16 CLARK ACT PRAISED CONDEMNED BY ,[Continued From First Page] people know to whom thev must look for results. There was also increased cost under the commission form, but the lack of a single directing head was recognized and the people were glad to change to the mayor form of adminis tration. Also In Denver the heads of the various departments are appointed bjr Mayor Speer, who makes most of the other appointments. Denver's experi ence has been the experience of many other cities that have experimented with the commission scheme of gov ernment. It is admitted in Harrisburg that the iPlan has worked out here in some re spects quite satisfactorily and in others It has been a distinct failure. The Tele igraph has requested the views of its 'contemporaries in the Third Class cities 'of the State and those thus far re ceived are submitted herewith. WILKES-BAR RE CONTENTED Eugene F. Giering, editor of the Wilkes-Barrc Record. "Wilkes- Barre*s experience with commission government has been fairly satisfac tory, eminently so in some ways. My impression is that it is a big improve ment over the old councilmanic form with ward representation. Undoubt edly some other cities have not fared •as well, but it must be borne in mind that no form of government can be proof against lapse of interest or other delinquencies on the part of the elec torate. The best we can do is to adopt the form that appeals to us as being the best in principle. I can see no hope of universal improvement in changing to a council of seven or nine members, they to serve without pay" and to appoint the heads of depart ments. The temptation to seek office for the sake of the political perquis ites woud induce men of low caliber to seek the office, just as the political power, plus the salary, tempts men of low caliber under the present form. The suggestion that each city be given the privilege of conducting its gov ernment to suit itself should be less objectionable than another general experiment. But in Wilkes-Barre there is no demand for a change of any kind." MEN, NOT THE FORM AT FAULT Jess E. Long, editor and manager Daily News, MeeKcsport "We find that there isn't much to complain about in the form. If good men are elected the problem will be solved. We have a mayor and four council- | men. If a combination of three is 1 formed among them and that com- j bination is made of men who are not ; honest and do not work for the best interest of the taxpayer, then the form is all wrong. In almost three ! years we have seen combinations come and go. Good and bad has been the j result. As a whole in the experiment' over the old form of dual bodies I ; think we are better off. If the Gov- | ernor had not knocked down the pro- 1 posed amendments the League of Third Class cities recommended at the last session of the Legislature, I think the commission form of government would have been greatly improved. The amendments were carefully con- j sidered by the solicitors of many Third Class cities. Much time was cpent in preparing the amendments, •but the Governor gave it no consid- I eration. The substitution of a single council to act without pay and that body to name heads of departments might work out all right. That's new ■over this way. Had not heard of it. The greatest complaint here has not been against the form, but the men "who have been elected." FAVORS A CITY MANAGER | Harry F. Johnston, tho Altoona Mirror "The commission form of j government worked well and some times worked ill in Altoona, It has enabled us to get some things we | "needed a little sooner than would have been the case under the old I form, but it has not been all that was expected of it by long odds. We thought It would eliminate log rolling; it hasn't. We thought it would con centrate responsibility as well as authority; it hasn't done that either. A couple of weeks ago Mayor Charles •E. Rhodes Introduced an ordinance strengthening tho State Blue law by increasing the fine for Sunday selling * eas than sls and not more than *25, or not less than 30 days' impris onment, Some of bis colleagues did not want to take a stand either way bo they amended tho ordinance by re ferring it to a referendum of the people. "One of the best things that has been accomplished under commission government is the placing of virtually an tne municipal employes under civil service regulations by fixing their terms of offioe during efficient work and good behavior. The policemen, nremen. health bureau, water bureau and electrical bureau employes are all protected and cannot be removed ex cept after a public hearing of ' the charges against them by council, This would never have been possible under the old system. Perhaps the weaknesses of com mission government are not due so FRECKLE-FACE Sun and Wind Brine Out V«:Iy Spots. How to Remove Easily Here's a chance, Miss Freckle-face, to try a remedy for freckles with the guarantee of a reliable dealer that It will not cost you a penny unless It re moves the freckles; while If it does give you a clear complexion the ex pense is trifling. e Simply get an ounce of othlne— double strength—from any druggist and a few applications should show you how easy It is to rid yourself of the homely freckles and get a beauti ful complexion. Rarely is more