoI
, the remarkably good record made by il
l during the past year. So prompt, 81
brave and so faithful has been it's ser
vice that but few large fires have oc
Cured and the example of fearless devo
tion to duty by Scranton's fremen hav,
, attracted the attention of the entire coun
try. 1 would briefly refer to the actiol
+. of the firemen of the Scranton fire de
partment at the Olchefski fire, when tn
men, at the risk of death, from frightfu
| explosions. successfully fought wha
threatened to be disastrous confiagra
ton, and also to the heroism of the mel
at the Won Storch mine fire. The fac
that the department is still for tn
| greater part, a volunteer body adds to tn
: credit which must be attached to the IN
record of 1897
The advisability and the fairness o
making Scranton's fire department who'll
{ paid has been urged by me in previou
messages. l take this opportunity I
- again urge councils to take this action
@ also approve of the idea of raising tn
n wages of the permanent men. The wag
. of $50 per month is entirely too small 70
men who are on duty twenty-four hour
in every day and three hundred and sixty
q five days in every year. TO Chief p. :
(. Hickey is due the greater part of tn
= credit for the harmony which exists /
: the department and the efficiency of II
r. service.
BOARD OF HEALTH
q The board of health has done It's wor
; well during the year 1897. Sensible SAM
y tary regulations have been prescribed an
" their observance has been in 70 way bun
e densome. The reports show that n
health of the citizens, as a whole ha
G been remarkably good and that the law
i of sanitation have already borne goo
II fruit, The city's crematory has performe
a an unObtrusive but none the less an in
- portant part in the bringing about of th
c desirable condition. ] would recommen
y that it's good work be supplemented by
p system of scavenger carts which woul
h daily or twice week convey the city
e refuse to the furnaces.
e STREET DEPARTMENT.
. Street Commissioner A. b. Dunning ha
l. accomplished much work with litt
money since he assumed office. lie ha
y introduced several novel ideas into III
IS work of his department, and, even wit
the experience of only a few month
they seem to have justified the eXper
n ments. In this connection | would ca
attention to the necessity which eXs
for an increased appropriation for tn
department There is not o citv in Il
& United States which does not make bett,
provision for the cleaning OF its stree
than Scranton. When the connection N
tween clean streets and the health of II
city is considered, 1t would certainly see
=, that we cannot afforG 20 be parsipionioi
o. %. In making provision for This department
o. | would suggest that the system of sea-
i - erger carts, which 1 mentioned In COZ
% aecton with the heath departmen
u might be directed by the street commi
sicncr and. under his direction, might
. an important factor in the cleaning
tile cty's streets.
. In relation to street repairs ] Won
q call to the attention of councils the CO.
z Hitin.l nf m ..F n