The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-10-26

One of the biggest problems to be met
In the transition of Scranton from a
city of the third class to a city of the
common council TO u membership of
twice what 1t Is at present.
Mayor Mor believes that the neces-
sary preliminary steps should be taken
at once, and will send in commune
cation at the next meeting of that
branch. recommending that immediate
action be taken. He believes that It 10
of the utmost Importance that the
basis of representation should be fixed
in order that the proclamatio for the
spring election may include provisions
for the election of the extra common
cOuncilmen.
There are two acts of assembly which
cover the basis of representation in the
common council in cities of the second
class. The first act is the one passed
In 1871. 1t provides that there shall be
one common councilman to every 576
taXables in each ward. or If there are
more than that number, one for every
oI6 and for any fractional part over
three-fifths Of that number.
The second act Is one passed in 1891
and is generally conceded to take the
place Of the earlier act though it does
not repeal it. 1t provides that the as
SCISSORS shall return once ever four
years a complete list of the taXables of
every ward: that the total of all the
wards shall be added together and di-
vided by forty, the Quotient to be the
ratio of representation.
FIGURES DO NOT EXIST
There does not exist now Il compla.
ton of the total number of taXablcs In
every ward. A very fair general idea
can be gained from the total number Of
people assessed for occupation in 1900.
This number is 24,175. This would fix
the basis of representation at COS.
Figuring on this basis for every ward
and allowing one councilman for Cos
taxables. for every additional COS tax
ables and for any fractional part over
three-tifths remaining. the number of
commoners would be as follows: First,
3; Second. 3: Third. /: Fourth. 8: Fifth,
3: Sixth. 1: Seventh. !: Eighth 2:
Ninth, .; Tenth. 1; Eleventh. .:
Twelfth. /; Thirteenth. .: Fourteenth,
.: Fifteenth. 3: Sixteenth. 9: Seven
teenth. 9; Eighteenth. l: Nineteenth
3; Twentieth. 2: Twenty-fi first. 1; total,
40 members.
The above allotment of councilmtn
may ba said to be correct. inasmuch as
wherever the remainder was within
twenty or thirty of three-fifths of 605.
an extra councilman was allowed on
the estimate that the additional num-
Der Of taXables not taxed for occupa-
ton would bring the number up to the
requisite three-fifths.
Forty cOuncilmen comes within two
of being double the number at present
in the common branch, and it may DC
a serious proposition to find seating
room for this number in the common
council chamber. which is at present
pretty we'll filled up with twenty-one
seats.
COMMITTEE TO DO 1T.
The mayors idea Is to have a COM
mittee appointed by common council to
establish this basis of representation.
The act of assembly provides that such
a committee shall consist of three COM
mon councilmen and two members Of
the select council.
They are to compile list of all the
taXables in the city from the assess
ment books of the last year and then
proceed to carefully figure out the cx-
act number of counclmen to be elected
from each ward.
The mayor says that under the sec
ond-class city law the common council
really becomes the most important
branch of the city government by vir- |
tue of its numbers.