The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-11-14
A PAPER ON MUNICIPAL REFORM
Points About an Efficient CITY
Charter.
President Pcchin. of tho Commercial As
ISOLATION, Discusses the Subject-Thc
Model Charter OF st. Louis-Thc
Charters of Other Cities Cited, and
Some of the Needs of Roanoke In This
Respect Pointed Out

The following paper on municipal
reform was read at the last Tuesday
nights meeting of the Commercial AS
ISOLATION by President L. Pechim:
"In connection with our meeting hero
tonight. it is curious coincidence
that in tho current number of the
North American Review there arc
four tcrse and comprehens ive papers
upon the topic of How to Improve Mum
icipal Governments;' one by thu OK
mayor of Boston, and the others by tho
present mayors Of Baltimore, Buffalo
and st. Louis. They are worthy of
careful consideration, because they are
the result of large experience in CITY
government, and evidently written by
those who have given thoughtful con-
sideration to the subject. They seem
to we'll establish the posi- ton
THAT a city should be invested with
discretionary powers for the transac ton
OF Its business to much the same extent
as is allowed to private corporations;
that 1t Is proper that the State should
retain proper and legal restriction, but
only such restrictions as will prevent
the disregard of the ordinary principles
of law and order; beyond this. there
should be tho largest possible latitude.
Tho mayor of St. Louis says that the
government of st. Louis is as nearly
perfect as that of any city in the United
States, and that the charter was adopted
In pursuance of 4 constitutional grant
oil the power given to it, to havo board
OF httecn frecholders propose charter
to the people of tho city for their ap-
prevail, which should, when adopted, be
tho organic law OF the city. The instru-
ment vas most carefully prepared by
eminent citizens and while it is neces-
sarily defective in respect to the bust
ness OF the judicial branch, it is, mover
theless, confidently believed to be the
bestcity charter in the land. In fact, it
has in fifteen years experience proved so
satisfac DRY that it has been embodied
almost literally in the statutes of the
State as the law for tho government of
all cities having population of over
100000, and its principles have been
adopted for all cities, towns and vii
lagos, however small
"What other people have found out
by full experience to be thoroughly
good, it is safe to copy. have asked
the mayor of st. Louis to kindly furnish
n with copy of tho city charter that
it may be submitted to the considera-
ton of the association at some subse-
quent meeting. The views of all the
gentlemen writing are very positive on
several points. The principal one is,
that there should without doubt, be two
branches The suggestion of Mayor
Bishop, of Buffalo, is that tho lower
branch should be composed of those
elected from and representing different
wards or other divisions, and the other
composed of smaller number of mem
bers elected by and representing the
whole city, which latter body should DO
check upon the other.
The executive power should be
vested in the mayor and under his
supervision, in tho heads of different
departments. There is some little
difference of opinion in regard to the
appointment Of the subordinates of the
mayor or of other public officers, some
tn king the position that tho appoint
ing power and removal should be abso-
lutely given to the mayor, and others
that the appointing power may be prop
erly limited by giving the Council tho
right to confirm or reject, tho mayor
having the veto power over all acts of
the City Council.
1T is also desirable that the city gov
eminent should be a continuous body,
the mayor to be elected for periods of
three or four years and the members of
Council to be elected for at least two
years and half the Council to be elected
annually. Tho single idea of all is to
have system of we'll adjusted checks,
that while within certain provinces and
within certain limits the executive and
legislative should be supreme, beyond
those limits they ought 10 a certain ex-
tent be controlled by each other, so as
to avoid injudicious or hasty action on
the part of either.
''One very important point is made by
the mayor of st. Louis, namely. that the
approval of the controller is absolutely
necessary, the auditor to see that no
money is spent unless there has been an
appropriation for the purpose, and tho
treasurer noe to pay out cent unless
ordered by both controller and auditor,
these three officers to pe elected by the
people. to be heavily bonded and d.
Tectly responsible to the people. BY
this plan no financial difficulties or
shortages could occur without the con-
pivance OF all three. 1t is impossible
in the limits Of discussion such as we
have. tonight to do more than to out.
line what seems TO be the most impor-
tant points to be considered.
The City Council OF Roanoke has to
deal with critical period in tho his
tory of the city. We have grown be-
yond the limits OF village or country
town. and are now closely approaching
upon tho proportions of city. Free
quent changes in organic law are to be
deprecated, and tn, refore the proper
thing to do ct this juncture is for all
good citizens interested in the welfare
of the city to endeavor to so shape
action in regard to new city charter
as t' make 1t not only meet the require
ments OF the moment, but to be the law