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


ALLENTOWN is SATISFIED
Charles w. Weiser, editor Allentown
Democrat and Evening Item - The
commission form OF government is
working out very satisfactorily in
Allentown. I am OF the opinion that
the voters of Allentown would not
favor a proposition TO abandon the
system if called upon to decide the
question with their ballots. / attrib-
ute the success of the system in Allen
town to the fact that the members of
our council work In harmony. In
other words, there is teamwork. Each
councilman devotes his entire time to
the department or departments to
which he has been assigned. lie is
responsible to his colleagues for the
conditions in his department Every
councilman is at his office at 7.30 a.
m. and remains on duty until 4.30 p.
m. Regular meetings of the council
are held when there is a free express
sion of opinion, but there is no at
tempt made to butt in" If I may use
a Slang phrase, on the business of
each other. This plan has been work
ing out most satisfactorily and l do
not believe there is Third Glass city
in the State the government of which
is conducted in q more business-like
manner.
IF commission form of government
has failed in some cities I do not be-
lieve it to be the fault of the sys-
tenn, but of the voters, who failed to
elect the right sort of councilmen. 1t
is folly to assume that commission
form of government is a panacea for
all municipal ills. 1t is merely
means to an end, and that end can
be attained If the voters, the stock
holders in the municipal corporation,
use the same fine discrimination that
the stockholders of a private corpo-
ration use when they elect their direc-
tors
so far as the proposition to amend
the Clark bill by inserting an optional
clause is concerned, I believe the idea
is in accordance with the home-rule
principle. If there is any city in the
state that does not wish to have COM
form of government its wish |
should be granted.
CHESTER AGAINST CHANGE
Senator Vim. G. SprouI, of the Ches-
ter Times - I'VE are very we'll salts
led here with the commission form
Of government, although it is a bit
more expensive than it need be. I |
believe that possibly the substitution
of small council might be more de-
'lrable, although we really feel op-
posed to any more fooling or tinker
ng with our municipal government.
we have had good many changes in
me past few years and just about the
.ellow comes along with a PROPOSE
Ion Tor a change.
STRONG FOR PRESENT FORM
William Mccormick, editor and pro-
prietor, the Reading Herald - "I
would consider an abandonment of
government a very re-
srettable step backward both for
Reading and for the State.
believe that the passage Of the !
Clark bill establishing commission
form is one of the best works that a
Pennsylvania legislature has ever
Readings first experience
under commission form of govern
ment was very satisfactory one.
Inc hVe men chosen for the first
Two years were of a far higher type
than had ornamented our council
chambers in many years. There had
occasionally been one or more first
class councilmen. The general type
was mediocre. The people didn't
seem to desire or expect anything bur
medlocrity of personnel. Hence there
was only mediocrity of performance
ana sometimes what was worse than
mediocrity. A very superior type of
councilman was chosen under the
Clark law, AS a result there was
more aggressive ana resultfuI work
done during the first two years of
com mission government than had been
done through many preceding years.
Reading has done much since the
early part of 1914 which it never
contemplated doing under the old
form OF government The second
election under the commission form
was of a different sort Only one of
the old council members was re-
elected. Certain of his four associates
are OF reactionary type. But they
thing disastrous. They are safeguard
ed and limited in a way which would
not have been possible under the old
council form.
I regard the demand for repeaI
10 which you refer, as a reactionarv
demand. l don't believe that anv
patriotlc' far-seeing, unselfish nom
parusan cltizens have any part in this
demand. OF if they do, I think thev
are much mistaken, and will present,
y realize their mistake.
i can see no advantage in the n1an
"nlch you suggest, and even if there
we're imaginary advantages, I think |
ne clark form of government has
1een given too BRIEF a test. tbinIr
ne Tune is not ripe for a change Tba
'puonal clause does not appeal to me
DelleVe the cities or the Third Glass
'ugnt TO be governed uniformly. 7
'e!leVe the concentrated wisdom of
'ltlzens OF Third Glass cities is s,1-
'erlor TO that of individual sePraea+
ID towns. iesdU-
1t is true that a town as bis &c
teadlng, with 10000 people NAV
ave different problems from a +owy
I zO'OOO, and yet both are at present
ounted Third Glass cities.
Ihere may be errors of cIassifoo
ION. But the optional clause woI,Id
iALLEY THREE "'"'u
COMMISSION FOR GOVT IN 3RD
LASS CITIES 4N "FND
llow too much autocracy. The no,i-
lcians of certain cities woI,id botto
90 much of their own waV Tbev
ould adopt a form of goyernr,oa1,t
suit themselves. I BELIEVE tbat an
''tI IitposlLe I' plan, to which the men of |.
unory cltles have contributed of their
4 ;Spe[lence and their good sense. is
ile proper form, and that the law
aSseo oy the Legislature should be
A BAs THE CLARK ACT,
w. H. Schwartz, editor the Altoona
Tfbune - Il have never believed in
ne possibility of providing by a gen.
nj Ia e. L.