Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1915-01-01

| ClJy clerk CndFleS "A. mlllSL ID dh
acknowledged home rule leader so
far as the municipalities are con-
cerned in Pennsylvania. His expert
ence in the Legislature and his long
period of service as the city clerk of
Harrisburg have given him clearer
insight into the needs of our third
class cities than any other man in the
State. About five years ago, during
the eleventh annual convention of
the League of Cities of the Third
Class at York. when the change to the
commission form of government was
under discussion, Mr.. Miller took a
strong position in favor of wider latl-
tude for cities in the matter of legls-
lation and general administration. He
referred to the fact that the interests
of no two cities in Pennsylvania were
identical, yet the State had passed a
charter putting most of them into one
class, causing much trouble.
At that time City Clerk Miller en-
phasized the fact that most of the
third class cities of Pennsylvania were
suffering from their own failure to
take advantage of the act of 1889.
Since that date, however, the LeSisla-
ture has forced all cities of the third
class to adopt a type of commission
government which has been in opera
tion in Harrisburg just one year.
Urges New Department
At the York convention Mr.. Miller
dWelt upon the importance of de-
partment of the State government to
be devoted to the interests and well
fare of municipalities. He suggested
that the Legislature should provide
for the appointment of a Commits
sioner of municipalities in the cabinet
of the Governor. 1t is his thought
that such a department of the State
government would be able to study
conditions and report from time to
time to the Governor and in this way
keep the Legislature advised of neces-
sary action in the way of legislation,
so as to avoid complications and a
multiplicity of laws with resultant
Decentralization. He points out that
State boiler inspectors and plumbing
inspectors and all kinds of inspectors
have been appointed, which in his
Judgment should be entirely within the
scope of the Legislative powers OF the
cities themselves.
Home Rule Favored
There is a growing public sentiment
now favorable to a swinging back TO
home rule in cities and an organiza-
tion known as the National Bureau
of Municipal Research" has been
formed to promote such legislation.
w. C. Howland, of Johnstown, is the
president. 1t is stated that quite a
number of members elected to the
LEGISLATURE are committed to home
rule for the cities. Many of these be-
lieye that in purely local matters a
city should have undisputed right or
control. Mr.. Howland is of the opin-
ion that the people in city are the
only ones who have an intimate
knowledge of local conditions; that
they know better than any Legisla-
ture can know what changes and i'm
proyements are needed in the city and
how these changes may best be
brought about. Every community has
it's peculiar problems.
In order that there may be an open
and free discussion OF some UNIFORM
basis, a suggested measure has been
drafted and presented to the different
civic organizations to consider, so
that by the time the Legislature con-
venes q final corrected and revised
measure will he presented for action.
The suggested draft Of a home rule
measure is the following
General Grant of Powers
Every city is granted power to reg
ulate, manage and control It's prop
erty and local affairs, and is granted
all the rights, privileges and JurlSdic-
ton necessary and proper for carrying
such powers into execution. No enum-
Grafton of powers in this or any other
law shall operate to restrict the
meaning of this general grant OF
power, or to exclude other powers
comprehended within this general
grant
Grant of Specific Powers
Subject to the Constitution and gem
eral laws of this State, every city is
empowered:
/. To contract and be contracted
with and to institute, maintain and
defend any action or proceedings in
any court.
2. To take, purchase, hold and lease
real and personal property within and
without the limits of the city, and ac-
quire by condemnation real and per-
sonal property within the limits of
the city, for any public or municipal
purpose, and to sell and convey the
same, but the rights of city in and to
it's water front, ferries, bridges, wharf
property, land under water public
landings. wharves, docks, streets, ave-
nues, parks and all other public places,
are hereby declared to be inalienable.
except in the cases provided for by
subdivision seven of this section.
o. To take by gift, grant, beouest
or devise and to hold and administer
real and personal property within and
without the limits of the city, abso
lutely or in trust for any public or
municipal purpose, upon such terms
and conditions as may be prescribed