Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-11-29

Wide and drastic changes in the form OF
government and of its administrator for
the city of Philadelphia have been recon-
mended by the legislative subcommittee OF
the Philadelphia charter committee, which
has completed its report after months of
careful and special investigation.
Among the most striking recommenda-
tions are plans for making the city and
county synonymous legally as well as geo
graphically, and for putting both under
the same single administrative power. The
committee also urges n reduction OF the
number of Counclmen; that many offlces,
now elective, be made appointive. ana the
abolition of many others Plans also were
suggested for the redistribution of authority
and responsibility now vested in municipal
departments, and for relieving tho judiciary
of all present duties which may be regarded
as political.
COMMITTEES REPORT
draft of the committees report sets
forth the following recommendations:
Because of the dual and conflicting au-
thority existing through conflicting or over
tapping governmental functions of city and
county, 1t is imperative that immediate ac-
ton be started In the coming session of the
Legislature to procure the constitutional
amendments to bring both under single
administrative power.
The committee believes. and will recon-
mend, that inasmuch as the City Solicitor
Is the city's law officer. and primarily ad-
wiser to the Mayor In the latter's exercise
Of administrative duties, he should be ap-
pointed by the Mayor, instead of being
elected, as at present, in order to secure
n maximum of harmonious understanding
and action and efficiency.
Inasmuch as the Register of Wills al
most exclusively performs functions relat-
ing to and under the jurisdiction of the
Orphans Court the committee will urge
that this office no longer be elective, but
that the incumbent be appointed by the
Judges of that court.
The committee believes there Is little,
II any. remaining necessity for Coro-
ners office, as' at present constituted. and
that IL. the law or circumstances require
the retention of this Office the Coroner
should be appointed by the Mayor, and his
duties more closely correlated to. and prob
ably brought under the jurisdiction or the
Department of Public Safety
The committee believes the Board OF
Judges should at once be relieved of all
duties ofta political nature, and to that end
will urge: ~
That the Board of Revision of Taxes
now appointed by the Judges and entirely
administrative In its natural functions be
made appointlve by and responsible to the
Mayor
That the Board OF Education, whose
members now are appointed by the Judges,
be made elective, because this body, in ad-
dltion to administering the educational sys-
tenn, levies the school tax, and is, therefore,
a taxing body that should be directly
responsible to the people.
PARK COMMISSION APPoINTIVE
That the members of the Fairmount Park
Commission be appointed by the Mayor in
stead Of by the courts.
The committee will recommend that the
Registration Commission be composed and
appointed as at present, but that 1t be given
broad authority over the elections, which
would virtually constitute 1t an election
board and would, therefore, take all cleo
tion duties from the County Commissioners
and virtually eliminate their present reason
for existence.
The consequent abolition of the office of
County Commissioner should automatically
occur with the consolidation of the duties
In another department, the committee be-
lieVes and will urge
1t is to be proposed also that the statute
make 1t mandatory for the city of Phila-
delphia to adopt a budget system of finance,
by which a responsible authority may be
held accountable for giving each year to the
RppropriatIng power (Councils) a detailed
estimate of receipts and expenditures
Real estate assessors should be provided
with a more modern and efficient system
of assessment, and their appointment
should be by the Mayor. This also will
be covered in a separate act TO be asked
of the Legislature which will convene in
January
The committee sees no logical excuse for
the retention of more than 1900 division as
SCISSORS, except for the purpose OF supply
ing names from which jurors are selected,
and will urge that this place be abolished,
thus saving to the city more than 100000
reduction OF the number Of Councllmen
to between twenty-five and forty also viii be
but in order to prevent a pos
sible combination OF opposition to the entire
program by all of the Councilman who thus
would be deposed from office. the commit
tee believes 1t would be wise to announce
its attitude in that respect and let year.
or perhaps two, elapse before that phase
OF its project is put into effect. The COM
mittee will urge that Councilmen be paid
salaries pToportionate TO their respon'
sibilites.
Members OF the committee are:
John C.. Winston. chairman; Howard b.
French, Alba b. Johnson and Livingston
E Jones, representing the Chamber sof
Commerce; Thomas Raeburn White and
Charles l.. McKeehRn, representing the
Committee OF Seventy; George Burnham
Jr., and George W. Norris. representing the
City Club Z. B. Martin, representing the
United Business Mems Association; Fred
srick p. Gutenberg, representing the Blu
reau OF Municipal Research, and Joseph p
Carney, chairman of Councils Finance
Committee. representing the Mayor and