The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-01-28


pending before the Legislature ct Har-
risburg, was taken up by the council
manic Legislative committee at "A meet
ing held on Saturday night. a great
difference of opinion existed AS to some
of the changes which should bt made,
but several amendments were unani-
mously decided upon.
Present at the meeting We're Coun-
eilmon G. l.. Chittenden, John ii. Roche.
Frank II. Ciemons, Luther Keller NJ.
j. Norton, Colonel r. l., Hitchcock.
representing the board of trade; tSena-
tor J. G.. Vaughan and Representative
John Scheuer jr.
The first thing that was unanimous
ly decided upon was that 1t would be
The Ner!est folly to make any attempt
10 fight the ripper feature of the
bill. or that section which gives the
governor power to appoint q mayor
for the next two years. This was adj
nittod To be the essential feature uf
the new measure and the feature which
its supporters would refuse to give up.
even If they had To sacrifice nearly
everything for ii.
IL was decided, despite a vigorous
opposition on the part of Mr. Roche. to
have prepared an amendment cutting
out that section Of the new bill which
prevents the mayor from holding any
office In the city government for a
period OF two years after the end of
his term as mayor. Mr.. Chittcndcn
'lampioned this amendment,an stated
that while he believed no mayor should
be permitted to succeed himself. H.
nevertheless believed that it was not
fair to cut him off from holding public
office altogether for period of two
years.
APPOINTING POWER.
The section of the bill giving the
mayor power To appoint the director of
public safety. director of public works.
director of charities, receiver of taxes
and city solicitor. came in for great
deal of discussion. Mr. Keller sug-
gcsted his idea, outlined in The Trib-
une of Friday last. He favored allow
ing the people to elect all these officials
with the single exception Of the direc-
tor of public safety, who is directly re-
sponsible for the maintenance of law
and order in the municipality.
The other members of the committee
didn't altogether agree with Mr.. Keller
on this point, and compromises
amendment was finally decided upon.
providing for the election Of both the
receiver of taxes and city solicitor by
the people
That feature OF the now bill which
fixes the number of common council
men at one for every 1000 taXables.
and which provides that where a ward
has not 1000 taxablcs 1t shall he
joined with another ward. came in for
general condemnation. The committee
agreed with Mr.. Roche that this could
he so arranged in this city as to prac-
tically shut out A minority represen-
,ation In the common branch entirely.
An amendment offered by Mr.. Chit
eenden met 9Th general approval. This
provides that every ten years the court
of common pleas shall so divide the
ward lines of the city as to include. as
nearly as possible, 1000 taXables to a
ward this clause to be substituted FOR
the one above mentioned. Mr.. Chitten-
den stated that this would egualize
matters and prevent q ward having
1000 or more taXables from having
merely the same representation i'm
rouncil as a ward having only 200 or
500
When the committee came 10 rhe
provision regarding the election OF So
lect councilmen there was a general
argument. and no two members seemed
10 have the same views. The new bill,
provides that the entire select council
shall be elected at large.
NO MINORITY.
Mr.. Roche opposed this on the ground
7hat 1t would undoubtedly mean thar
lhat branch Of councils would always
he OF the same political complexion
and that there would be no minority
representation. 70 this some of the
other members replied that the pro-
vision was wise, because 1t was better
10 have men who would represent the
city at large than men who would only
represent a certain ward.
Mr.. Roche contended in reply that
theoretically councilmen elected at
large would represent the city at large.
hut that practically they would repre-
sent and work for the interests of tho
particular ward in which they lived, as
do the members Of the present seloct
council.
Colonel Hitchcock believed that "A
healthy minority representation In
council was good thing and he Of
feIed an amendment providing that no
voter could vote for more than two
thirds of the candidates for select
council This plan ne said. would al
ways insure minority representation.
Mr.. Roche wouldn't agree to this at
all. He wanted the select council
elected as at present from each ward
and in this he was backed up by Mr..
Norton. This question was according
1y left open for future discussion.
The clause Of the new bill which
provides that no policeman or fireman
shall be dismissed except on hearing
ut charges before "a court of INQUIRY
consisting of members OF the depart.
nent OF which he Is a member and
giving the director OF public safety
power TO appoint the members OF this
court came In for strong protest from
Mr. Roche.
He contended that there could only
lie the semblance of Justice in such q
mode of procedure. The director VIII.
would be the one who would dismiss
the policeman or fireman. could easily
pack the court he said, and secure
q verdict of guilty against the ac,
cused. no matter which way the evi
dence went.
COUNCILS TO INVESTIGATE.
lie favored an amendment whicl
would give councils the power to ap
point the investigating committee. Tn,
other members didn't favor this ide!
aud said IL was merely n militar!
rule and that police and fire force
should be governed as nearly as pos
slble according TO military regulations
Tho committee will meet again to
morrow night To decide finally upol
u.