Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1907-09-11
NOELECTION NEXT YEAR
RADICAL CHANGES IN GOVERNMENT OF
CITIES OF SECOND CLASS.
No City Election Until 1909. Power Of
Mayor Greatly Enlarged by New Law
While Authority Of Council is
Limited.

There will be no Fcity election in
Decorah or many cities of this size in
Iowa next year. according to the new
municipal laws enacted by the last
Legislature. There are also several
radical changes in the organization
and officering of the city, which will
be in effect hereafter.
The new law materially changes the
personnel of city officers and affects
alike their duties and the method of
their election. In cities that elect q
mayor in odd-numbered years, as is
the case in Decorah, the terms of
those councilmen and.officers expiring
in 1908 are extended one year. This
provision does away with the election
which otherwise would have been
held in March. 1908, all present city
officers holding over until March.
1909, when the first election under the
new law will take place. City elec-
tionssthereafter will be held every two
years, instead of annually, as hereto
fore. All elective officers will be thus
chosen for term of two years.
At the election of 1909 will be
chosen two councilmen- at large and
at the same time one councilman from
each ward. elected by the voters resid-
ing within the limits of that ward.
The councilmen- at large, of course.
voted upon by the general body of
electors. At this election mayor,
treasurer and assessor will also be
chosen, the remaining officers being
appointive.
In cities under 1000 population the
city attorney and city clerk will be
appointed by the council
The duties of the mayor, unaer the
new enactment, will be largely
augmented. Heretofore, the council in
towns of this size and class has ex-
ercised generous measure of execu-
tive function and initiative. the
mayor being considerably limited as
to power The new law prov des that
s'neither the council nor the members
thereof shall exercise any executive
power function, unless expressly con-
ferred by law. y Thus the executive
power is vested in the mayor, upon
whom is placed responsibility for the
execution of the laws.
The mayor will have the appoint
ment of the city health physician,
street commissioner and marshal, and
may also appoint deputy marshais, as
needed He shall appoint as many
policemen as the council, by general
ordinance. may direct. and these shall
hold their positions subject to removal
by the mayor The latter shall also
appoint such officers as may be pro-
vided by ordinance, and may also, in
cses of emergency, appoint such num-
Der of special police as he may think
proper. These appointments are to
be reported to the next succeeding
meeting of the council, unless sooner
terminated by the mayor.
The law provides that no appointive
officer may be removed by the mayor
or coancil except by written order,
filed with the city clerk, giving reasons
for such removal.
| The intent of the law is to empower
the mayor with a greater measure OF
responsibility in connection with ad-
ministration of the city's affairs. IT
applies the biennial elections feature
which has established itself in po,'u-
lar favor in state elections, and does
away with the system of dual alder
men from each ward. There should
be less of ward favoritism under the
new plan, which is much more simple
and elastic than the present method