Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-01-01
MUNICIPAL CHANGES

lVl Bowman and Lynch are pre-
pared to wish the employees of
their departments happy new year
with no string to the greeting. They
have announced that no changes will
be made in their present forces and
this means a much happier day for
the men who are serving in the i'm
portant departments of Public Works
and Public Safety.
AS for City Commissioner Cor
gas, who was also reelected, he
is likewise in the same happy
situation, but with City Com
missioner-elect Gross and Mayor
elect Meals the case is somewhat diff
ferent. They are going through the
worries and frets which accompany
the reorganization of any public de-
partment. With Mr.. Gross 1t is a Sc
lection of heads of the fire depart
ments and his assistants in the De-
partment of Parks. With the Mayor
elect it is the changing somewhat of
the personnel of the police depart
ment. Both these officials are having
the assistance of a considerable part
of the population in the way of sug-
gestion and advice-some of it invited,
most of it volunteered.
Fortunately for Mr.. Gross. his
predecessor, Mr.. Taylor, has made his
pathway comparatively easy by stand
ing like a stone wall in favor of a
budget appropriation which will give
the new head of the Department of
Parks the same funds as were granted
Mr.. Taylor. 1t is to the credit of
the retiring Superintendent of Parks
that his interest in this important de-
partment did not cease with his defeat
for reelection. He has shown a most
commendable public spirit and his at
titude is one which merits emulation
by all members of the City Council
hereafter.
Mayor-elect Meals has been fussing
more or less over some changes in the
police department, but the situation
is about as much mixed now as was
the case Immediately following the
election. Some fear has been ex-
pressed that unless care is exercised
the police department will look like
the milk-white flag regiment which,
it will be recalled, consisted of a num-
Der of officers and one private. There
is such a thing as too many generals
and with a small force at best it would
seem to be the part of wisdom to
hesitate in reducing the active patrol
men in the creation of detectives and
color bearers.
1t doesn't follow because there is
to be change in the mayoraIty that
there should also be a change in the
police department every four years.
By the same token it does not follow
that once a policeman always police
man. If there are good reasons for
changes in the force, they should be
made and made promptly; but If the
changes proposed are simply to pro-
vide Jobs for those not now on the
force 1t would be we'll to remember
that police force is first of all or
ganized for the conservation of the
public peace and the protection of life
and property.
There has also been a good deal
said within the last few weeks about
tHe CHOlCe OIL an assessor. 1t ought
TO be apparent that no more impor-
tant place in the entire city govern
ment is now under consideration by
the City Council. 1t is true that a
treasurer of municipal funds should
be chosen with discretion and good
judgment, but it is equally true that
the man who shall have charge of the
assessment of the real estate of Har-
risburg must be qualified for that Inn
portant work. Tt may be too late for
the coming year to consider change
in the organization of the office of as
SCISSOR, but we believe the time is at
hand to give serious thought to this
subject to the end that there may be
equitable and reasonable valuation of
all property.
With all the difficulties which con-
front the five gentlemen~who will su-