The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-09-15
MAYORS IDEAS.

Mayor Moir, when interviewed by a
Tribune man yesterday regarding this
appointing of commissioners, said:
"On the whole, 1 think that the proper
step to take in the case would be the
appointing of such a commission to
confer with representatives from Pitts
burg and Allegheny. There is an act
pending now to arrange a definite code
for the governing of cities of the Sec
ond class in Pennsylvania, and Scran-
ton as one of the only three cities cer-
tainly should be entitled to some voice
in the formulation of these laws.
have sent away for copy of the act,
and expect that it will soon arrive.
When we are in receipt of it, we will
be able, of course, to see our way more
clearly.
AT present. the code governing cities
of the second class is most incomplete
and unsatisfactory. 1t is merely a
patchwork, the act being passed in
bits. the first action being taken way
back in the '40s.
TT was originally intended merely
for Pittsburg, the only city of the
second class in the state at the time
that a code was first considered. Since
that time Allegheny has become of
the second class. the census in 1891
showing the population to be over 1O0,-
900, and the city entering the class
April /.
The governing code has proved very
unsatisfactory in both these cities,
| with the result that last year an effort
was made to introduce the bill provid-
ing for new code. If Scranton COM
missioners confer with a commission
from Pittsburg and Allegheny, the
local men would naturally have TO con-
cede a good deal to them, and rely
more or less upon their judgment
based upon their experience of the
present workings of the code"
SOME CHANGES.
| His honor was engaged in ndustri-
ously studying a digest of the present
| legislature of Allegheny, and pointed
| out several of the points wherein a
| city of the second class differs from
municipality of the third.
One important item is the fact that
| the city aldermen are confined .to
| civil business. All the police work
| of Allegheny is in the hands OF
| the mayor and five police magls-
| trates. An alderman may, however
| be appointed by the mayor as masis-
! trate. The Office of police magis-
| trate is salaried one. A peculiar
! thing in the disposition of police cases
| is the fact that, whereas fines are i'm
| posed for drunkenness, the hotel oI
| saloonkeeper on whose premises a man
! gets into an intoxicated condition is
| also open to a fine.
Allegheny has population of abou;
! $4,000, and some of the principal city
| officials are paid as follows: Mayor
! $4,000; mayors clerk, 81, 200; police
! magistrate OF the central court, 81,
500; comptroller, $500; chief clerks
$500; clerk, $500; treasurer, $500;
chief clerk, $1,000; clerk, 5000, Tw,
/ city clerks are provided for one 70,
eEch council, and each receives 81 4jC
aa'ary.
me chief assessor receives 81 900
md each Of his two assistants $500
while two subordinate clerks are paiC
$500 apiece
The superintendents of the bureau o.
police and fire, which correspond e
our chiefs of the police and fire de-
| partment each receive $1,000 per an
mum, and the fire assistant is paid 81 =,
| 200 and fba DDIipa assistant 400 1'h,