Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-03-27
MUNICIPAL BILLS
ARE IMPORTANT
Many Changes Made in Laws
Affecting Both Large and
Small Cities
81 .ENNlAL ELECTION FOR TOWNS
Officers Terms in Smaller Cities Like
Marshalltown Will All Expire Same
Year-Number of counclmen Re-
duced and Wards Limited to Five in
Number = The Galveston Plan Bill.
,cial TO Times-Republican.

I
Special to Times Republican.
/ Des Moines, March Municipal
! Legislation was practically completed
| yesterday by the house passing both
! the Galveston plan bills and the bills
endorsed by the League of Iowa Mu-
inequalities. Amendments We're made
in each which will result in their going
back to the senate for concurrence In
the amendments, but it is believed
the amendments will be readily con-
CURED in, at least conference COM
mittee, il such Is necessary, will have
no trouble in reaching q basis of agree
ment
The Galveston plan bill is an optional
measure With cities of 25.0G0 popula-
ton or over. II provides that on the
petition of - per cent of the voters of
any city OF the state of $4,000 or over
the mayor Shall or6er special cleo
ton on the question of the adoption
of the form Of government. set forth
in the bill. The bills endorsed by the
League of Iowa Municipalities make
changes in the present laws governing.
cities and as soon as the governors
name is signed to such bills and they
are published they will be in force and
effect.
The Galveston plan bill provides for
the government of cities by COM
mission of five men known as the
council and of which the mayor is one
with authority to vote on all ques-
tons. The members of this commits
sion are to be nominated at non
partisan primary at which political
parties are not recognized The bill
provides that at the primary under this
bill for the nomination of the COM
missioners the two candidates for
mayor receiving the largest number Of
votes shall be considered the NOM
irlees for mayor and the eight receiv-
ing the largest number of votes shall
be considered the nominees for the
the election these will be the only NOM
inees voted upon.
Under this plan the council or COM
will appoint all other city Of
f1cials including the clerk, treasurer
auditor, police judge and the rest. The
commissioners are to devote all their
time to the city's work and in cities
the size of Des Moines the mayor is to
receive a salary Of $500 a. year, and
the councilmen $4,000. City employees
are to be selected by a civil service
commission OF three appointed by the
council.
4 The bill also provides that IL the
public becomes dissatisfied with any
Of the council or the entire
council on question of public policy
or for any other reason, a special cleo
ton to order their recall and elect their
can be hand on the petition
Of Is per cent of the voters.
The Galveston plan bin is intended to
apply to special charter cities, the same
as to all others that are of popula-
ton Of $4,000 or more. An effort was
made to amend the bill so as to limit
it to cities of $4,000 or more SO that
it would apply only to Des Moines, but
the amendment was voted down.
The bills endorsed by the League lof
Iowa Municipalities affect cities OF the
first class, that is, cities of $4,000 popu-
lation or over, but little. the only
change being that the mayors ap-
pointment Of members of the board OF
public works shall not be confirmed
by the council. But as to cities of the
second class there are numerous
some Of considerable impor-
lance. 1t is provided that in cities OF
the second class that elect mayor in
the odd numbered years the terms OF
the councilmen, which expire in 1908
shall be extended one year, and in Cit
les that elect their mayor In the even
years the terms of the coun-
cilmen that expire in 1909 shall be ex-
tended one year. 1t is provided that
there shall not be more than five wards
in such cities, nor less than two, and
that there shall be- two councilmen
elected at large, and one from, each
ward instead of two, thus making all
terms expire at the same time and
having. elections once every two years. !
The bill provides that in cities of less
than 1000 the city solicitor shall be |
appointed by the city council, and in
cities of over 1000 he shall be elected |
It provides that cities of 10000 or over
san have a board Of public works APP
pointed by the mayor.
There were two bills endorsed by the |
League of Iowa Municipalities, the |
second of which pertained entirely to /
he question of park commissioners. 1t |
salary of not to exceed $40 |
or each 1000 of population of the city |
md changes the present law so that ,
he question Of selling any of the park
ands must be submitted to the city !
council and the question of the park |
ak levy must also be approved by the /
,ity council. The bill provides also I
hat the city treasurer shall be custo
liam Of the funds Of the park commits |
ion.
The Galveston plan bill and the |,
eague bill pertaining to cities have
,assed the senate and house both, and
he bill relating to park commission
RS has passed the house only. 1t will |
be passed by the senate
llso.
There appears to be some misap-
as to the status of the pri-
;s e.; ss s ;s,5 sss :; EN- En-
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