Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-03-21
NEW THIRD CLASS
CITY GOVERNMENT
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GContinued From First Pagel
each ward to serve without pay and
restores the veto power to the mayor.
The idea is to create force in charge
of the various municipal department
that shall be made up of men skilled
in these particular lines who shall not
be subject to disturbance every two
years as is now the result of the bien-
nial scrambling for the salaried COM
missionership jobs.
Mr. Bcidleman Gives Reasons
II have introduced this BILL" said
Senator Beidleman to-day, 'in order to
overcome the evils of the Clark act.
Under its provisions every two years
we have a disgraceful scramble for
council jobs on the part of those who
want the places largely for the sal
aries attached. The result has been
inef1cient government. | believe that
a small council, such as / have sug-
gested, of men who Will not serve for
pay and who represent every part of
the city, their legislative acts subject
to the veto power of the mayor, would
be of vast benefit to Harrisburg from
the standpoint of good government.
AT present city councils are ractically
law unto themselves. The Clark
act has been productive of much log
rolling which would be wiped out by
such a law as l have proposed"
OiumHhOuS measure
Senator Beidleman's bill is a vol
luminous measure, covering more than
$50 pages and embracing every point
of law relating to third class cities
now in force. Many of the provisions
are little If any changed. The cleo
tive officers under the Beidleman bill
would be mayor, one member of
council from each ward, (Which would
give Harrisburg thirteen), q city
Pif nd
city assessors. Council is to be elect
ed for the first time from even-D\n-
bered wards at the first election under
the new act for four years, from un
even numbered wards for two years
and every two years thereafter new
sets of councilmen be elected, alter
nately from the uneven and even
numbered wards. The mayor and
other elective officers would each serve
four years.
The bill also provides for the cleo
tion of three city assessors, also for
four years terms.
No Pay For Councilmcn
Council is to meet at least once q
month and is to be a continuous body.
The members have power of adminis-
tration and legislation, subject to the
veto of the mayor and they are to
serve without pay.
The mayor is to be the chief execu-
cases where terms do not expire the
first Monday of January, 1918, their
salaries are to remain the same as at
present. In cities the size of Harris
burg mayors elected under the act
would receive a salary of $4,000 u
year. Mayors are to be clothed with
all the police powers of sheriffs and
shall be committing magistrates.
The mayor is also to have the appoin-
tive power of all subordinate officers
created by ordinance except the city
clerk and any clerks of council or of
other departments of the city govern
ment, subject to the confirmation of
council. Thus he would have the
naming of the police force.
The salary of the city treasurer and
city controller is to be fixed by ordin-
ance, as is also that of the city engi-
neer who is to be elected by council.
The same applies to the city solicitor.
Each is to serve four years.
Council is to fix the number, rank
and pay of all policemen, but the
nominating power as well as the pow
er of dismissal lies with the mayor,
and he also is entitled to choose his
chief and other officers from among
those confirmed. Council is also to
provide such other officers and en-
ployes as required.
Board of Health
The board of health is to be of five
members elected for four-year terms
by council and is to serve without pay.
The water department is to be admin
istered by a board of commissioners
chosen by council to serve without
pay, who are to hire the necessary
operating and experimenting force
The various other departments are
left to the discretion of council.
The bill provides for the registration
of all real estate in the city and pen
alties for violation. 1t goes at great
length into all the elements of muni-
cipal government, the repeal of laws
in conflict and the details of the oper-
alton of council and the departments.