Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-09-06
CITY COUNCIL RESPONSIBLE

CITY COUNCIL RESPONSIBLE
NOR some reason not easily under
= stood, the five officials now con-
stituting the government Of
Harrisburg have placed themselves in
antagonism to the City Planning
Commission. One of them, in the dis
cussion of the overhead bridge on
Seventh street yesterday at the session
of City Council. was more concerned
about declaring his right to his own
opinion than about the serious phases
of the matters involved in the erection
of such structure over a public high
way in the city. So far as this news
paper has knowledge of the contro-
versy, no person has questioned the
right of Commissioner Gross or any
other commissioner to his own opin-
/ ion. This, however. is not so much a
matter of hastily formed individual
judgment as it is the formulation of a
fixed policy by the city for the protec-
ton of its highways and the rights of
property owners therein. Commits
sioner Gross belittles the whole i'm
portant issue by puerile defense of
himself and his colleagues against
public disapproval of what is believed
to be an illegal act Mock heroics on
the floor of Council will not serve to
conceal the utter disregard by the
City Commissioners OF the people in
this matter.
Perhaps the most lamentable show
ing of Council in the premises is the
effort to throw dust in the eyes of the
people by declaring that the time
within which the ordinance granting
the right to erect this bridge could be
reconsidered had elapsed; that, there
fore, Council could do nothing further
in the matter and it was for the courts
to determine the issue. Thus the bur
den of safeguarding the interests of
the city is weakly shifted to the
Chamber of Commerce by the regu-
larly elected and authorized represen-
tatives of the municipality who are the
paid servants of the people. This
community is rapidly getting awake
to the reactionary attitude of
City Council Harrisburg for many
years has maintained a proud place
among the municipalities of the coun-
try Only this week It gave expression
to its public spirit in a splendid water
carnival, which has attracted wide
spread and favorable comment It has
been leader in many unique public
improvement projects. In fact, this
city has blazed the way for large
number of communities elsewhere.
Under these circumstances the gentle
men composing the present Council
cannot hope to escape censure. They
have called down this criticism upon
themselves by an indifference to pub
lie sentiment which can be ascribed
only to a failure on their part to real
ize their duty to the city and its peo-
pie. They are not acting for them
selves, nor will the people long endure
the pettiness which has too often
characterized their official attitude.
The Planning Commission makes no
claim to superior intelligence, nor has
it at any time manifested any domi-
neering or arbitrary disposition to
override the Council or any other
body. Without cost to the taxpayers
and combining themselves strictly to
the provisions of the law under which
the body was created. and in pur-
suance of the high public duty of
planning for still better city, these
men, after full consideration of all the
facts, have done no more than submit
for the guidance of Council conclu-
sions in harmony with expert legal
opinion. Had they done less they
would have been false to the people,
whom they serve without reward save
that which follows service we'll rem
dered.
The Planning Commission acted
promptly and Council, on the same
day that the negative recommendation
was received, passed the Objectionable
ordinance with little or no consider
alton of the points raised. If the
measure is beyond the point where it
can be reconsidered Council and Coun-
ell alone is responsible.