The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-04-02


Il ~ and encouraging document.
il> exposition of the merits
and necessities uf the new municipal
regime upon which the city is now
rInbarkinc Is accurate and well con-
Si,icred aud the suggestions offered to
councils are practical. The message
should be read in full. but for the bcne-
fit Of those unable 10 spare time for
reading OF the complete text We offer
the following summary:
In reference to finances. the control
ler's report is quoted from to show d
total city Indebtedness of SS44,14S. with
onsetting resources of S4l4.296. leaving
a net Indebtedness of s43O,i52. With a
bonded Indebtedness lar below the
average in cities of similar size. Sclan-
tons credit may be inferred from the
fact that city bonds recently sold in
New York at Il lower interest rate than
bonds of Great Britain.
After specifying the various sources
of revenue under the new charter. the
recorder asserts that the local tax rate
is the lowest among the tax rates of
the large cities of the country and i'm
presses upon councils ard public the
necessity of Keeping it as low as pos
sihlr, consistent with good govern
mcnt. The recorder urges the prompt
enfctment of AN ordinance impoSing a.
license tax ON all corporations hereto
fore immune from taxation for local
purposes.
.tpropos Of the new department of
public safety. the recorder deduces
from the small number of policemen
employed and from the small amount
Of serious crime reported that Scran-
ton is nha bitcd by exceptionally law
abiding people. In 100 other large cities
the average is policeman to every
a,5 of the population; i'm Scranton it Is
! To every l,SS3 persons. lie rumpli-
mentS the police upon their marked
success in repreSsins vice, notably The
social evil; but asks for 10 additional
patrolmen- More humane provision for
dealing in police court with incipient
crime, so that first offenders and un-
fortunate women MAY noI be either
herded into ill-smelling cells 10 hear
the vile talk of incorrigibh.s or else to
be let go on payment of a line. with
out effort at reclamation. is urged A
paid fire department for the central
city. with volunteer trimmings in the
outskirts, is advocated as n start
toward a fully paid department of the
iirst class.
The compilation of new code of
laws for the guidance of the building
inspector Is recommended: the reasons
for appointing IA delinquent tax col
lector are set forth; as we'll as the
merits of centralizing authority in the
department of public works: and in
conclusion this admirabl thought is
presented:
The one and only method of determining the
merit or dement's oi the present city clar-
l'i will be rhc tirst years record oi conduct ing
the city's business. The Theory oi the charter
is 10 promote more liberal minded legislation,
Ia secure economy in expenditures, to increase
Ia" efficiency Of the departments. and 10 con,
mol the distribution OF the revenues There
arc few mlxims which We ought never 10 lose
sight of-the city must live WITHIN it, income.
and the income ought 10 bo aud must he ado.
'luate 10 the need OF the municipality. II is not
much the question Of tax rate il is 10 pay
as you go. 1t is easy to incur debt. hat il is
not easy 10 raise the money 10 pay il, And,
gentlcme0 OF both councils wisl. tv assure
you, that it will be my effort 10 cooperate with
you in every way, as individuals as legislative
bodies regardless OF any partisan considerable ions,
IN anything which will make Tor the advantage
ri the people whose servants We are and whose
interests intr,isted in our hands. Ii the posi-
tive powers OF the councils are less than in the
past, ample opportunities Of rendering useful SER
vice 10 their constituents and 10 the city still
remain to ITS members. Let MS strive, each in
his own way and in his own sphere of duty, TO
accomplish something during the coming year
which will rebound TO the advantage and credit
OF oui second class city of Scranton.
Second-class in name; but let us
hope soon 10 be 'first-class in all the
attributes of good government.