Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-06-17
CHARTER MEASURE
FEATURES EXPLAINED
Reforms Proposed in Bill Are
Virtually Unchanged, Declare
Revisionists
CITY TO BE CONTRACTOR

Despite minor amendments made dur
ing the course of the charter revision
bill through the Legislature. the reforms
proposed in the measure remain sub
stsntially unchanged, according to the
charter revisionists. The bill is re.
sarded as an epoch making piece Of
legislation.
A review of the bills provisions is
sued by the revisionists follows:
THE most important single reform
In the bill, and the one most bitterly
opposed, is the creation of a small,
single. .chambered council on precisely
the basis originally provided for in the
charter committee bill. This Council
will be elected from the various state
senatorial districts on the basis Of one
for each 1900 assessed voters or major
fraction thereof. The first Council un.
der this plan will consist of twenty
one members. Councilmen are to re-
ceive salaries of $4,000 each and are
10 be prohibited from holding any other
Office under the city, county, state or
federal government.
~ City to Be Contractor
''The hill provides that after Decem
Der 81, 1920, the city shall do its own
street cleaning and repairing and ashes,
waste, rubbish and garbage collecting
and disposing unless the Council by q
majority vote. with the approval of the
Mayor, authorizes contracts to be lei
for such work. In case the Council
and the Mayor decide to let contracts
for such work they are authorized to
make contracts for longer period than
one year. a restriction which has here
tofore prevented competition.
''As regards municipal finances, the
bill (exactly as Mr.. White drew it
after discussion at the public hearing) ,
effects important and far reaching re
forms. 1t provides that the Mayor
shall submit to the Council by October
Is a financial statement showing the
estimated receipts. fixed liabilities and
proposed expenditures of the city for
the ensuing year. The Council is re-
ouired to consider the Mayors state
meut in open sessions and by December
Is to pass an ordinance setting forth
the financial program for the ensuing
year and at the same time to FIX a
tax rate that will produce sufficient
funds, together with the funds from
other sources. to pay all the fixed liza
bilities and the current expenditures
set forth in the Coucil's finan-
cial program for the ensuing year.
The Council is required to keep the ex-
penditures of the city within the limits
20 fixed. Other provisions of the bill
prohibit the city from borrowing money
on long term bonds for current ex-
penses, greatly reduce the mandamus
evil and codify and greatly simplify the
procedure for incurring Indebtedness.
Civil Service Sections e
.sTbe civil service sections have been
scthewhat modissts during the consider
stSn of the biH.S As passed the bill
pr6vides that the three civil service
commissioners shall be elected by a ma
icrity vote of the. Council, instead of
being appointed by the Mayor as is
done at present. :.
Il .'Political activity and payment of
uolitical contributions by policemen
and firemen is. made a misdemeanor
punishable by fne and Imprisonment.
Moreover, any taxpayer may bring
proceedines to have the employment of
the offender declared illegal and to re-
strain payment of compensation to him.
(The present law forbidding the po-
ftical activity Of oficeholders is re-
enacted.)
.sThe bill raises the bureau of health to
rank of a department. A department
Of public welfare is created to take over
the activities of the bureau of chari
ties, the bureau of correction and the
board Of recreation.
Controllers Powers
s'The city controller is given entire
charge over all city accounts and en-
ployes engaged in keeping them.
t'The city solicitor is to be appointed
by the Mayor.
"a separate bill not part of the char
ter committees program which was in
troduced by Senator Daix and recent!
passed by both houses of the Legisla'
ture, provides for the removal of th
pfesenI partisan Doaru OF registration
commissioners and the appointment b.
the government of a new board of fv
members in its place. The bill also pro
vides that any voter who for any rea
son fails to register at his polling plac
on one of the registration days ma!
register at the Office of the commission
ers. The bill also strengthens and i'm
proves the registration laws generally
and will make possible a fair registra
tion and election in this city next fall.