Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-07-28
CLARK ACT PRAISED AND
CONDEMNED BY STATE EDITORS


s[Continued From First Pagcl
people know to whom they must look
for results. There was also increased
cost under the commission form, but
the lack of single directing head was
recognized and the people were glad to
change to the mayor form of adminis-
tration.
Also in Denver the heads of the
various departments are appointed ky
Mayor Speer, who makes most of the
other appointments. Denver's expert
ence has been the experience of many
other cities that have experimental
with the commission scheme of gov
'ernment.
1t is admitted in Harrisburg that the
plan has worked out here in some re-
Ispects quite satisfactorily and in others
it has been a distinct failure. The Tele-
graph has requested the views of its
contemporaries in the Third Glass cities
of the State and those thus far re-
'ceived are submitted herewith.
WILKES-BARRE CONTENTED
Eugene F. Giering, editor of the
Wilkes Barre Record. - wilkes
Barre's experience with commission
government has been fairly satisfac-
tory, eminently so in some ways. My
impression is that it is a big improve
ment over the old councilmanic form
with ward representation. Undoubt-
'edly some other cities have not Jared
as well, but it must be borne in mind
that no form of government can be
proof against lapse OF interest or other
delinquencies on the part of the cleo
torate. The best we can do is to adopt
the form that appeals to us as being
the best in principle. I can see no
hope of universal improvement in
changing to a council of seven or nine
members, they to serve without pay
and to appoint the heads of depart
ments. The temptation to seek office
for the sake of the political perquis-
ties woud induce men of low caliher
to seek the office, just as the political
power, plus the salary, tempts men of
low caliber under the present form.
The suggestion that each city be given
the privilege of conducting its gov
ernment to suit itself should be less
Objectionable than another general
experiment. But in Wilkes-Bar there
is no demand for d change of any
kind"
MEN, NOT THE FORM AT FAULT
jess E. Long, editor and manager
Daily News, MceKesport - I'VE find
that there isn't much to complain
about in the form. If good men are
elected the problem will be solved.
We have a mayor and four council
men. If a combination of three is
formed among them and that COM
bination is made of men who are not
honest and do not work for the best
interest of the taxpayer, then the
form is all wrong. In almost three
years We have seen combinations come
and go. Good and bad has been the
result. AS whole in the experiment
over the old form OF dual bodies
think we are better off. If the Gov
ernor had not knocked down the pro-
posed amendments the League of
Third Class cities recommended at the
last session of the Legislature, think
the commission form of government
would have been greatly improved.
The amendments were carefully con-
by the solicitors of many
Third Class cities. Much time was
spent in preparing the amendments,
but the Governor gave il no consid-
Grafton. The substitution of a single
council to act without pay and that
body to name heads of departments
might work out all right. That's new
over this way Had not heard of it.
the greatest complaint here has not
been against the form, but the men
who have been elected"
FAVORS A CITY MANAGER
Harry F. Johnston, the Altoona
Mirror - The commission form of
worked we'll and some
times worked i'll in Altoona, It has
US to get some things we
needed little sooner than would
have been the case under the old
FORM but 1t has not been all that was
expected Of it by long odds. We
thought IL would eliminate log rolling;
IL hasn't We thought it would con-
responsibility as well as
authority; it hasn't done that either.
A couple of weeks ago Mayor Charles
e. Rhodes introduced an Ordinance
the State Blue law bv
increasing the fine for Sunday selling
TO not less than $15 and not more than
SZ5' or not less than so days impris-
onment. Some of bis colleagues did
not want to take a stand either wav
so they amended the ordinance by re-
1errlng 1t to a referendum of the
people.
"One Of the best things that has
peen accomplished under commission
government is the placing of Virtually
all the municipal employees under civil
service regulations by fixing their
- - 1870 duLluS SIIlClent work
ana good behavior. The policemen
hremen. health bureau. water bureau
ana electrical bureau employees are all
protected and cannot be removed ex-
cept after public hearing of the
charges against them by council This
would never have been possible under
the old system. 0'-oet
Perhaps the weaknesses of COM
government are not due so
EREHKTE EATC