Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-11-05
COUNC|LMEN-ELECT
DISCUSS NEW PLANS
Weglein, Candidate for Presi-
dent, Suggests Fewer
Committees
FELTON, PROBABLY CLERK

Councilmcn elect. who will be mem
bcrs of the city'S new Legislative body.
are already discussing plans for the or
ganizaton and management of council
manic business Under the provisions of
the new city charter
In this connection. it was pointed out
in city Hall today that the charter
leaves the matter of organization and
clerical staff to the discretion df the new
body.
The charter says; 1T (thc new
Councll shall have power to provide
for its own organization. and to pro-
vide for the employment aud tiX the
salaries of such persons rs may be
necessary to the proper discharge of its
business
The present City Councils have n
staff of about forty clerks. II is sug-
gcsted that this staff be considerably
reduced inasmuch as II serves two
bodies Members said it was likely that
William II. FELTON,. chief clerk Of the
present Common Council, would be
chosen as chief clerk of the new Council.
Richard Weglcin, one of the cundi-
dates for president of the new Council.
said that members should have desk
room in City Hall. whore they could
meet their constituents each day. He
suggested the finance committee room
of City Hall be set aside for this pur-
pose.
Are "GlOriiied Messenger Boys
Members of the new Council. said
Mr. Wcglein. are well paid and they
should be on the job every day As a
matter of fact councilmen are really
'gloriied messenger boys, who should
be ready each day to answer the call
of their constituents.
Mr.. Weglen said meetings of the
Council should be held once every week,
The present City Councils. unless called
in special session, meet only twice a
month on the first and third THURSDAYS.
Councilmcn elect suggested that the
present Select Council chamber be used
as the meeting place for the new toun
ell. The present Common Council
chamber. it was urged. could be utilized
for public hearings, ar police trials un-
der the new civil service provisions
Of the charter. This chamber. it was
pointed out. could be considered by the
people as their own particular forum
for the expression OF views On pending
municipal legislation,
Consider Fewer Committees
Members of the new body are con q
idcring plans for the reduction aud con
solidation of the present twenty -eight
standing committees. As for the pres
cnt important finance committee ii was
suggested that the Council, sitting in
committee of the whole. should cOnstl-
| tutc the finance committee. Mr.. Weglen
pointed out that most legislation has
/ some relation to finance and that 1t
/ would be better were all the members
to pass on finance ordinances.
Councilman elect Weg!ein, who has
been discussing the subject with his
colleagues, said that the number of
standing committees might be reduced
to six or seven. Highways would be
one; surveys another present commit J.
tees handling transportation measures
could be united into one committee; the
same could be done with lighting com
nIittees.
The present street cleaning commit
tee, he said. could be combined witt
other committees now handling busl
ness in which the Department of Public
| Works is interested. Another idea Il
that the present committee on schools
be abolished because of the large pow
crs of the Board of Education.
One new committee. however is pro
nosed This would be the committee
on public welfare. which would han
do ordinances relating to the new DE
rartment of Public Welfare.
sCouncils Providing Funds
The Hresent Councils have plans un'
dor way to provide the incoming admin
4 istration with funds for next year
Chairman Gaffney. of the presen