than one ounce needed for the worst case. Be sure to ask the druggist for the double strength othlne, as this is the prescription Bold under guarantee of money back if it falls to remove freckles. KNICKERBOCKER Shower Bath Massage Bath Shampoo Bath— ■s§ 'All in one for $1.50 and up Flexible and adjustable to any curve of the body. Forney'sDrugStore Second St., Near Walnut FKTPXY fcVhN'iMG, much to the form as to men. It pro vides the machinery for an efficient and economical administration of the public's affairs, but the men who run it must be honest, able, fearless and without political ambition. As for ourselves, we favor a city manager." HOME RULE DEMANDED Hon. Fred. C. Kirkcudall, the Wilkcs-BaiTc Times-Leader "I am of the opinion that no general im provement has been shown in Wilkes- Barre under the commission form of government over the old system. Re sponsibility is just as hard to center and taxpayers are not getting any more for their money than they did under tho old. I am of the opinion that forms of plan-government are secon dary matters. That it is all up to the caliber of the men who hold the of ficial positions. lam also heartily in favor of "Home Rule" for cities and believe an act should be passed giving cities tho right to choose their own form of gpvernment. Every city has its own problems to solve and any gen eral classification act works hard ships." HOW IT WORKS AT EASTON C. X. Andrews, general manager and editor, Easton Free Press "Just what to think concerning the working of the commission form of government in Easton is a puzzling J proposition. In many respects the | commission has done well. In some j there is not the change that was hoped for. That politics woud be eradicated has not proven true here, though the course of the commissioners did not give the public that insight into the j political nature of the work that was the case with the old double council organization. The people are kept in t»he dark to a great degree concerning the purpose of the commission, as contrasted with the old body. In the latter the discussions were in com mittee and in the sittings of councils. These meetings were open, and re porters gave full accounts, the people thus learning the intentions, the argu ments and position of the councilmen. It developed early under commission government that there was tp be lit tle open discussion. The meetings that were held were generally per functory; there had been private dis cussions beforehand and agreements and there was little else done but to act formally on previously decided points. "As to politics, in the fire depart ment every vacancy was filled by the appointment of a man whose politics, it was subsequently learned was Democratic. Most of the men engaged in highway department work, if new men, were of the same political faith. When there came the change that was effected by the second election of commissioners, it was noticed that new men in the fire department were j generally Republicans, for the hew I head of that department is Republi- | can. Politics had entered into the 1 election of the new commissioners. I v\ hen the first body was elected the ! election was as nearly nonpartisan i as an election can well be. Nonpartisan Feature Doomed The fact that politics has entered into the work of the commissioners I and into the second election leads me j to think that the nonpartisan feature, ; contemplated by the act, is doomed hereafter in Easton. "The general work of the first ooard of commissioners was on the whole good. Xo old body of city councils would have dared to spend the public money in the way it was done. Unquestionably the fire depart ment was made much better so far as equipment was concerned. Good be fore, it was measurably strengthened, but the cost was considerable. The highways of the city are better, the garbage department better, the police about the same, while parks and play grounds are receiving more attention the people approving this last de velopment. "Possibly commission government has no. had a fair trial in Easton, because the commissioners have been trying to maintain the city, meet the increased cost, do more work without increasing the tax rate, practically keeping the expenses down to those of the old council. Some additional money has been available through a readjustment of the assessments on real estate for taxable purposes, and tnis money has been needed. There is not the least intimation that the commissioners have not been scru pulously honest, and careful in the hnnrt tv, anC u S ' With lhe money at hand they have done well. Xo Open Discussion "There is less friction, less fault finding, less criticism. This comes in a great part from the fact that there is not so much open discussion. The commissioners perform their work and that is about all there is to It' l though it is noticeable that they are 1 sensitive to public criticism, and en deavor to meet it, or to profit by it Our commissioners have been and are «t rn « A hlgh standard was J? ?u st Belectlon as to candi dates and thero is a strong demand tnat this standard bo lived up to Ev i Ce ln ° ther cl «es. I understand" Hi 1 thls ha " not always been achieved, and that later bodies have not been considered as efficient as the first body