The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-01-25

vited by Senator j. &. Vaughan to
go 10 Harrisburg on Tuesday night
next for the purpose OF comforting
with number of the members OF the
senate. including Senator William
Finn. regarding the passage OF the
ripper" bill.
1t Is understood that Senator Waugh
an, who Is rather u close friend of
senator Films, outside of politics. has
intimated that he believes the latter
Will agree to compromise. The ex-
act nature of this compromise is not
known, but it is hlnted that he will
agree to those features of the bill
providing for the Capitalization of
power in the mayor. provided the
"ripper" clause, or that feature which
gives the governor power to appoint
Il mayor for the first two years, Is
eliminated.
The Pittsburg papers intimate that
Senator Finn may introduce a char
ter of his own, containing all the
principal feature OF the Muehlbronner
bill, with the above mentioned rip
per" clause cut out.
no IMPLIED POWER.
The new bill makes no provision
whatever for the taxing Of street rail-
way companies and other corporations
and if it becomes a law this city would
have TO act under the present second
class city provision governing this
matter. which Is considered exceed
ingly unsatisfactory. For this reason.
the local councilmanic committee will
endeavor to have its amendment Civ
ing councils power to impose n tax
limited only by reason, on such cor
porations.
The Flinnites, who contend that the
new charter is unconstitutional be-
cause it involves the removal of the
mayors of the second class csties.
base their contention upon section 4,
article vi. OF the state constitution
which reads:
"All officers shall hold their Offices,
on condition that they behave them
selves we'll while in Office, and shall
be removed on conviction of misbe-
haviour In office or of any Infamous
crime. Appointed officers, other than
judges of the courts of records and
the superintendent OF public instruc-
tion may be removed at the pleasure
of the power by which they were ap-
pointed. All officers elected by the
people, except governor, lieuttnant
governor, members of the general as
sembly and judges of the courts of
record learned in the law, shall be
removed by The governor for reason
able cause, after due notice and full
hearing. on the address Of two-thirds ,
of the senate"
NO PROVISION MADE.
The claim is made that in nowise
does this section Of the constitution
give any implied power to the legis-
lature to legislate out of office any
elected city official. 1t must be UNDER
stood, however. that the ripper" bill
was prepared by capable lawyers and
that the section giving the governor
power TO appoint a mayor would not
have been put in If there was not
pretty good legal ground for it to
stand on.
Common Councilman Luther Keller,
when seen last night by a Tribune
reporter and asked for an expression
of opinion on the new charter, was
especially outspoken:
Il do not hesitate to say" said he.
bill as a whole. There are a few good
features. but they are few and far
between. l believe that if it ~ ever
put in operation in any city it will
mean the establishment of q little
monarchy. 1t takes entirely too much
power away from councils and CEN
| ters entirely too much authority i'm
! the mayor
II can't say that, in this respect,
| altogether approve of the amendatory
act prepared under the direction OF
| the committee OF which was a, men,
| bor. My belief is that the only head
of department who should be ap-
| pointed by the mayor is the director
| of public safety. That official is re-
| sponsible for the maintenance of law
| and order and believe that the mayor
should appoint him. so that the mayor
| in turn can be held accountable for
| his acts.
THE heads of the department OF
public works and of the department
of charities | would have elected by
| the people, as well as the receiver OF
| taxes ana the city solicitor. | ,thinl;
that that feature of the ripper" bill
which gives the mayor power to ap-
point the city solicitor Is especially
| deserving of condemnation. The city
| solicitor should be under obligations
| to no one, not even TO the councils
as at present
THE RIPPER SECTION.
Il cannot condemn TOO strongly tho
ripper" section, or that portion which