The Topeka state journal., 1899-12-04
MUNICIPAL CODE.
Bill Prepared to Revise In the
Ohio Cities
All of the Big Political Parties
Are Barred.
FOR CITY OWNERSHIP.
All of the Nominations Are to
Be Made by Petition.
Report of the Commission Ap-
pointed by the Legislature.

Toledo. O. Dec 4-The bill that IS
likely to cause the greatest cOmmOt1on
in the LXXIVth general assembly OF
Ohio is called the revised municipal
code of Ohio 1t is prepared by com
mission appointed by Governor Bush
nell, the members of which are Judge
David F. Pugh of Columbus and Ed
ward Kfbler of Newark. two very able
and eminent lawyers. They have been
at work upon it for two years, and it is
nov practically completed.
The code is intended to provide un-
form city government for all cities
and villages in the state. Special legls-
lation by the state is done away with
by a division of all municipal corpora
tiOns into cities and villages, all cor
pOratiOns of 5000 population or more to
be regarded as cities, and those below
that are to be called villages. This code
not only provides for uniformity in city
government, but it goes to the extreme
of reform. Rigid rules are made to
prevent appointments or removals Tor
political reasons. City employees must
not attend political conventions nor
contribute to political cam paign funds.
City officials that are elected are
nominated by petition, and all fran
chises and bond issues must be sub
mitted to a, vote of the people
PROVIDES FOR CITY OWNERSHIP.
The code also provides for municipal
ownership, enlarging the authority of
cities so they may own and operate
street railways and telephones, as we'll
as gas, light and water plants
In cities the legislative power shall
be vested in a council consisting of
seven members; one member shall be
elected from each of four councilmanic
districts created for that purpose, and
the other three shall be elected from
the city at large. One Of them shall be
nominated and elected as president of
the board and each of said council
men shall serve two years.
All cOuncllmen shall receive an an
nual salary, to be paid by the city, pro
Vided, however. that at each regular
meeting of the council the roll shall be
called at the opening of the meeting
and again Immediately preceding the
adjournment, and no member shall re-
celve pay for a meeting unless he at
tends and answers in person to both
roll calls, and for each meeting from
which a member shall be absent or
shall fail to respond in person to both
roll calls a prOpOrtiOnate reduction
shall be made from his annual salary
The council shall fix the salary each
snail receive and the bond each shall
glNe- Ihls must be done not later than
November 1 by the preceding council
THE EXECUTIVE HEADS
The executive heads and authority of
the cities shall be vested in the mayor.
the heads Of departments hereinafter
named and such officers as shall be
created by law or appointment The
mayor shall be chosen by the electors
Tor term of two years, and in cities
established according to law a police
Judge and a clerk of the court shall be
chosen by the electors.
me council, except as hereinafter
PROVIDED, shall have power to establish
Dy ordinance any Office that NAV in its
opinion be necessary or eXpedient for
the government of the city, and may fix
tne salary, bond and duties pertaining
thereto; but no city official shall he
elected except the mayor treasurer
lIlsIt lleIhoerS OF the council and its presi-
Gent, police judge and clerk of the DO
nee court. Vacancies will be supplied
by the mayor in case of death or resig-
nation
City governments will be divided into
the following departments: First de-
paILIhenG OF accounts; second, depart
5nent of law; third, department of Dub-
nc safety; fourth, department of public
improvements.
There shall be a, director of aaob of
sald departments,who shall be appoint
ed Dy the mayor for a term of two
years, unless sooner removed, and each
3I sald directors shall give a bond, sub
JecC 10 the mayors approval The
mayor and directors shall receive such
Salary as the council shall elect
me mayor and heads of the several
departments shall hold no ther office
elther federal, state, council or muni-
cipaI, except as a notary public or Off
Ger OF militia. Council shall have the
power to require that the mavor and
1eads OF the several departments shall
devote their entire time to the dis
charge of the duties of their several of
fees.
NO FEES ALLOWED
1, II any person holding any office men
f3eu ctQIIeu IN thls act, or an employe of the
or eInolument or share therein for officiaI
services other than his legal salary he
snsII forfeit his office and shall be liable
" pLosecullon as provided in section $500
- the revised statutes 1sf the state of
Sloq; SSnlo; and any such person or employe
LlaNlLs accepted any pass free trans
P,oI ISlIlon from any railroad COMPANY in
Guiding street-raiIway con1Da nies SHAH he
tseLHeQ TO nave accepted the same for
oIlclal services and shall be liable to for
4elture OF office and prosecution a s here
1nbefOre mentioned
No onlcer or emplOye of anv department
~ ~SIietI attend or be a member or deleeate
20 any political convention at which nun
ttS4LeL OILlcerS are to be nominated and
IL ~ Ss4Se any such officer or employe shall
N4oAate tLlS provision, if he be the direc-
1oE OF the depart lent. the n1aI-Or shall
LSAuONe MN from Office. In fact tbe
-I4ls1S VI = gwen this power. with auv of
tne employees of higher grade
me dlrector of the department of public
IL; 99;;IhetS vii VII nave charge of the police. po-
nc Ielegrap. signals. Sealer of WEIGHTS
ana measures. inspection of b11iIdi0eS e+c
CHECK ON BONDS AND F|RA NTf1ITfestV
NO franchise or bond issue sbaSI h.
SIaLlteo or made without being submitted
20 d vote OF the electors. Bonds may ba
issued to construct or purchase sfrasf
railways. but il must be first s11br,f+teS
TO a vote of the electors.
Any city may own or operate teIeDhOra
INES On similar conditions. Larger cities
schools A municipal art conmfssio3,, IL ig
provided for and no work of art shall he