Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1901-01-22
Better Class Of Men
Would Seek
Election to That Municipal
Body.
Sensible Suggestions Are Offered by
President Fiebeger.


The views expressed by Mr.. II. f.
Fiebeger, President of the City Coun.
ell, in reference to the government of
Akron, has attracted general atten-
ton.
the readers the Democrat herewith
reproduces the article as. it appeared
in the Sunday Star. e>
/ have been giving considerable at
tention to the various forms proposed
for our city government, and believe
that none of the forms proposed strike
ut the bottom of the evil. Council
men are constantly being accused Of
all manner of wrongs, ana not infre-
quently of accepting bribes, but dur
ing the time l have been in that body
| can say that L do not know of a
Esingle wrong act Intentionally COM
mltted by one of the members. This
tendency to. falsely accuse council
men and the necessity Of serving
without any form of recompense or
pay, makes it impossible to get the
class of men needed. Every induce
ment is against a really good man
who might. go into the body. By eX-
empting citizens from jury duty for
three years for every year served in
the council, and allowing them en-
emption from their taxes up to 500 q
wear, better class OF men would be
secured. 1t would certainly be an
inducement to n business man to be
free from the veXations of attend
lug long session of court, while his
private affairs suffer. The exemption
from taxes would let the poorer man
off without any tax whatever, while
the more successful citizen would be
slightly more benefited. but pay part
Of the public general expense, This
would serve as u salary, but atno time
would the eXpen,e on this account for
the city of Akron, exceed $1,000. All
the members would not have property
enough to pay that amount of taxes
, in a year.
The council, as constituted by the
lCUtuR VI tnC WY 10 WV 80
and unwieldIy for the rapid and sue
cessful transaction of business. "a
body of Id men will not achieve rs
good results or accomplish as much as
one of half that size. A body conl-
posed Of one representative from each
ward il plenty large enough. Members
| from four wards could DE elected one
year and from the other four the
next, those selected serving two years,
as at present
Havea Bonrd OF Approval of four
representative citizens who shai. be
elected each year, whose remunera-
ton shall be So for each session, there
not to be over 20 sessions in year.
This body would act in an advisory
capacity and have veto
power in all matters pertaining
| tn franchises involving over S25 900.
| The mayor would be an ex offic.o
member of this body and the chance
Of deadlock be avoided.
Have q board. of commissioners OF
| three members, who shall serve for
| term of three years one to be elected
each year and receive salary OF
| 81 800 a year. They should be the
servants of The city and have charge
of oil improvements and expenditures
of money They would appoint the
heads of all city departments, as
| fire and police chief, city clerk, street
commissioner and engineer, but all
appointments would be- subject to the
| Board of Control Their acts would
be closely scrutinizpd by this board
and if n commissioner ID found guilty
of extravagant spending of money OF
any misconduct In Office his resgna'
| tion could be demanded by the Board
| of Control without the necessity OF
preferring fornai charges al the de-
| laws incident to their trial.
All legislation should he passed by
the council without any interference
from the commissioners, that BODY
attending entirely to the executive
business of the city.
| The heads of tue various depart
ments should be supreme in their
sphere and free from orders or dicta-
| tion by the commissioners or anybody
else. They should be responsible fol
the work under them and free to dis
charge men for failure or other duty
and make all appointments. The lat
ter would be subject TO approval by
the Board of Control, nut falling In
this the nominee could only be re.
iectpd. No substitute could be named
unless first suggested by the head OF
the department..
The mayor should be the real head
of the city government, and should
receive a salary OF 81 SEQ q year, de
should be ELECTED for three years and
be entirely free rom criminal busi-
ness, police Judge being provided
| for tint. Allacts of the conlnlssion'