The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-02-11


interview with him at Washington on
Friday by the editor of The Tribune,
enbodies the substance of his opinion
concerning the ripper bill and de-
fines his attitude toward II:
TO the proposition that the gover-
nor of Pennsylvania shall have power
to appoint the mayors of PittsburG,
Allegheny and Scranton during the
provisional government in those cities,
which supersedes' the plan now in
operation, there IL. I notice, much dis. d.
sent, some of IL we'll founded. and
some of it obviously based on mis-
apprehension. \ new charter always
necessitatcs n new adjustment of the
official machinery. The power OF the
Legislature to enact charter Legislation
and to include i'm such legislation di
rections as to how ii shall be enforced
cannot be disputed. There is today no
comprehensive charter for elite. of tho
second class. and when one Is passed
it will naturally cancel all existing
commissions, whether appointive or
elective, unless the charter itself shah
define a method for blending the old
system into the new.
Were the intent back Of the Muehl-
bronner bill simply TO provide for the
necessities of the three cities now be-
longing TO the second class. one Of
which-Scranton--has to be fitted with
scheme of government OF some kind
without delay. there would probably
be little difficulty in arriving al a
basis of procedure fairly acceptable?
to the parties in interest. Upon the
fundamental principles of new char
ter. considered without relation 20
temporary factional politics, there is
already substantial agreement. No
body opposes the idea of centralized
executive power vested in the mayor
and of n centralized auditing power
vested in the controller. The lmi-
| tation OF councils to legislative func.
lions is also very generally approved.
Practically the only stumbling block
to a concurrence among the advocates
| Of charter revision seems to be ir the
matter of arranging how the new
charter shall be carried into effect.
"The proposition OF the Muehlbron-
rer bill is 20 give tine power of, initia-
ton to the governor through appoint
| ment of the mayors, not until the
| next ensuing municipal election, but
until April. 1903. The declared pur-
pose of this proposition is TO enable
the faction to which the governor be-
longs 20 put out of business the fac
ton in Allegheny county to which h
is opposed.
QUESTION THAT ARISES.
No doubt the putting of the Finn
| crowd out OF business in Pitts.
burg would be an excellent thing
for Pittsburg, hut is 1t the gover-
nor's place. or the legislatures place
to make it the governors place, to do
for Pittsburg what the electors OF
Pittsburg have shown no inclination
10 do for themselves? Is il 81 SAT,
| exercise OF state power to so intu> q
municipality without invitation from
| that municipality and. with an
arowed factional purpose, to zip its
government cut OF Office and to sub.
stitute. arbitrarily, 90 far as its people
are CONCERNED, another government,
however good, not for a month or a
year, as might perhaps be justified II
| the verdict OF the people was 10 be
sought at the first available oppor-
| tunity, but for two years, beyond tn,
| date of general municipal election
| II such an exercise Of state power
| shall he made by one faction at on,
time, without popular dissent. whai
| is 10 prevent another faction from
| exercising the same power at another
time. until the custom OF ripping
| would come to be recognized as a ma
| tural consequence OF changes in fac.
tional ascendancy at Harrisburg?
Il do not doubt that If the factionaI
| circumstances Of the moment were re.
| rcrscd-that is to say, If Finn were
| governor, Stone mayor OF Pittsburg
| and the Quay faction IN the minority
| at Ilarrisburg-the proposition to..rip
| whicn Finn now opposes, would ba
| urged by him with equal vigor. Ny
| objection to the ripping process is not
born Of any newly discovered affection
! for Senator Finn, but rests upon
| what | believe to he the unwisdom N
establishing such a precedent"
WHAT HE ADVISES.
What would YOU advise the rep.
tives OF Scranton to do at thi'
| juncture"" Mr., Connell was asked.
MY idea Is that they should con,
| tlnue to confer with delegations o,
! committees from Pittsburg and Ale
! gheny until, IL possible. all hands have
I substantially agreed on the mai!
lines of new charter ana then tax,
this charter before the Legislature ans
ask for its adoption. II win be 10,
the legislature Ia comply or refuse.
doubt very much that it would car,
TO take the risks OF an open refusal