The herald., 1894-11-18
CANDIDATES ON THE CHARTER
They Reply to Questions From
the Citizens League.
A Variety of Opinions as to the
Short Term Question.
Some Interesting Expressions From Five
of the Mayoralty Aspirants on
Matters of Public In
forest.

deep interest in obtaining an improve.
ment in the organic law of the city. pre-
pared certain proposed amend ments to
the charter, among them being one pro-
viding for city elections being held in
the spring instead OF in the winter as ct
present, and this was considered to be
one Of the greatest Improvements sug-
gested, as it would remove the city elec-
tions from all the party influences en-
gendered by other elections which are
held in the latter part of the year, and
tend to make them better in all respects
on the line of good government. Under
the firm belief that these amendments
were all good and that their adoption
would result in benefit to the city, it
was deemed advisable to have them
take effect aH coon as possible, and pro-
vision was therefore made for an election
in April next and for the amendments
to take effect May 1st next. This time
has been changed to year from April.
Desiring to know the opinions of the
different candidates for mayor on this
latter point and to ascertain aa to their
Willingness to surrender the Office after
q short term, il the people should go
wish, q letter was addressed to each OF
them asking for their opinions in regard
to holding an election next spring. Fol-
lowing are the plies received:
I'm response to your opinion. request
ing my opinion in regard to the time of
the taking effect of the amendments of
the city charter. will say, that while it
would materially shorten my term of
Office. If elected mayor, shall always
sacrifice my personal interests and am
bitions, while in Office, for the public
good, and, therefore. favor the amended
charter going into effect at the earliest
practical period, namely. May next.
most heartily approve and commend
your public-spirited action and that Of
our present council in your efforts to
secure q reduction of the tax rate as
proposed by the amended charter.
NV. II. WORKMAN"
"Replying to your favor OF 10th inst,
addressed to me, as Q candidate for may.
or, see no reason why my opinion as
to the time when the proposed revised
city charter should go into effect, should
be especially valuable above that Of any
other citizen. 1 believe. however. that
anything in the way of charter amend
ments, which will be of benefit to the
city at large. should be accomplished as
early as practicable. shall cheerfuily
acouiesce in such action az the council
may take and the people ratify.
FRANK RAIDER"
'In answer to yours of the 10th inst,
permit mo to say am satisfied that the
proposed charter is an improvemen mt on
the present one and am heartily in favor
of it. As to the time when the officials
elected hereunder shall take their off
ces believe that it can safely be left to
your committee of the council. 1t
would seem to me, however, that the
expense and annoyance of an election
in April could be avoided by making all
officers elected in December, whose
offices are not abolished, hold under the
new charter for the regular election pro-
vided for therein. but il you believe that
public interest will be gu bserved by hav.
ing a new election of officers in April,
Notwithstanding we are to have one in
December, (although l do not believe
that any public interest will be sub.
served by these constantly recurring
elections,) 1 will certainly oppose no OBJ
lection thereto. because the public good
is OF more Importance than that Of any
office.holder, and ii am elected to the
Office for which l am q candidate you
can rely on my hearty support Of the
new charter, Notwithstanding its adop-
ton would legialate me out of the Office
to which may have been elected.
HENRY T. HAZARD"
SIN reply to your communication OF
November 10th, asking an expression OF
my opinion as to the time when it might
be better to have the ofiicers-elect under
the new charter take Office, l would re-
ply:
"First-It is to be regretted that the
city should be put to the expense of two
elections 80 close together, but this is
probably unavoidable.
"Second-When the second election
has been held see no good reason why
the officers.elect should not enter upon
the discharge OF their duties the first of
May Immediately following, as there
will have been ample time for them to
have mastered the changes made by the
! amendments, and to enter intelligently
upon the discharge OF their duties, The
month of delay would also be to the out
going officers period of indicision and
delay in the carrying out OF any definite
policies OF city business.
~. P. WIDNEY."
! Replying to your iasof oi the 10th
inst. asking for nay opinion ae to whether
the officers elected under the amended
city charter should take Office in May,
| 1884. or in Nav; 1896 l have to say tina.
, | think there are substantial arguments
in favor OF either view. | am of the
opinion that the matter should be de-
clded, as should all other municipal
questions OF this character, upon a
| purely business basic. The officers
elected at the December election will, at
the time of the adoption of the charter
amendments, have entered upon and
D p,rtly carried out their administrative
polic,, and could, no doubt, without
d dstui Dance to the public business. ad
just affairs during their term to meet
the new conditions imposed by tho new
charter. On the other hand, there is no
doubt that. as suggested by you, should
the charter in its entirety 60 into effect
Immediately it will result in consider
able saving to the taxpayers. The
question which seems to suggest itself
ia whether or not this saving
will recumpense for the disturbance tc
public business which is the inevitable
result of frequent elections and unneces.
cary changes of officers and methods
On this point find that there is di-
versity of opinion among the merchants
with whom l have spoken and l myself
feel that the settlement Of this point
may wisely be LETT to the Judgment O
your committee, composed, as il is, o
representative business men who have
given the subject so much attention anC
study. Personally, have no interest il
the matter, except that which will bes
eubserve The public good. | sincerely