Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1900-04-11
And will be Permitted to
Govern Itself.
What the Proposed Measure Provide 8
Ready Today.
Especial Correspondcnce.)


Columbus, April 11.-Sena tor Scber
Of Akron will introduce substitute
bill to replace the municipal code when
the latter is called as special order
tomorrow afternoon at o'clock. The
substitute was drafted by Allen Rip
ley Foote, of Chicago, who is recog-
nized as an authority upon municipal
government, and it has the endorse
ment Of the state board of commerce.
The new bill is the direct outgrowth
of the fight that was made upon the
municipal code at the last meeting Of
the State Board of Commerce, held in
this city last January. At that time
the board refused to indorse the code
as reported, and the present substitute
measure is drawn to conform to their
ideas. 1t is claimed that the bill Is a
vast improvement upon the code, and
that many of the Objectionable features
therein are stricken out The bill
gives practically home rule to cities,
under the restriction of municipal
constitution, which is to be adopted
by municipal convention. The bill
carefully limits the powers which may
be incorporated in these city or vii
lage corporations. The bill allows cit
les and villages to condemn property
within or without their limits; munich
pality shall hold municipal conven-
tion to adopt a municipal constitution,
upon which it should be given certif-
icate of Incorporation. Elected officers
only shall exercise Legislative powers,
while executive or judicial powers may
be exercised by either elective or ap-
pointive officers. Ordinances involving
money must be approved by the Mayor
after being passed by the Council The
life of appropriations is limited to six
months. In each city there shall be Il
department Of accounts department
of law, one of public safety. and one
of public improvements. At the head
Of each department Is to be either u
director or board Of three TO five.
Village mayors shall have powers of
Justices of the peace and of public
judges. In cities there shall be n n,u-
nicipal court, with Judge or judge chos-
en- for five years. Each municipality
shall specify the purpose of assessing
taxes, and shall fix limit, not over 3
per cent. The municipalities shall
have power to enforce health ordl-
nances and to license occupation.
Public improvements are to be paid
for by general assessment and local
improvements, save sidewalks, by as
sessment according to benefit. Sales
or municipal service to private users
at less than full cost is prohibited.
The municipal constitution shall iiX Il
debt limit, which shall not exceed 10
per cent. of the total valuation for the
year the debt is incurred
All villages hereafter Incorporated
must come under this act. An incor-
poratcd village may become n city by
adopting constitution for city gov
ernmcnt within 60 days after the pass
age Of the act. The trustees of all
hnmlcts, and the Council of villages
and cities shall call special election
to choose delegates to municipal con-
stltutional convention to formulate II
city or village constitution. An muDic-
ipal officers shall remain in office until
April, 1901, when they shall be replaced
by officials elected or appointed under
the new municipal constitution, except
the Mayors, police judges, police court
clerks, city treasurers and village mar
shals shall serve out their terms.