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

! CONfUSlNG taSaDleS WIN
K population. we erred yester-
Il day as to the size OF coun-
ellis contemplated in the rip
rcr bill. Select would have IL and
common council % members, n mein-
bership of wieldy proportions. The
election of all selectmen at large Is
objected to. yet it presents some pros
poets of advantage. 1t would doubt
less tend, for example, to put a halt
upon the continual struggle of ward
against ward and section against Sec
tion which is one of the present draw
backs to progressive and unifying leg
islation; and II would insure prompt
execution of the public will in law
making, which now Is subject to de-
feat through combinations very diff
cult for the voters to reach. An
amendment to make third of select
council elective at large and two-thirds
by districts TO be apportioned would.
II seems to us, present n desirable me-
1ium in this particular. The method
of apportioning representation in COM
mon council Is indistinct and leaves
too many doors open to mischief. Bet
ter leave the representation one for
every ward irrespective Of population
than to invite repeated gerrymander-
ing. An article to define magisterial
methods will need to be added.
But let us also look at some of the
ripper bills merits. BY centralizing
executive power In the mayor and
making him the directing spirit of the
city government it puts responsibility
where the people can always locate it.
They elect the mayor. knowing the
scope of his power. and they can hold
him to account. That is the great pre-
pondcrant virtue of the Muehlbronner
proposition, yet there are others almost
as valuable. This charter. for example,
provides for the first time simple,
hut thorough system of keeping and
checking city accounts. 1t makes u
possible for the public to ascertain at
any time just where the city stands
financially. 1t defines the duties of the
accounting and auditing departments
so plainly that confusion or complaint
mayor is made the executive power so
the controller is made the watchdog
of the city. Under this charter the
election of a good man as controller
would practically insure the doing OF
city business on business principles
Here, again, 1t is carried up to the
people to decide what kind of city gov.
ernment they want.
Another merit which ought particu-
larly to appeal to the class of citizens
accustomed to lament the decadence
of American politics and testify to
their aversion by religiously avoiding
any connection with it is the placing
of civil service safeguards about the
appointment and removal of police-
men, firemen and similar public SER
wants. This charter proposition OF
spoils-loving politicians even proposes
TO make it a crime for citizen to say
kind word in behalf of an aspirant
for municipal appointment, the PEN
atty TO fall on the unfortunate subject
OF recommendation. Inasmuch as this
kind of reform" is held up by our
most respectable citizens as the ideal
to which all government should quick
~ tend, the ripper bill applies it lib
orally, ard if passed will leave its en-
forcement to those who may feel SC
inclined. That is certainly fair.
Regarding the objections raised to
The ripper sections, it is plainly evi,
lent that new second class charter
II enacted, would have 10 be enforced
This enforcement would fall principal
ly on the mayor and heads of eXecu.
- tive departments. Let these be hostile
10 the charters intent and they coult
steer the municipal craft on the rock,
in a thousand directions. Pilotage ir
sympathy with the charters spirit AM
intent is absolutely essential to a sue
cessful voyage.
Anyhow Scranton is not as dirty a,