Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1900-04-21

lievc, are agreed 10 by all Among
these are that there shall DO three de-
partments IN oil municipalities; the
executive, legislative and judicial; TINT
the Mayor shall De the chief executive
officer; that the legislative body should
consist of one or two bodies which
shall not exceed fifteen IN number;
that the judicial department shall he
vested In Judges elected by the peo.
pie for n term Of five years; that the
tax rate and the debt limit shall DO
fixed by the legislature and freedom
left TO the municipality within such
limit; accordingly the bill provides
that the tax rate shall not exceed 3
per cent OF the current tax valuation,
and the net debt rate shall not exceed
10 per cent of the tax valuation of the
year of which the debt is created; that
the Mayor shall have the veto power
over all important ordinances, reso-
lutioDs or orders. and also the power
to veto the whole or any part of any
ordinance approprlatlng money and
that all assessments for local improve.
ments shall be made according to
benefits.
"The difference between village con,
stitutions and city constitutions, is
that the Mayor exercises the functions
of a police judge in villages, and that
cities are required to have mt least four
departments in the executive branch
of the city, viz: law, accounts, public
r.t, a
"Outside of these provisions the
form of government and the offices to
be elected are placed wholly In the
power of the municipality, and may
be provided for in its constitution, or
by ordinance. The number Of mem
bers of the City Council, and whether
elected at large or by wards. or part
ly at large and partly by wards is left |
TO the cities, and its other departments
provided for may be elected or appoint |
ed and such department and the other
departments which may be created by |
the city, may be placed In the hands |
of one man or board as the city may |
determine. Full powers are given to
the municipal council to enact and en-
force all ordinances necessary to pro- |
tect health, life and property, to pre-
vent and summarily abatc and remove |
nuisances, and preserve and enforce |
the good government, order and Sc
curity of the municipality and its in
habitants, and the licensing of occupa- |
tions, and to own and control such |
properties as they may determine.
This short summary of the substl- |
tute bill will show that it accompishes
that uniformity in the government OF
cities which is absolutely essential to |
good government, and at the same |
time provides for the diversity in the
municipal governments, which local
conditions may require, and 1t is be-
lieved that it will accomplish that
which all good citizens have for years
hoped for--the freedom of the munic-
ipallties of the State from the curse
of special legislation.
"Much of the criticism of the bill"
said the reporter. has been that II
would Interfere with the extension or
municipal ownership. Is this true!
"It is not,'' replied the Senator. up
on the contrary, the bill gives the peo-
plc an excellent and available oppor-
tunity of placing municipal ownership
PROPOSITIONS in effect. For instance,
section 1546 of. the bill provides that all
cities or villages which organize under
the new law may acquire property
within or without its limits by pur-
chase. gift, devise or condemnation
proceedings, and hold, manage and con
troll the same, in the manner that Is
now or that may hereafter be prescrio-
ed by general laws under this act and
as provided in the municipal constitu-
ton of such village and city,
"The people should not underestl-
mate the benefits this provision will |
confer upon them. For instance, pres
ent laws forbid them from owning |
any other than the simpler public util-
tiles, such as water works, and lighting
plants and the like. The clause, as
provided in the municipal constitution
of such city or village gives the people
the right to own any Of the large util-
tiles, such as street railways, telephone
systems and the like whenever they
say they are ready to do so. The voice
in this matter is transferred from the
Legislature to the people of the village
or cities directly Interested
"What chance has the bill Of becom-
ing n law?" was the query.
"You may say that If l retain my
health and my constituents return me
to the General Assembly, it will be-
come law" was the reply. 1.-THE bill
could have been passed ut the last ses-
sion, but efforts in it's behalf were
deferred out of respect to Mr.. Harding,
who had submitted the municipal code
bill"