elected. "As to the proposition to have the law repealed, and a new council of seven or nine elected, with power ?o appoint the heads of the several de- nt'T, 1 b6ln « witn all the provisions of such a Dlan hat°" d wo a £id fr °n m t tne bare °ta?e£ent as wen aTthep n r«ent7aV he PUrP ° S6 } th'nk that it Is too early to sav ot the' Third' pi KOVernmont tor cities oi tno Ihird Class la a failure op « success. There are arguments both vo a cates WU the th T ° f th ° stronger, it would to tempt to change the law at the com ing session of the LeglsTafure ® Com! Don't Throw Away Your Old Automobile Tires WE CAN MAKE THEM GOOD. AS NEW . Send us your old auto tires, we make them like new get wise save real money on your tire bills' thousands are doing it. Send them PROVED S DOUBI3i TREAD™ TEM makes that old tire as |ood as a new one. Prices next to noth ing. Here they are:— 80*3 »».00 36x4 »8 KO 30x3% ... $0.50 34x4% EjX 32*3% ... 96.50 35*4% . *8 50 33*4 »8.00 3«x4% .. S»oO 34*4 98.00 87*4% l" Send to-day for our tire folder. R. K. TIRE CO. 1401 RIDGE AVE., PHILADELPHIA If you have no old tires we will furnish you with a complete double tread tire at 20 per cent, above the above price list. Agents wanted goo^proposltion. mission government has not been thoroughly tried out. ALLEN TOWN IS SATISFIED Charles W. Wetser, editor Alien town Democrat and Evening Item "The commission form of government is working out very satisfactorily In Allentown. lam of tho opinion that the voters of Allentown would not favor a proposition to abandon the system if called upon to deride tho question with their ballots. I attrib ute the success of the system in Allen town to the fact that tho members of our council work in harmony. In other words, there is teamwork. Each councilman devotes his entire »lmo to the department or departments to which he has been assigned, 110 Is responsible to his colleagues for the conditions in his department. Every councilman is at hts office at 7.30 a. m. and remains on duty until 4.30 p. m. Regular meetings of the council are held when there is a free expres sion of opinion, but there is no at tempt made to "butt in," if I may use a slang phrase, on the business of each other. This plan has been work ing out most satisfactorily and I do not believe there is a Third Class city in the State the government of which is conducted in a more business-like manner. "If commission form of government has failed in some cities I do not be lieve it to be the fault of the sys tem, but of the voters, who failed to elect the right sort of councilmen. It is folly to assume that commission form of government Is a panacea for all municipal ills. It is merely a means to an end, and that end can be attained if the voters, the stock holders in the municipal corporation, use the same fine discrimination that the stockholders of a private corpo ration use when they elect their direc tors. I "So far as the proposition to amend the Clark bill by inserting an optional clause is concerned, I believe the Idea is in accordance with the home-rule principle. If there is any city in the State that does not wish to have com mission form of government its wish should be granted. CHESTER AGAINST CHANGE Senator Wm. C. Sproul, of the Ches ter Times "We are very well satis fied here with the commission form of government, although it is a bit more expensive than it need be. I believe that possibly the substitution of a small council might be more de sirable, although we really feel op posed to any more fooling or tinker- U 1 ® our municipal government. We have had a good many changes in the past few years and just about the time we get used to one system some fellow conies along with a proposi tion for a change. STRONG FOR PRESENT FORM Mi illiaiu MeCormU'k, editor and pro prietor, the Reading Herald "I would consider an abandonment of commission government a very re grettable step backward both for Reading and for the State. "I believe that the passage of the Clark bill establishing commission form is one of the best works that a Pennsylvania Legislature has ever achieved. Reading's first experience under a commission form of govern wa® a very satisfactory one. "The five men chosen for the first two years were of a far higher type than had ornamented our council chambers in many years. There had occasionally been one or more first class councilmen. The general type was .mediocre. The people didn't I seem to desire or expect anything but mediocrity of personnel. Hence there was only mediocrity of performance and sometimes what was worse than mediocrity. A very superior type of councilman was chosen under the Clark law. As a result there was more aggressive ana resultful work done during the first two years of commission government than had been thr ? u ® h many preceding years. "Reading has done much since the early part of 1914 which it never contemplated doing under the old form of government. The second election under the commission form was of a different sort. Only one of the old council members was re elected. Certain of his four associates are of a reactionary type. But they have been unable thus far to do any thing disastrous. They are safeguard ed and limited in a way which would not have been possible under the old council