Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-12-14
RADICAL CHANGES
Urged in CHARTER
General Committee APP
nroyes Recommendations
for Revision
xrw REVENUE SYSTEM

-. 1.nsral committee on the revision OF
~. sharfer has approved a report OF
- ess.,,,stitee which recommends radical
~ 49, \. tbe municipal system OF govern
ffie. ..sountlng virtually to an entirely
rfnt - .bartcr. The full strength Of the
~ - wing OF the Republican Organlza-
~ Il IA understood. Is prepared to push
~ .snarate measures through or the ma
,sfity Of them -..-...,,,.,,,.,. -,
.,,,con,,nlttee's report would revoke the
tntst.t5ve ~ powers or the judges would
,s smaller municipal legislature
e.,..,..,e the constitutional distinction be-
.. citv and county. create liquor IL
ss-ss commission and an election commls-
80. animate the County Commissioners
.-d tssrcantile Appraisers; reduce the num-
- yards and confer upon Councils the
80 a. levy taxes and formulate method
Il vaiuInE real estate.
"a cnnn,ittee at Its meeting held late
..sterday afternoon in the boardroom OF
=. chamber Of Commerce adopted the re-
-, ~ the subcommittee which has been
~erkinH on the subject OF n new city
sbarssr since last July.
1ba subcommittee recommended score
:, sweeplng changes in the present char
., howeyer. These changes voted euualize
s.,st,on have n board appointed by the
sravsrnor or Mayor grant liquor licenses,
.,,,b,nize in the conduct OF the city gov
s,.r,snt. place more power In the hands
u the Mayor and Councils, abolish the
r-ssent system OF Counclls and substitute
Il IA place a Council OF one chamber, COM
....a "a fifteen salarled members, and COM
sns the city and county governments
~. offices that are now elective and
,hieb The Charter Revision Committee would
80. annoIntlye are those of City solicitor
~ Receiver OF Taxes, The city Solicitor
.ho,ld be appointed by the Mayor, said tho
,enort OF the subcommittee, with view
to securing harmony and cooperation
The CITY Treasurer, the subcommittee
nolutea out, is custodian OF the city funds
snd should appoint the Receiver OF Taxes
vho collects them.
,rhs committed urged that the Board Of
p.vislon Of Taxes and the Board OF Educa-
s.on. which are now appointed by the Board
n Judges should be appointed by the Mayor
~ big step toward removing the judiciary
from politics
The committee also advocated that the
lsvylne OF school taxes be taken from the
Beard Of Education and placed In Councils.
The biggest step toward taking the ju-
alelary out OF politics Is the proposition
Al fhe committee TO have "A board OF three
commissioners with overlapping terms ap-
nonted by either the Governor or the
nayor. grant revoke and transfer liquor
rcenses
The imposition upon the Judges OF the
duty Of regulating the sale OF liquor in
he city by granting, revoklnE and trans
ferrng licenses has been harmful to the
reputation OF the bench in the community"
said the report.
Declaring the present system OF Councils
70 be cumbersome and inefficient" the COM
mlttee advocates a Council OF single
chamber. TO be composed of fifteen mem.
befs elected at large.
II this is not considered feasible.
second proposition OF ssingle-chamber
Council composed OF one representative
from each Of the wards that would exist
under the redlstrlctng. Is advanced
The committee would have all Councllmen
paid salaries OF $4,000 annually The chair
nan OF the Finance Committee would re-
ule $4,000 n year
me method by which the assessments OF
Fsal estate should be made should be deter
Elned by Councils, the committee recon.
Htnded and for the purpose OF enabling
Councils 10 center it's attention upon its
more Important functions many OF the
minor. administrative duties that now de-
folye upon II should be delegated to proper
srscutlye departments
The report OF the subcommittee declares
that abuses that have existed In the past
have not. in the opinion Of the committee.