The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1914-10-22
URGE FOUR YEAR Terms
FOR CITY commissioners
Continued From First Page.

ordinances, except those as otherwise
provided for in the act, cannot be
passed without the Affirmative vote of
three members.
The Clark act in its present form
has been interpreted by some city So
licitors to mean that mayor may sue
ceed himself while others say he can
not. The committee suggests that the
act should be so changed as to remove
all question as to the rights of mayors
to serve one, two or more terms, this
suggestion being made in view of the
fact that the mayors do not have full
appointive and dismissal powers over
the police.
Under the plan to extend the terms
of the Commissioners from two to four
years, four Commissioners would be
elected in the fall of 1915, the two re-
ceiving the highest number of votes
to have four-year terms and the other
two, terms of only two years. Every
two years thereafter two Commission
ers only would be elected.
A special subcommittee composed of
F.-P. Schoonmaker, of Bradford; Mayor
Ira w. Stratton, of Reading, and City
Solicitor A. A. Cochran, of Chester, will
draft the amendment under which it is
proposed to place the police and fire
departments under civil service. Mayor
Ira j. Stern, of Erie, suggested that a
civil service commission should be COM
posed of the Mayor, City School Super
intendent and City Health Officer.
The Referendum Feature
The amendment to the referendum
feature will be prepared by II. P.
Keiser, of Lebanon. The committee
men said they thought the change
should be so made as to make it pos
sible to have an ordinance, passed by a
city commission, referred to the vote
of the people, by filing a petition
signed by less than twenty per cent. of
the voting population as is required
now. No fixed percentage was speci
fed.
The plan 20 urge extension of the
terms of the city solicitors and city en-
glneers was adopted by a unanimous
vote of the committee. Section of
Article 4 of the Clark act provides that
person who shall give or offer money
or any other valuable consideration to
a member of commission for the pur-
pose of influencing that official shall
be guilty of bribery James A. Gard
ner, City Solicitor of New Castle, will
frame an amendment to that section
prohibiting making such offers to "any
or all city officers or employees. -
Cities would be permitted to erect
municipal boat and bath houses under
an amendment offered by Mayor Stern.
of Erie, and adopted by the commit
tee. After Mayor Stern offered an
other amendment, under which lawyers.
doctors and other professional men
would be liable to taxation, City So
licitor Seitz, of Harrisburg, wanted to
know whether it is revenue measure
or a license under police powers9"
Lawyers Decline to Vote
Mayor Stern said he didn't know.
and Mr.. Seitz added: eff it is
revenue measure, how can you fix the
amount of tax at S1O0, and, if it is
under police powers, it will mean the
inspection and regulation of those per
sons and their offices by the police -
On the vote taken four Mayors ia
vored the amendment and the lawyers
refused to oppose it, many saying, "we
will not vote.' 9U
Mayor Royal, of Harrisburg, offered
the amendment extending the penalty
for violation of city ordinances from
thirty to ninety days. The committee
adopted his suggestion by a vote of
10 to 2. The Erie Mayor opposed the
suggested change, saying that an al
derman frequently holds police court in
his city and she is too severe"
The plan to change the date of be-
ginning the fiscal year back from Jan
uary l to April / was defeated, and
Solicitor Gardner was directed to frame
an amendment under which the tax
year will be changed, either from Au-
gust l to May l or two collection dates
will be fixed, one for half the tax, to
he about April i, and the other on
June |.
The committee took no action with
respect to creating the Office of city
to have executive powers over
all city departments leaving the com
mission with legislative powers only.
The matter will in all probability be
considered at another meeting of the
committee to be held in December.