form. * *i_^ e e arc * le for repeal, to which you refer, as a reactionary demand. I don't believe that any patr otic, far-seeing, unselfish non- Cl^! e , n , s £ ave an y Part in this demand Of if they do, I think they are much mistaken, and will present ly their mistake. ™h£i? an see no advant age in the plan which you suggest, and even if there e / e /-,! m ? ginary advantages, I think hotn a form of government has been given too brief a test. I think the time is not ripe for a change. The optional clause does not appeal to me L b « lev ° cities the Third Class ought to be governed uniformly I believe the concentrated wisdom of citizens of Third Class cities is su edlowns. ° f ln< " vidual segregat- It is true that a town as big as Reading, with 110,000 people mav different problems from a town of 20,000 and yet both are at present counted Third Class cities. present There may be errors of classifica 0°A n LLEY Ut THREE tiOnal CIaUS6 WOUld CLASs'IITIES™* GOVT IN 3RD allow too much autocracy. The noli ticlans of certain cities would have too much of their own way. Thev could adopt a form of government to suit themselves, i believe composite plan, to which the men of sundry cities have contributed of their experience and their good sense is passed r °bv r thp r 7 1 ' f7 d that the Jaw passed by the Legislature should he mandatory and inclusive." A BAS THE CLARK ACT! W. H. Schwartz, editor the Altoona Tribune "I have never believed In the possibility of providing by a gen eral law for the necessities of the cities lumped together under the act dividing our cities into three classes. If I had my way I would 'provide for home rule for third class cities. I am, therefore opposed to the Clark act, a retrogression instead of an ad vance, imposing upon the people a wholly needless burden and produc ing nothing in the way of increased efficiency as compensation. I have not yet reached that stage of ad vancement in which I am willing to view with satisfaction the denatured Mayor of the Clark act; under it the Mayor is "neither fish, flesh nor good red herring.'V I believe there should be a distinction between the legisla tive and the executive branches of the municipal government. A bas the Clark act!" .WILLIAMSPORT HAS ENOUGH George E. Graff, editor and pub lisher, the Willlamsport Sun "As the result of our observation of the practical workings pr the commission HARRISBURG TELEGRAPH A personal statement by Thomas E. Wilson THE American public has known Sulz- Already we see the results of the new or berger & Sons for over half a century. ganization. Increasing sales, heavier demands v 1 *v f .. . . for "Majestic" products, tells the story. f I You know the quality of their meats and meat food products—you know the high stand- * * 7 ard maintained by Maje.tic Hams and Bacon. „ "* g ° mg '°. with the for example stock-raiser; we are going to encourage stock ; 1 raising in every agricultural district. We When the opportunity came to associate want the supply of livestock increased. With myself with Sulzberger & Sons Co. I saw a our w^e facilities we should be able to bring big, growing, successful institution, with large about conditions which will lower the price of plants located in the right sections, with splen- meats to you. did possibilities to be made bigger and better ... I and broader. e belle^ve 11131 meats and meat food products you are asked to buy should be I knew the organization. I knew its men. handled with respect. That is why, in addi- I knew them to be men of big ideas—"live on to tlie safeguard of United States gov wires", eager and anxious for wider oppor- ernment inspection, we insist upon rigid clean tunities. liness and sanitary conditions in every one of our plants. "S & S" built their business on their high quality standard. They were just as jealous We want you to know and to believe that of their good name as we are of that of th e name "Wilson & Co." is actually a pure Wilson &Co # food name. It is a guarantee of purity, clean liness and quality. The advance in civilization creates new standards, no greater advances have been So here is the splendid old "S & S" institu made than those in the preparation of foods —after more than half a century of suc and we, with our enlarged Company and in- cessful growth—built into a bigger, better and creased capital, with our keen, live, enthusi- broader organization, astic force, will meet these demands and not only maintain the high standards of the old Company, but will put these standards even *""7 L/ * r> higher. I ° PRESIDENT., CHICAGO NEW YORK KANSAS CITY OKLAHOMA CITY LOS ANGELES Distributing Branches in all Leading Cities of the United States and Foreign Countries | j ■ NOTE— For a short time we wiil continue to «I„.t w I 111 l use the "S& S" label-it mean, all that it /Offe*\ JUBt #ay WllSOn 8 "I always meant, with the added strength of the I •.» .» r i » h new organization of Wilson & Co. yvyffiy " 8 the pure food name yj form of government adopted for the Third Class cities of Pennsylvania three years ago, there is no hesitancy on our part in designating it unsat isfactory in a pronounced degree. It is decidedly wasteful of the public funds without any compensating ad vantages discernible, except perhaps a greater facility in