The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-01-24

fore the expiration OF his term In case
the new second cla-r city charter in
troduced In the senate on Monday
night should become a law, said yes-
terday that he believed that that por-
tion of the bill which gave the gover-
nor the appointing power wes uncon-
stitutional.
II don't think It's possible" said he,
under the Constitution for the legls-
lature to create "a vacancy in the Of
fees of any city before such vacancy
occurs. The idea is contrary TO the
fundamentals OF municipal govern
ment and I dent believe that that
section of the bill will ever become a
law.
~ have not given the charter en-
oush careful study as yet to be able
TO express Il comprehensive opinion re-
garding 1t, but from the cursory ex-
animation which I have made Of It,
| believe that it gives the mayor too
much Of a free hand and strips the
councils of entirely too much of the
power which should he rightfully
vested in them as the direct repre-
sentativcs of the people.
GOES TOO FAR.
y ann in favor OF centrallzng fat
more authority ard responsibility IN
the mayor than is providld for In the
existing second class city charter, but
I am inclined to believe that this new
bill goes to extremes in that drec-
tion and makes him n sort Of little
monarch. | think that there's going
To be hard and desperate ,fghe
made over its passage, and that II it
ever does get through il will not he
until II Is pretty thoroughly amended
While the new charter contemplates
the leglslatng out of office OF the
mayor of this city, it will mean the
retention in office for an extra year
of the present city controller, city
treasurer and beard of assessors. The
charter provides that within thirty
days after its approval by the gover-
nor he shall appoint Il mayor, who
shall serve until April. 1909. when his
successor is to be elected by the peo-
pie.
In order to permit this mayor 10
enter upon his duties with an entire
iy new set OF municipal officers as is
the custom. the bill provides that the
existing city controller, city treasurer
and board of assessors shall serve un-
I'll april !. 1908 also. These officials in
this city assumed office in 1899. and
their terms expire on April |. 1909, 50
that if the new bin goes into effecr,
they VIII have an extra year 10 serve
MERGING OF WARDS.
Seven wards of this city would prac-
tiCally go out of existence in case the
now charter becomes a law. The bill
entities every 1000 taXables to Y COM
mon councilman and provides that
where there are not that numbtS in
n ward it shall be joined to an ad-
Joining ward. The list OF local wards
which come under this provision, and
which would 90 out of existence with
the number of taXables in each. and
the wards adjoining them. to either Of
which they could be Joined is az fol-
lows:
Third ward. SOL taXubles, adiOins
First, Second and Twenty first wards;
Seventh ward. 772 taxables, adjoins
Ninth Sixteenth and Thirteenth
wards; Tenth ward. 937 taxables, adj
joins Ninth and Seventeenth wards;
Twelfth ward. 81 taxables. adjoins
Nineteenth Seventeenth and Elev-
Joins Fourth. Twenty-tirst and Eigh-
teenth wards; Sixteenth ward. 929 tax.
ables. adjoins Eighth and Ninth
wards; Eighteenth ward, 500 taxables.
adjoins Fifth Sixth and Fourteenth
wards: Twenty-flrst ward 696 tax
ablos. adjoins Fourth and Second
wards.
Select Councilman John T.. Roche,
one of the Democratic leaders, points
out that with two exceptions the
wards which would be wiped out Of
existence if this section of the bill
becomes n law are all strongly Demo-
cratic.
1T would be possible" said he yes
terday, 'to join these with strong Re-
publican wards and thus cut down the
Democratic representation in coun-
ellis 10 one or two members in case
the Republican party succeeded in
elocting its city ticket"
TIME Of MEETINGS.
Tho provision providing for the hold
ing of only two council meetings Il
year meets with general disapproval
from everybody who discusses the bill
at all. Councilman Chittenden con-
siders it the boldest change in munl-
cipal government ever planned"
You can't expect councilman
who receives no salary whatever"
said Councilman Vaughan, ito at
tend council meetings every day for
month at a time. There are very
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