The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-06-20

to pay not exceeding two-thirds the
bullt-up rate, and the third class ex-
clusively agricultural and untillable
land, TO pay one-half the highest rate.
This is practically the same as our pres
ent system, except that the differences
are adjusted by the assessors in fixing
the valuation, which gives tho assessor
a chance to discriminate and makes as
sessment less uniform than in a second
class city.
On the whole, the laws applicable to
second-class city seem to be more nearly
suitable for our needs than those of the
third-class cities. r. II. Patterson,
Chairman.
Attorney James II. Torrey who is a
member of the committee and who had
been announced to present a minority
report, spoke at length on the matter,
calculating some of the matter of the
report and taking exceptions to some of
Its contentious.
He believed with Hamlet in the mat
ter Of known ills and those we know
not of. and agreed with the tottering
old colored man who, when asked If he
was not willing to die, said, Not ex-
where you is"
Mr.. Torrey went on to say When the
law of 1874 was passed it was deemed
wise or Just to take from cities their
provisional charters. On this account
an "option" clause was inserted, pro-
viding that the charter was not to be
effective until adopted by city.
Allegheny held out against the law
and never adopted the 1914 charter. II
was still governed by its old special
charter when it passed into the second
class. Pittsburg was a second-class city
from the beginning of classification.
Allegheny upon becoming a second
class city took with 1t such of the spe-
cial provisions of it's old charter as 1t
saw fit.
NO SECOND CLASS LEGISLATION.
Consequently, there is no second-class
city legislation existing except what
has been grated on to the special char
ters of Pittsburg and Allegheny. To
make matters worse, a good portion OF
this meagre legislation has been de-
clared unconstitutional. AS to the duty
of councils, there are only four or five
provisions and none of these four or
five refer to levying taxes. II Scran-
ton became a second-class city tomor-
row, it would be without authority to
levy taxes.
When Scranton became third-class
city it adopted the charter of 1874. In
adopting it, Scranton reserved to itself
only such provisions of it's old special
charter as were not supplied by the
thrd-class city charter.
Nobody knows whether Scranton will
be allowed to pick up from it's old, sur
rendered, special charter, or its third
class city charter which it drops on
becoming a second-class city, sufficient
laws to fill out a code of government.
The legislature may or may not allow
it, and if it should, the Supreme court
may or may not give it sanction.
The thing to do, Mr. Torrey sug-
gested, was to secure the passage Of
an act of assembly providing that
third class cities, passing into the Sec
ond class, should be allowed to take
with them such provisions of their
third class charter as would not be
inconsistent with or supplied by exist
ing legislation for second class cities.
The matter ought to be taken up at
once, Mr.. Torrey said If the census
shows that Scranton has a population
of 100000 1t must become a second
class city, whether their are laws pre-
pared for it or not.
SYSTEM OF ASSESSMENTS.
The system of assessments provided
for second class cities was not favored
by Mr.. Torrey. We tried it here once,
he said, and we opposed every subse-
quent effort to have it adopted for
third class cities. The only equitable
way of assessing property was. in his
opinion, according to its market value.
There is no reason why a thousand
dollars worth of farm land shouldn't
pay as much tax as a thousand dollars
worth of city property.
On motion of c. =. Jadwin, seconded
by Secretary Atherton, the report was
referred back to the committee with
instructions to report what legisla-
tion was needed to provide for Scran-
tons entry into the second class.
The address of Mr.. Cowell is printed
substantially in full on the fourth
page. 1t was listened to with close
attention by the members and at its
| conclusion there was a hearty outburst
of applause.
Previous to Mr.. Cowells address,
Secretary Atherton introduced a resol-
| ution looking to a Scranton EXHIBIT
at the exposition. The plan of the ex-
| hibit does not permit of this, as stated
in Mr.. Cowell's address, contemplate
ing, as it does, a classification Of arti-
| cles according to their character and
without regard to the city where they
are made. The matter was referred
to the manufacturers committee with
power to act.
Captain w. A. May and Secretary
Atherton, We're reelected to represent
the board on the advisory board of the
| Philadelphia Commercial museum.
The matter of contributing to the
! letter carriers convention was referred
to the manufacturers committee with
| power to act.
| The designations of f. L. Phillips
and j. w. Carney were accepted. Ad.
journment was made until September