passing legisla tion, which is seldom an advantage. The'law provides an additional head for the fire department, but a chief and all of the old organization is still necessary. The street department has another superior officer, but without displacing a single employe under the old system. The same is true of the other assignments of councilmen con templated in the Clark law apd the sole result apparent is the placing of these additional well-paid officers on the salary list. The executive overhead expense thus entailed on the city of Williamsport amounts to 25 per cent, of its income available out side of the lighting, fire and other appropriations more or less fixed in their character and which would necessarily have to be made to meet definite contracts or needs under any system of government. Salaries Without Results "Nor can any man say, after two elections under the Clark law, that the payment of salaries to council men has brought into the public ser vice a higher class of business ability than it commanded in the days when it was contributed as a matter of civic pride. Indeed, it averages decidedly lower. There is a tendency on the part of voters to listen to the plea of need on the salary question and vote down the man who has made good in another occupation in favor of a man whose failure in other fields leaves no doubt that the pay attached to the office is more necessary to him than to the other. In fact, I consider the present councilmanic salary the great est defect of the present law in view of the manifest willingness of people of real ability to contribute their ser vices, in a deliberative way at least, for their city's good. Favors Single Council "We strongly recommend the single council of five or more members, elected from the city at large, to serve without pay or for a nominal sum, who may appoint the several chiefs of deDartments, and an executive who might perhaps be designated as a city manager; a well paid, capable person with whom they may take up all policies or suggested laws or other city business, just as does a corporate board of directors with their manager, and run the city as the best organized businesses are. I believe this could be accomplished without repealing all the present law which has many good points. The experience gained in the past three years should make these as apparent as its weak ones and make possible the enactment of a complete and satisfactory law for the government of our cities at the com ing session of Legislature." LAMENTABLE FAILURE AT YORK W. L. Taylor, head of the York Dispatch and York Daily "So far as making many of the Improvements that were promised the commission form of government has proven a definite and lamentable failure in York. The hand of political intrigue is more evident and expensive than ever before, both in the transaction of public business and results obtain ed. Expensive political bickering has cost us much money. I have no doubt whatever that if given the opportun ity of voting upon the subject York would, by a large majority, return to the old form of government rather than to continue with the new. in my mind the ideal form of govern ment for cities such as ours would be worked out on the basis of an un paid council and paid manager." CITY MANAGER FAVORED Charles M. KeUey, general manager of the Altoona Times "Relative to the working of the commission form of government here, we can advise you that, so far. It has failed to realize the benefits that its advocates pre dicted for it. We have increased our operating cost without any appreci able improvement in administration; and we have failed utterly to central ize responsibility, perhaps due to the . JULY 28, 1916. fact that the commissioners elected have been keeping their eyes on a re election and have side-stepped duties that, while obviously necessary, have involved features that might react un favorably upon the political fortunes of the commissioners. "I am firmly convinced that com mission government, provided right men are elected, is a vast Improve ment over the bicameral system. But, unfortunately, our people cannot be induced to recognize the importance of selecting the right kind of men. The basis of selection is apt to be Church affiliation, or fraternal asso ciation, or some other Immaterial and frequently destructive influence that Os%, Absolutely No Pain f My latest Improved appll- f JK |KR( »nce«, Including u oxeynea l*ed air apparatus, makea . »V > \%% y 22K gold cnma...|UM "W to • p. m.| Hon., Wed. and Sat., till 9 p. M.i Sun day*. 10 a. m. to 1 p. in. BKLI. PHONE 3322-R. jf • EASY TERMS OF PAYMENTS (Over the Hub) Harrlaburg, Pa. it di*nt hart. wt is subversive of the best developmenl of any form of government. "It is probable that were the mattei submitted to Altoona voters thej would recall commission government since there is quite a widespread be lief that it has been a failure. Then is warrant for this opinion, If we d( not differentiate between the system and those who control it. "Personally, I favor the city man ager plan with, perhaps, an advisor; board selected by the voters and serv ing without pay or for a nomina salary. Elective heads, responsibli directly to the people, are not, in m; opinion, the most desirable arrange ment."