Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-07-28

"
and economical administration of the
publics affairs, but the men who run
1T must be honest, able, fearless and
without political ambition. AS for
ourselves, we favor city manager"
HOME RULE DEMANDED
Hon. Fred. c. KirkendaIl, the
Wilkes Barre Times-Leader - IT am
of the opinion that no general i'm
provement has been shown in Wilkes
Barre under the commission form of
government over the old system. Re-
sponsibility is just as hard to center
and taxpayers are not getting any
more for their money than they did
under the old. l am of the opinion that
forms of plan-government are secon-
dairy matters. That 1t is all up to the
caliber of the men who hold the Of
fetal positions. [ am also heartily in
favor of Home Rule" for cities and
believe an act should be passed giving
cities the right to choose their own
form of government. Every city has
its own problems to soIVe and any gen.
eral classification act works hard
ships.'
HOW IT WORKS AT EASToN
C. n. Andrews, general manager
and editor, Easton Free Press -
Just what to think concerning the
working of the commission form Of
government in Easton is a puzzling
proposition. In many respects the
commission has done we'll. In some
there is not the change that was hoped
for. That politics woud be eradicated
has not proven true here, though the
course of the commissioners did not
give the public that insight into the
political nature of the work that was
the case with the old double council
organization. The people are kept in
the dark to a great degree concerning
the purpose of the commission as
contrasted with the old body. In the
latter the discussions were in COM
mittee and in the sittings of councils.
These meetings were open, and re-
porters gave full accounts, the people
thus learning the intentions the argu-
ments and position of the councilmen.
1t developed early under commission
government that there was to be lit
tie open discussion. The meetings
that were held were generally per-
cussions beforehand and agreements
and there was little else done but to
act formally on previously decided
points.
"As to politics, in the fire depart
ment every vacancy was filled by the
appointment of a man whose politics,
II was subsequently learned was
Democratic. Most of the men engaged
in highway department work, if new
Of
When there came the change that
was effected by the second election of
commissioners, it was noticed that
new men in the fire department were
generally Republicans, for the new
head of that department is Republic
can. Politics had entered into the
election of the new commissioners,
When the first body was elected the
election was as nearly nonpartisan
as an election can we'll be.
Nonpartisan Feature Doomed
The fact that politics has entered
into the work of the commissioners
and into the second election leads me
TO think that the nonpartisan feature,
contemplated by the act, is doomed
hereafter in Easton.
The general work of the first
board of commissioners was on the
whole good. No old body of city
councils would have dared TO spend
the public money in the way it was
done. Cnquestionably the fire depart
ment was made much better so far as
equipment was concerned. Good be-
lore 1t was measurably strengthened,
put the cost was considerable The
highways OF the city are better, the
garbage department better, the police
ABOUT the same, while parks and play
grounds are. receiving more attention.
the people approving this last de-
Possibly commission government
mas not mad a fair trial in Easton,
because the commissioners have been
trying to maintain the city, meet the
increased cost, do more work without
increasing the tax rate, practically
keeping the expenses down to those
OF the old council. Some additional
money has been available through a
readJustment of the assessments on
real estate for taxable purposes, and
thls money has been needed. There
10 not the least intImation that the
com nrnlssloners have not been scru-
pulously honest, and careful in tbe
city finances. With the money al
hahd they have done well.
No Open Discussion
There is less friction, less fault
Hnalng, less criticism. This comes in
a great part from the fact that there
Is not SO much open discussion. The
perform their work.
ana that is about ell there is to II
though 1t is noticeable that thew are
sensitive to public criticism, and en-
1eaVor to meet it, or to profit bv II
Our commissioners have been and are
earnest men. A high standard was
,et IN the first selection as to candi-
lates and there is u strong demand
nat this standard be lived UP to. Ex-
1erlence In other cities, I understand |
lds peen that this has not alwavs
oeen achieved, and that later bodies
ave not peen considered as efficient
ls the hrst body elected.
AS to the proposition to baya 49,
aw repealed, and new coi,noi, ne
seven or nine elected. with nowar ~
appoint the heads OF the several do
oartments, without being familIar
Vlth all the provisions of such a roian
!, would say from the bare statement |
nat IL would not serve the purnosa
ls wen as the present law.
thlnk that 1t Is too early to sav |
~ Hat commission government for cities |
u the Ihlrd Class is q failure ar
,uccess' There are arguments hotb |
Ways with those or the success ed
,ocates the more numerous ara |
'tronser' 1t would be unwfse to a.
enpt 10 change the law at the con-
ns session of the Legislature, Com
n.-1A TIL a III