The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1907-04-18
Present Articles are Ambigu'
ous and Unsatisfactory
Tinkering Has Made Them Worse
and Friction Between Depart
ments Results.
FAvoRs A JOINT COMMISSION

T council will accede to his recom-
mendation that commission of rep
resentatives from all the second class
cities in the state be formed to re-
wise or re-write the charter OF second
class cities to rescue them from the
chaos Of ambiguity and impotency
which causes the city so much loss
from friction in the administrative
departments.
His plan is to have the general
council appropriate an adequate sum
of money to sutain representative
from Paducah on the proposed COM
mission. who would be competent to
fulfill the duties of such an under
taking. Each city of the second Class
could similarly appoint one or more
representative. to meet in Louisville
or some other centrally located city,
where the charter could be gone over,
the ambiguous sections Strengthened
out the defects remedied and such
other improvements as experiences
and study suggest could be made.
That the present charter is poor
instrument to use in the conduct of
city through the multiplicity of de-
mands of modern municipal needs,
is the vivid experience of every city
solicitor, ana concrete proof is had
in the friction Of the general council
and the board of public works over
the appointment OF officers. Some
lawyers believe the intention was to
give the power to the board Of works,
though they do not believe it actually
was done. City Solicitor Campbell
can bring forth numerous instances
where the city has suffered large
financial loss from fighting suits
brought on by the poor construction
of the charter by the legislature and
he says that decisions of the court of
appeals have actually nullified many
parts of the charter. Then the chaot-
ic condition of the city ordinances
adds to the difficulty of plotting the
city through its legal affairs, though
Judge Puryear will relieve this situa-
ton somewhat when he completes his
task of classifying the city ordinances.
Must Get to Work.
Mr.. Campbe.'s plan is to recon-
mend to the council again this idea,
so that the commission may get to
work and complete its duties in time
to present the result of their efforts
to the next legislature. His sugges-
ton is disinterested because he would
not accept any part in the work, nor
Is he afraid of the extra work the
present condition puts on him; but
the saving of many thousands of dol
lars to the city as well as acquisition
of new or revised charter that
would be in step with the city's pres
ent size and needs, are the motives
which actuate him in his recommend
alton.
Speaking on the idea and Its adj
yantages Mr.. Campbell said:
"In the nature of our municipal
government 1t is impossible for sue
ceeding councils to exercise any per-
spective = passing ordinances for the
city. Every council that comes in
passes ordinances without knowing
what has been done in the past. and
the result has been to create a maze
OF cross purposes which manifestly
increases the difficulties of the lega
department. Many Of the ordinances
conflict with state statutes, they con
fiict with themselves, and the COMIC
with the charter They are passes
several every month and at presen
no system Is in force. which keep
them classified in way that wouls
prevent confusion. No mind couls
remember all passed in one admins
tration, much less to be up on tn
whole past history of the council
The only remedy is to get the charte
revised by commission from the sec
ond class cities. showing clearly eacl
departments status and up to dat
with the latest decisions of the cour
OF appeals. The city has had suit
and will continue to have them be
cause OF the tangled condition O
city ordinances and the ambtguou
charter do think It would nc
require over 5000 Tor the city to 4
its part toward revision, and tn
investment would return interest 1
the way OF frictlonless operation