The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-11-13

city government. and to this end pcrmancncy of
no calling is bcttcr worthy the ambition OF Young
men than many OF those In connection with our
city governments; but unless there Ia some guar
antce or permanent employment such as is given
by private corporations Il is not to be expected
snat cities VIII be properly served. When all is
recognized as the most pertinent OF all.
aT come M, down to the question in hand new
provisions OF law we have to consider e' ""~'
In artlclcG, section II to al OF the constitution
0a ySirgin,ia, there are various provisions In
garu 10 cities and towns containing n population
OF over 1900. Thcsc provisions being provisions
Oh the constitution must, OF course, be followed,
OF city government is here provided for TO run
hastily through these provisions:
Sdgs Of tho %e
enumerated enaiia. officers shall be elected by the
or nnss Court 1I for cGrH ot the
YEAR,; one commemorative attorney for term
OF years; one city sergeant for term of year 8;
missioner OF revenue. Section 70 provides for
the election OF mayor, with general overnight
their acts and the right OF access to nil hooks
and documents In their Offices and power to cx-
anime anime them by oath. lie is given tho power to
remove officers for misconduct In Office or neg
lect OF duty, to be specified In the order OF sus-
pension or removal, the officer being lrst
Il then that 1f ali hing oiner heard o
GERS shall be elected or appointed by sucb
MembnrSy ~ No ,mo general assembly shall designate.
offices in cities. A'N ~ 0'"e'
It is then provided that general laws for the
no special act shall be passed cxcept where in
the Judgment OF the general assembly the object
Tb ssG as act c%hnot be attained by general law
the most part with special charters, but os the
general assembly is The sole Judge OF whether the
attaircd y general law. the mere passage OF n
special law determines this question in the mega.
tive. And 1t being to-day the custom OF the gen
crul assembly to incOrUOratc w nj actt II,
provision is now, Judge virtually nugatory.
Each special charter must comply with the other !.
given on which to prepare charter. 1t is for
the charter to provide whether the Legislature of
how these bodies shall be elected; whether other
officers than those mentioned in the constitution
arc required and how those officers shall be
elected or appointed. and for what terms The
charter should determine how fur and In what
directions the authority OF the city shall extend
have made c.rcful study OF the present cha r.
actcr OF Roanoke. all the provisions or which will
come under careful review I'm the framing OF n
new charter, and there are some remarks and
suggcstf ne which arc naturally called for At
the same time the many questions OF policy as TO
inc form OF city government must be colsid-
ercu In view or the experience or other places
III have said enough tonight to Impress upon
you tho Importance OF the subject we are con
s 81 and to Indicate certain lines OF thought
that might win advantage he carried ont, l shall
feel that what have done has borne fruit
MY examination OF the question that have made
In general and OF the problem rs presented here
In Roanoke IN particular has been necessarily
hasty and inadequate, but has been sufficient 10
impress me greatly with the importance OF n
thorough investigation and consideration OF the
subject before any definite form for new charter
Is decided upon.
what work have been able to do has inter.
cstcd me In IN" question and propose collecting
further material. particularly papers showing in
detail the forms OF city government In several
OF our cities lr this material can be Of use to
any member OF this club. or any other persons
Interested. 1t il at their disposal, and shall he
most happy to do what can to aid them In the
invcstigatiOn OF the actual preparation OF the
new charter.
The time have had to look into this new char
ter has not been sufficient to make 1t wise for me
TO suggest Mt present more definitely the line on
which new charter should be framed hut |
doubt not that now that the Commercial Club
has taken al interest IN this matter, there may
he opportunities OF presenting for consideration
any definite provisions that may seem worth OF
consideration.