The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-12-08

SCISSORS, filled by councils, the heads OF
these departments have divided among
them about all the executive powers OF
the city.
The first has charge of the police.
park police, fire department, board If
health building and plumbing inspec
ton and house drainage.
The second has charge of the open
Ing. grading, paving repaving. cleaning
| and lighting of streets and highways.
construction and repair or public build
ings and bridges, public parks, mar
kets, engineering, sewerage and drain
age.
The third has the care of charities,
almshouses and hospitals supported By
| the city,
Councils appoints the heads of these
departments, fix their salaries. stipu-
! late the amount of the bonds they shall
file and provide for such bureaus,
clerks and assistants as are required.
The director appoints his sub officers.
Councils appoint police, police matron.
city attorney, board OF five assessors,
city clerk and assistant city clerk and
| fix their salaries and u delinquent tax
collector, whose salary is fixed by law.
They also confirm the nomination OF
| HNe poIlCe magistrates ndi'leu ny 'ne
mayor.
| COUNCILS HAVE SUPERVISION.
| Councils also have exclusive super
vision of all city officers, except pol;9e
officers they shall examine complaints
| against them for neglect of duty or
violations of law and. for these pur-
| poses, have the power to subpoena wit.
nesses and compel their attendance.
The five police magistrates are tn
only nominations made by the MAYOR.
All of these shall not be of the same
political party. The city will be divideI
into districts. to each of which ono
shall be assigned They shall serve dur
ing good behavior. be paid a salary,
and pay into the city treasury all fines
and costs collected by them.
The other duties of the mayor. so far
as 1 have discovered. are to pass upon
legislation, issue licenses to lodging
houses. draw and distribute city war;
rants when certified by the controller.
act as police magistrate, sign all com-
| missions and contract for city adver-
tising.
A member of council can vote for not
more than four assessors. when Il full
board is to be elected. Real estate Is
divided into three classes for assess
ment purposes. The first includes bust
ness property and unoccuped ground
in the immediate vicinity, and property
used for manufacturing purposes: the
second, all property used for railroad,
railway and residence purposes, and
unoccupied ground in the immediate
vicinity of residences: the third. all
property used for farm and agricul-
tural purposes and all untillable land
not used for business. manufacturing,
railroad or residence purposes.
Third-class property is assessed at
one-third of the highest rate; second
at three-f -fourths. thus making three
rates of taxation; full limit, two-thirds
and one-third.
A POLL TAN.
In lieu of occupation tax all resident
| taXabes shall pay a poll tax of 81.
Taxes shall be paid twice year. The
cost of a liquor license is ST. 100, and the
city receives 5000 of this amount.
Lodging houses accommodating ten Or
more may be licensed by the mayor on
paying a license tax Of 81.
Master and journeymen plumbers
must be examined and procure Il
license, for which the former must pay
S.. the latter fifty cents.
Election of officers by councils shall
be by viva voce vote, and it requires
majority of all the members to elect.
When streets are graded the award Of
views cover any damage that may re-
suit.
1t will he seen from this that, except
ing In the appointing power, the
changes are comparatively unimport-
ant
The creation of the department of
public safety abolishes the offices of
chief of police, chief of fire department
and does away with the present board
of health, building inspector and
plumbing inspector. The duties of
these are performed, under the new
charter, by the director of the depart
ment, the superintendent of the bureau
OF health, a superintendent of building
inspection and an assistant. These are
the only offices named in the law in
connection with this department, and
any other assistants or clerks must be
authorized by councils, as is the case
at present
OFFICES ABOLISHED.
The offices of street commissioner,
park commissioners and city engineer
are abolished, and their duties are ad-
mnistered by the director of the de-
partment of public works. His auali1-
cations as we'll as the number of his
assistants, are to be fixed by councils,
as now.
l see no necessity for a department
of charities, except to comply with the
law. 1t is not obligatory on councils
to build almshouses or hospitals. They
are permitted to do so. but 1t is not
mandatory. The department of char
tiles could be organized in nominal
way and offices left vacant until such
time as Dunmore should be divorced
from the Scranton poor district and the
present poor board retired.
1.-THE Tribune invites contributions on
second-class city affairs, and also will
be pleased to receive inquiries concern
ing any difficulties that our readers
may have encountered in study of
this matter. If the desired information
is not Immediately at hand. every rea-
sonable effort will be made to secure
it-Editorl
For Sale.
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thraa tu.1