The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-04-05
The Mayors Message.

M AHOR BAILEY'S annual mes
W sage, as read 10 the Joint ses-
sion of councils yesterday, is
printed in full below. The document
is an exhaustive one and carefully re-
views all parts of the city government:
To the Select and Common Councils of
the City of Scranton.
Gentlemen:-In accordance with custom
ana precedent rather than with any def
hlte requirement of law, | herewith
transmit TO your newly organized bodies
the following suggestions and recomnlen-
oatlons for your instruction guidance
and, perhaps, for your transmutatior into
eHectlNe ordinances. AS this is to be es-
sentlaily a business message, it is natural
that the hrst topic should be
THE CITY'S FINANCES.
!, AS you will observe by the report of
the city treasurer hereto attached the
nnanceS of Scranton are in good condi-
uon' For city of SCranton's size, i'm
portance and commercial standing the
amount OF Its debt is really insignificant.
Out OF all proportion, however, to its i'm
portance are the number and nature of
the modern conveniences Of city life
Wh'ch scranton possesses. So few and 30
inauequate TO our needs are these that
our rank as a progressive city is sadly
lntertered with thereby. 1t becomes a
question of paramount Importance there
lore with every good citizen whether or
i'N NillS NOl'llllOn snail De allowed to con-
tinue. To the consideration of this oues-
llon OF municipal improvements should be
brought Intelligence liberality and a thor
ough knowledge of business methods and
an understanding OF values. The time is
ripe, in my mind, for the passage of a
bond ordinance which will sufficiently
provide for the improvements most need
ed by us. What these improvements are
| will indicate in detail in this message,
The amounts required for the several de-
partnents are Tor you alone to deter
mine wise economy should be linked
IN THIS matter with a discreet liberahty
The time has gone by in Scranton when
plcayune policies can he pursued and no
especial municipal detriment result.
scranton Is today at once the receiving
station and the distributing center for a
vast, a productive and wealthy terri
tory. Besides that consideration IL pos
sesses great interests of its own and 1t
harborS large and a rapidly increasing
population. These things cannot be ig-
nored nor their consideration waved aside,
we all have faith in the commercial and
soc al future OF Scranton and, possessing
that lalth, We should make provision for
the Fastening of that future. The maxi
ing or the improvements. to which | will
hereafter allude, need occasion no great
increase of our existing tax burden Our
children and our childrens children and
the multitudes that will come from with
out to live in Scranton during the next
quarter OF century should bear pro-
portion OF the cost of improving, beauti-
flying and Taking more habitable this
city of ours An equitable division of this
cost will be accomplished by your pass
age of the proposed ordinance. / would
also ask you, in connection with this
matter OF the city's finances, to pay par
ticular attention to the making Of the
city's assessment, 1t seems 10 me that
a reasonable, an honest and an equitable
assessment should, provide sufficient
means to pay all the ordinary eX-
penses of the city besides being ade-
quate to provide a sinking fund for the
nj all In,
provements herein suggested To you
these matters of revenue are delegated by
law. In their consideration you are eN-
pected to be wise and prudent.
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
/ have heretofore referred at length to
the necessity which exists for the enlarge
ment of ScrantOn's police force. IL re-