Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-03-03
REVISED CHARTER
I BILLUP TONIGHT
Provides Single Council
and City to Do Own
Street Cleaning
NEW FINANCE SYSTEM
Unification Of Municipal and
County Governments Is
Provided Also
NEW FINANCE SYSTEM

he introduced into the Legislature to-
might.
Details of the new measure intended
10 replace the Bulitt bill were made
public today. The bill continues con-
Ecentration of power In the. Mayor. but
ireorsanizes Councils into single cham
her, makes several departmental
changes. gives the city authority to do
Its own street cleaning and street ro-
pair work and creates a new system of
municipal financing.
The revision bill will be introduced In
,the state Senate tonight either by Sem
,ator George Woodward or Senator Au-
agustus +. Daix. Jr.
The charter bill proper is to be sup
splemented by two additional bills.
The first provides for the creation OF
the office of purchasing agent in cities
of the first class.
Z The second supplementary bill Is de-
signed to improve the civil service of
counties having a population of 1,5oo,-
900 or more.
United City and County Government
Need for the supplementary bills
arises from the distinction between the
city and the county governments of
Philadelphia. The charter revision COM
nittee favors the abolition Of this dis
tinction A constitutional amendment Is
needed to accomplish It. The committee
recommends the appointment of COM
mission to inquire into the need for
constitutional convention which would
be instrumental in making the city and
county governments here identical
illegally as they are in point of
boundaries.
While the charter bill proper is pro-
'posed as a substitute for the so-called
'Bullitt bill. which upon passage of the
new legislation would be repealed, It
deals with many subjects not covered
by the Bulltt bill.
Changes Departments
, The bill concentrates executive power
in the hands of the Mayor. In this Il
follows the thought of the existing char
ter, but it proposes. in addition to the
elimination of the Department of Sup
plies, many other changes in theexe
tive departments. 1t proposes TO SEN
arate the functions of the Department
of Public Health and Charities and TO
create new department to be called
the Department of Public Welfare 10
the latter would be intrusted those duties
relating to the supervision of the char
liable institutions OF tho city, includinp
hospitals and reformatory institutions
In this connection the report of the sub
committee which drafted the bill sets
forth:
Z There Is no logical reason why tbe
activities of the city government I'm The
protection of the public health should he
Joined in one department, with its ac
ftivities, SO far as they relate to the care
management. administration and super
vision of charities, almshouses hospitals
and correctional institutions, and the
separation is in accordance with the
usual practice in other cities. To the
Department of Pubic Welfare will also
4bo delegated the functions previously
performed by the Board of Recreation,
and IL is given general authority over
such matters affecting the public welfare
as may be provided for by ordinance.
This will make it possible for the Coun-
ell to provide for the supervision and
control of any activities In the city
which might affect the morals of its in
habitants."
The next important change I'm the ex-
.ecutive department proposed by the bill
is that the Office of Receiver of Taxes
should cease to be a separate Office and
that the duties of the receiver should be
performed by the City Treasurer. The
department of the Receiver of Taxes,
the report points out, logically should
he a bureau under the City Treasurer,
and this would further simplify and con-
ccntrate authority in the government of
the city.
The bill provides that the City Solicit
tor shall cease to be an elective officer,
but shall be appointed by the Mayor.
'"rhis," says the report, "is strictly in
line with the practice in the state and
nation, and makes 1t certain that the
City Solicitor will be able to work In
harmony with the Mayor OF the city.
The bill also makes 1t clear, as 1t has
not been hitherto under existing law.
that the City Solicitor is to represent
not only the Mayor and the executive
departments, but also the legislative de-
partment of the city government lne
provision making the City Solicitor IN
appointive officer also has the advantage
of further shortening the ballot.
"Other and minor changes In the ex-
ecutiye departments place under the
general department of the Mayor not
only the purchasing agent, but city
architect (Which position Is by law
created for the first time, although pre-
yiously existing in an irregular man
ner). the Zoning Commission. tho CITY
planning Commission and the Art Jury.
Slight changes in regard to these de-
partments have been made upon the
advice of persons interested in and es-
pecially familiar with their work.
Single Chamber Provided
= Probably the most important change
provided for In the government IS the
substitution of a single-chamber Couhcli
of twenty-one members for the present [
bicameral system 1t Is proposed that
the Council shall consist OF members
elected from the senatorial districts. one
Councilman being elected for each 2o,oOo
qualified electors. Tho bill vests IN thls
Council all the powers and duties now
exercised by the Common aud Select
Councils and prescribes mode or pro-
cedure as to make it more simple and
better understood. The Councilmen are
TO be elected for terms of four years and
are TO receive salaries of $4,000 per year.
The act specifically prohibits dual office
holding.
"Under existing law" says the report
of the subcommittee, while City Coun-
ciimen cannot hold any other city office,
they are not prohibited from holding
county offices. The result is that a large
number of Councilmen hold such offices.
upon which they mainly depend for their
livelihood. In consequence, their inde-
pendence of action is greatly interfered
with, IL not destroyed, as they find II
difficult TO resist pressure brought to
bear in connection, with their duties as
Councilmen by those upon whose favor
they hold income-producing offices. This
evil of dual office-hold!ng has long been
recognized and the proposed bill de-
stroys II by making Councilmen ineligi-
BILE to hold any other Office of profit OF
any kind whatever IT also provides
that Councilmen shall be paid salaries
or $1,000 each. which Is reasonable. in
view Of the fact that they will now be
required to give more time than for