The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-09-01
Weekly Letter on
Municipal Rffairs
xIII.-BUsINEss MEN AS CIVIC
REFoRMERs-THE WORK OF
THE SAN FRANCISCO MER-
CHANTS, ASSOCIATION.

n
Il ing around in as dirty and miry a politi-
cal muck.hcap as could be found in the
United States. Except for the outward signs
of civilization, as shown in the public build
ngs, beautiful residences and attempt at pub
lie improvements, II would require no great
stretch Of the imagination to fancy oneself back
in the days Of 49, when law and order were at
the low obb.
Politics-dirty politics-controlled all func.
tions of the city administration. Consequently
| the police, fire and other departments were run
to suit the scAly side Of the population Gamb-
lrrs held high carnival. the rum.Sellcr disregardcd
| the law, the streets were filthy poorly paved,
| lighted and cared for, and the public treasury
| was, TO all Appearances, created only for the
easy boss" and TO be looted by the gnng.
''lt's long lane that has no turn" Many
| citizens Of San Francisco thought there was no
| change In store for them. But with an aroused
public sentiment some Of the more hopeful felt
| the turning point would be reached. And so,
| forty-seven who were of one mind in the matter
| banded themselves together in an organization
| named the Merchants association, whose object
was TO better the civic conditions in that city.
| The outlook was so discouragng that the
| most sangune among the charter members
would scarcely have imagined the membership
| would ever reach 1000. Yet today there are
| 1,226 firms enrolled as active members of the
association, making II. numerically, the largest
| commercial organization in the world. This
| remarkably rapid increase Of membership affords
| gratifying proof that the association has the
| confidence and support Of the community
Strength Of numbers has proven to be an ire
sistible force in supprcssing the vice, crime and
| misrue which had held undisputed sway for so
50 lcnG time.
During the last four years municipal affairs
| in San Francisco have undergone many striking
| changes The public highways are better clean
l Il
| the public treasury have been discontinued. A
complete Transformation has taken place in the
| city administration An obsolete, defective
| code Of local laws has been supplantcd by a
| modern, progressive charter. This mctamor-
| phosis has come none too soon to fit the city OF
the Golden Gate to properly handle the greater
| commercial interests Of the Pacific coast, which
recent national events will make inevitable.
| To the undaunted efforts Of the Merchants
association may Justly be ascribed the prclimi.
nary steps that led to the creation and adoption
| Of the new charter. The first fiscal year Of its
| operation has just been rounded out, and to the
| eminent satisfaction Of its builders. An or
| ganic law is not created for a day. 1t exists
| often, with minor changes, for generation.
| No fair opinion, therefore, can be given as yet
| upon the pleasing results following its adoption.
| The real test, and The lasting benefits will come
| with time when its weakness and strength will
| be revealed. Based, as it is, upon the three
cardinal principles of civil service, economical
| administration and home rule. the present form
| OF government can never lapse into the old state.
| "City government is business no politics. -
| "Ciyil service is the basis of civic progress. "
| Upon these two fundamental doctrines the aSso.
| citation rested its in favor Of the merit
| system in the administration Of municipal affairs.
| The keynote of the San Francisco charter is the
| article upon civil snryiCc II is the cornerstone
| of the entire structure. without the merit syS-
| tenn to control the appointment, promotion and
| removal Of public employees the main purpose of
the charter would he defeated and the whole
| instrument would fall tc pieces. The member.
| ship is uEit in its determination that the pre-.
visions touching this matter shall be faithfully
| executed.
The work ot the civil service commission,
| which was created by the new charter, has been
| Conscicntiously performed and the results have
been satisfactory to the most critical No party
| or faction has been favored.
| The charter provisions for such a commission
were SO different from those in use in any other
city that pioneer work WAS performed by the
| commissioners in evolving the rules, regulations
and examinations which should he employed in
the detail working Of the commission These
| were all carefully gone over by the chief Of the
United States civil service commission, who un
| heSitatngly pronounced them models of thcii
kind, and frankly confessed that he obtained
some new ideas thcrefrom, which could be usci
10 improve the system employed by the Federal
| government.
The classified divisions are six, covering clcr
cal, mechanical, custodial, engineering, mcdica
and police service. The number Of applications
received for each division and subdivision, during
tn first six months of the fiscal year, was a.
follows:
Division A.--CleriCal service: Copyists, 575
stenographers and typewriters 60; ordinar!
clerks, CSC; bookkecpcrs, 80; experienced clerks
1886; register clerks, As; court room clerks, 81
office deputies 0G secretaries, S.
| Division B.-MechaniCal service: Sewer clean
ers, l2S; bricklayers 80; hammers and PAYERS, 81
timers, lG: plumbers, 40; plastcrcrs, Is; paint
ers. 95; masons, .; machiniSs, .; cabinet max
ers, 3; carpenters, III.
Division C-Custodia service: Janitors, 37S
elevator men, 90; messengers, 25; hostlcrs anC
teamstCrs, 9I2; matrons, %; storckccpcrs 6; com
missarics, 3; foremen, IS; inspectors, 81; super
intcndcnts, 2.
Division D.-Engincering service: Rodmcn, @
chainmen, 8; lncmen, s; repaircrs, I; drafts
men, 3; architects and surveyors, 3; telegraph
inspectors, I; telegraph operators, {; steam en-
gineers, 20; electrical engineers, II; civil cnr
neers, !; mechanical engineers I.
Division E-Mcdcal service: Health officers .
sanitary inspectors A.; hospital employees, a.
ambulance attendants and nurses, II; pharma
ciSts l.
Division F.--police scryict Guards. Is; watch
men, Gl; van drivers, II; jailors, III bailifs, 30
policemen, l0s.
Miscellaneous, 5o total, S,53l; lborors, 1908
grand total 6.l3i
Thus far lve examinations have hccn conduct
cd by the board The result is shown in tn,