The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-09-01
Movement.

prominent business men and a former
president of the board If trade, an
nounces his determination = effect, IL
possible, the organization of Tax
payers association in this city, for the
purpose OF preventing what he terms
the reckless expenditure of public
funds by the councils and school
board" Mr.. Kemmerer formerly rep
resented the Sixteenth ward in the
city councils.
He believes that the work Of organiz-
ing such an association should be
taken up at the outset by the board
of trade, not that he believes the board
of trade should have anything to do
with II after an organization is effected
but because he thinks that such a
movement should be started by the
more prominent and heavy taxpayers
of the city, all of whom are members
of the board.
He will bring the matter up at the
next meeting and will endeavor to
have a committee appointed to look
into the matter and effect ways and
means of organization. Mr.. Kemmer-
er was seen yesterday afternoon by a
Tribune man and gave his reasons for
starting the movement and told of
what he thought such an organiza-
tion could accomplish,
TIME rs RIPE, HE BELIEVES.
:It's time that the public woke up
to itself" said he, "and that a COM
bined effort should be made to pre-
vent the reckless expenditure of pub
lie money which has characterized the
actions OF the councils and school
board of late. The public funds seem
to be sort of frittered away right be-
fore our very eyes.
"Of course we can't expect to have
the city run exactly as a business, but
we can expect to have 1t run in a
! more business-like way than it Is at
| present"
Then you think that such an or
ganization as you suggest would i'm
prove conditions, do you?" Mr.. Kem-
merer was asked.
IT most decidedly do. Such associa-
| ttons have done good work in other
| cities and there is no reason
why one could not do good work
in this city"
Just what could such an associa-
| tion do?"
ut could follow up every transac-
| ton of either the councils or the school
board step by step and could discover
whether everything was all right or
| not. 1t could bring its influence to
bear on the mayor to prevent him
| from signing ordinances or resolutions
| which it deemed were not passed with
| the best interests of tho city at heart
! and a similar influence could be
brought to bear on the controller.
How many people know whether
the city buys things always at the
lowest figure or not? To be sure, the
individual taxpayer can look UP
things for himself, but what is one
man compared to an organization?
This recent horse deal, while only a
little thing, shows the way the wind
blows. If any of the councilmen were
crooked in that transaction it is safe
to assume that they have been crooked
in other and larger transactions.
THE GREAT ADVANTAGE.
"The great and especial advantage
of such an organization as l have In
mind would be that 1t would serve as
a check upon the councilmen and
school controllers. They would realize
that they were being watched and that
anything out of the way would be
thoroughly aired and would accord
ingly decide in a short time, 1 think
to look after the taxpayers interests
as a little more and their own a little
less.
Il would allow any taxpayer of the
city to become a member of the asso'
citation, and we could have weekly ol
monthly meetings at which question:
pending in the councils or school board
could be publicly discussed from every
viewpoint Indeed, the possibilities o
what such an organization could ac
complish would be almost unlimited.
do you think such an association
IL organized, would prosecute any city
officials or councilmen charged with
bribery or similar crimes?" he wal
asked.
THAT would, of course, come within
the province OF such an organization
If, upon investigation, it was discov
cred that any of the public servants
were guilty of such crimes, prOsecu
tions would, of course, be brought
and the guilty parties brought to jus
tice, of possible.
"I should like to see such an asso
| citation FORMED lnls IAN anu 1 am VIII
ing to take off my coat and use ever!
effort In my power to form one.
earnestly hope that ] will have the co
operation of all taxpayers who wan
TO see their money properly and eco
nomlcally expended"
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