The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-05-01
AN ACT

AN ACT
Dividing the cities of this state into
three classes with respect to their
population, and designating the mode
VI asCCrtaining and changing the
classification thereof i'll accordance
herewith.
Section l. Be it enacted. etc, that
for the purposes of legislation, reg
ulating their municipal affairs, the cX-
erCise of certain corporate powers
and having respect to the number,
character, powers and duties of GER
tain officers thereof, the cities now in
existence and those to be hereafter
created in this commonwealth, shall
be divided into three classes.
Those containing a population of
six hundred thousand or over shall
constitute the first class.
Those containing a population of
one hundred thousand and under six
hundred thousand, shall constitute
the second class.
Those containing a population of
under one hundred thousand shall
constitute the third class.
Sec. 2. The classification of said
cities. respectively, shall be ascer-
tanned by reference to their popula-
tion. according to the last preceding
United States census, or any muniC-
ipal census taken later. and when
ever it shall appear, by any such
census, that any city of the second
or third class has attained a popu-
lation emitting it to an advance in
classification as herein prescribed it
shall be the duty of the governor un-
der the great seal of the common
wealth to certify the fact according
ly, which certificate shall be entered
at large upon the minutes of the
councils of such city and recorded
in the office for the recording of deeds
of the proper county period.
At the municipal election, occurring
not less than one month after the date
of such certificate, the proper Off
GERS shall he elected to which the said
city will become entitled under the
change in classification, and upon the
first Monday of April next succeed
ing thereto, the terms of all officers
of said city. then in office. whose Of
fees are superseded by reason there
of. shall cease and determine, and the
city government shall be duly or
Ganized and shall thereafter he con-
trolled and regulated by the laws of
this commonwealth, applicable to the
same under the respective clasSitiCa-
tionS hereby fixed and appointed.
Approved the eighth day of May, \.
d. 1889. James \. Beaver.
CHANGE Is CERTAIN.
That Scranton will put aside il
third-class city charter and becOm,
with Pittsburg and Allegheny, a cit
of the second class is certain. That
can at the present time become sec
ond class city if 1t so desires is also
certainty. Whether or not ii is desil
GUS of quitting the class which Wilkes
Barre so recently reached, and takin
on the dignity of Companionship wit
the two big cities of the west, is
question for the people at large.
Scranton has 24,097 registered voters
the county commissioners books sho'
"a, las taXables; the directory cOmputa
tiOn gives us population of 115,0O
and the board of trade is positive tina
we have all of that number. 1t is SAT
to say that a census taken at this tim
would show population of over 100, ,00I
Should public sentiment favor til
change. councils could order a censu
and upon it being certified to the gov
ernor that we have 100000 inhabitant
n second-class charter would issue.
The change, at all events, will com
in the course of three years or so, fol
beyond all doubt, the 1900 census wi
show Scranton to have a population ia
in excess of the figure which makes
incumbent upon a city to accept
second-class charter.
When the change does come, the cit
will undergo an almost complete trans
formation in the matter Of govern
ment. Scarcely an Office that now eS
lists under the third-class charter wi
escape being disturbed, in one way {
the other, and besides, several new an
some of them very important office
will be added to the list.
Incidentally, liquor licenses will COS
81 100 instead of $3.50, as at present, an
the school board which is operatn
under an act applying to school dis
tricts in cities of the third class will /
dissolved. 1t will also affect the poe
board, it would appear, in like name
At least there would be a conflict be
tween the special law under which tn
class charter.
PRINCIPAL OFFICERS.
The principal officers of a second
class city are mayor, comptrolle
treasurer. director of department {
public works, director of department
public safety, director of departmer
of charities, city solicitor, city auditC
and delinquent tax collector. Selet
council consists of one member frol
each ward; common council in this cit
would have about forty members, I'll
representation being based on the si2
of the ward.
Among the more important of II
minor officers made necessary by II
operations by a secOnd-class city char
ter are five police magistrates, two cit
clerks, messenger Of councils, chief as
SCISSOR and two assistant assessors, as
sistant city solicitor, superintendent {
bureau of fire and assistant, superir
tendent OF bureau of police and assist
nt,superintendent of bureau of healtl
food Inspector superintendent of burea
or electricity, superintendent of burea
or engineering and surveys, superb
tendent of bureau Of highways an
sewers, superintendent OF bureau {
water superintendent of bureau {
public lighting, superintendent {