Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-02-18
Measure For Government of Cit
les by Small Board Up to Leg
islature For Enactment
MAKES SWEEPING CHANGES
Power Of the Mayor Lssssned and That
Of the Council eassd-PIaces Ma
jority Of Offices Directly Under
Councils control--HilI Has Hard
Fight to Get Thru Legislature.
Special TO Times Republican.

Special to Times Republican.
Des Moines, Feb. 1S--The bill for the
much discussed "Des Moines plan" for
government of the cities of Iowa is
ready. For weeks committees Of lead
ing citizens, lawyers and other wise
men have been at work on the BILL and
on Saturday it was completed. Today
it was put in shape for appearance as
bill; aud it is now up to the legisla-
ture.
The bill provides that any city Of
the first class or with special charter
having $4,000 population may reorgan-
lie under the act. Such reorganiza-
ton shall be upon vote OF the electors
shall be governed by council con-
sisting Of the mayor and four others.
the mayor having a vote the same as
the others, and three constituting a
quorum. The mayor has no veto pow
er. The powers of the city are stated
in the bill as follows:
The council shall have and possess
and the council and Its members shall
exercise all executive, legislative and
judicial powers and duties now had.
possessed and exercised by the mayor,
city council, board Of public works,
park commissioners, board of police
and fire commissioners, board Of wat
erworks trustees, board OF library trus-
tees, solicitor. assessor, treasurer. aud
itor, city engineer and other executive
and administrative officers in cities Of
the first class. The executive and adj
ministrative powers, authority and
duties in such cities shall be distrib-
uted into and among Ave departments
as follows: Department OF public at
fairs accounts and finances. public
safety, streets and public improve
ments, and parks and public property.
The council shall determine the pow
ers and duties to be performed by,
and assign them to the appropriate
department; shall prescribe the pow
ers and duties Of officers and en-
ployes; may assign particular officers
and employees to one or more Of the
departments; may require an officer or
GIuplOyc W pGikOIUl 0ullGS III tWO vi
more departments, and may make such
other rules and regulations as may
be necessary or proper for the efficieiit
and economical conduct Of the business
OF the city,
It IL provided that the mayor shall
be the superintendent Of the DEPART
ment of public affairs, and the council
shall parcel out the other departments
among the four members, and then
"The council shall, at said first
meeting, or as soon as practicable
thereafter, elect by majority vote the
following officers: A city clerk solicit
tor, assessor, treasurer, auditor, civil
engineer, city physician, marshal, chief
of fire department, market master.
street commissioner, three library trus-
tees and such other officers and assist
ants as shall be provided for by ordin-
ances, and necessary to the proper and
efficient conduct Of the affairs of the
city, and shall appoint police judge
in those cities not having superior
court. Any officer or assistant elected
or appointed by the council may be
removed from Office at any time by a
vote of majority Of the members Of
the COuHCils OASOPS eso $500 ''ASS ~
vided in this act
This last protects the positions under
civil service, but no others. The po-
lice Judge, assessors, auditor treas
urer and others hold their offices at
the will of the five men.
The provisions for salaries Is on 4
graded basis, for the different sizes of
cities. The mayors salary varies from
80. 900 a year in cities of $1,000 to s3,-
600 in cities of 10000; and the alder
man have salaries of from $1,000 to 3d.
900.
No officer or employe shall have any
interest in any contract or in any COM
pany having contract or having any
dealings directly with the city or shall
be connected with any company oper-
ating any public service, etc. No Of
ficer or employee can receive any free
TRANSPORTATION or secure any favor of
any kind or concession from any pub
lie service corporation, save that police
officers In uniform may have free
TRANSPORTATION on the street cars. There
shall he appointed civil service COM
mission Of three to make examinations
under civil service rules where they are
applicable.
The council shall cause to be printed
each month in pamphlet form state
ment of city expenditures and all fin
ancial transactions.
All franchises shall be submitted to
vote of the people and must receive
the affirmative vote, of majority be-
fore they become effective.
There is provision for the recall, in
that, on petition of 20 per cent of the
voters a special election shall be or
dered for the purpose of deciding
whether one of the elective officers
shall be ousted from office and in this
election there shall be direct vote on
that alone.
There is also provision that after a
certain number of years any city that
has adopted this new plan of govern
ment may abandon 1T and become reor-
ganized under the general laws of the
state upon a vote in manner provided
The bill will be introduced in the
house and senate by Representative
Sullivan and Senator Dowell. and 1t is
! we'll known among members that Meth
er one Is in actual sympathy with the
measure A hearing will he given the
people of Des Moines upon the bill at
an early date. Much time has been
spent in getting the bill perfected and
these in charge now believe they have
| bill that will meet with the approval
OF majorit" OF the members OF the
! legislature.