The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-02-18

are not yet informed as TO
- the exact provisions of the
amended Ripper bill,"-and
there are many. including some who
nevertheless are free with criticism of
tit is worth while to translate the
bills main features into common Eng
lish
1t vests executive power in city
recorder. who is to take the place now
held by the mayor; and in the heads
of nine departments. combinable into
seven, namely: Public safety (fire, po-
lice and sanitation); public works
streets, bridges and public buildings);
collector of delinquent taxes; asses
Sors city treasurer (who may also
collect delinquent taXes); city control
Ter: law Getty SOLICITOR; charities and
correction, and sinking fund commits
sion. The heads of the departments
of public safety and public works, the
collector of delinquent taxes. the city
solicitor, the director of public chari-
ties and correction, and the members
of the sinking fund commission are
appointive by the recorder, subject to
confirmation by select council: the as
SCISSORS, treasurer and controller are
elective by the people. The recorder
may remove for cause any officer ap-
pointed by him and may as often as
he may think proper appoint three au-
dtors to examine without notice the
affairs of any department Thus treb-
~ equipped with the power of APP
pointnent investiga ton and removal.
the recorder is the real head of the
city government in him responsible
ity centers and he has power to meet
j.. He is ineligible to recollection.
Next to the recorder the big man
IN the government is the controller.
Tho hill provides that he shall have
the inspection and revision of the ac-
counts OF all other departments and
trusts; that he must continuously
audit the same and keep separate ac-
counts for each specific item or ap-
rropriation made by councils to each
department; Ind in general he must
see 10 II that every penny OF city
money il spent according To law and
Cor purposes fully defined before he ap-
proves. Vt he suspects irregularity or
"ruokcdness he must prosecute a thor
"u:h investigate and for this pur-
pose is clothed with magistcrial power.
Councils remain as nov save for an
Increased membership ir the common
branch ana a decreased power for mis-
,hic;. du" to the Capitalization of en-
ccutiVe rowrl, Police magistrates to
the numr,r ur 1--WE, not all of one
rarty. are TO be appointed 10y the re-
"urdor ani arc to serve at Il salary to
h" h%cd by councils during good be-
harior. Contracts are to be let as be-
fore, by public advertisement, and are
30 go to the lowest responsible bidder.
who must give. ample bond for faithful
'Nccuticn, All fees are To go into the
city treasury all officials are to be
paid IT HHnd salary and must give
bond Tor fidelity and hone sty. Corpor-
ate powers include the right to levy a
general franchise tax. Provision is
made for y pension fund for policemen
and iircm'u. Neither policemen nor
!Wrrcn are 10 bc dismissed without
preferred charges and an open
uial; aud appointments and pro-
motion, are 10 be in accordance with
- systematic method of ascertaining
the comparative fitness of applicants.
'rhs in brief, is the much ii abused
Ripper bill" minus the ripper annex
The bill receives its popular name
irem the fact that, instead of allowing
itN provisions to take effect at the
expiration of the terms of the mayors
r,@ serving, it provides that within
'osdays after its enactment and ap'
prevail the governor shall appoint &
city recorder, who may or may not bt
the present mayor, for each second
class city, this appointee to serve un'
I'll the first Monday in April, 1908, thu.
making 1t possible for the governor, Il
he chooses, TO rip the existing ad
ministrations out of office. 1t is gen
orally conceded that the measure, apar
from this ripper feature, provides 1
superior plan of conducting city gov
ernment. 1t is especially advantageou
to Scranton, where inefficiency com
bined with dishonesty In councils ha
developed an unusual need for
strongly centralized executive power
The new charter bill provides an ex
cellent mechanism for supplying thi
need; in view OF the fact that tn
only objection proposed against it 1
that 1t temporarily facilitates factiona
'eprisals in Pittsburg. II may well b
asked whether this constitutes a SUI
fioient warrant for Scranton, through
its representatives at Harrisburg. I
kick its own welfare into the fire.
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How can the influence of the pres