The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1907-02-22
Cities and Towns Committees
Suggest Many Changes in
the Present Law.
SOME OFFICES ABOLISHED
NOW REMAINS TO BE SEEN
WHAT LEGISLATORS WILL DO
WITH WHAT is CALLED THE
MORGAN" BILL.

indianapolis, Ind, Feb 81, (Spl)-
After having agreed on a report three
times and each time having been pre-
vailed on to make changes the com
mittee on cities and towns this morn
of new bill bearing the name OF
Representative Morgan, chairman oi
the house committee. The measure
is known as house bill No. SOS and
the amendments make many sweep
ing changes, principal of which is a
new classification of the Indiana
cities.
The new classification, based on the
census of 1900 is as follows:
Cities of the first class, Indianapol-
is.
Cities of the second class, Fort
Wayne, Evansville, Terre Haute and
South Bend. 1t will be noticed that
the last two named cities are trans
ferred from the third to second class.
This class of cities must have a pop
ulation of $4,000 and not more than
100000.
Cities of the third class, muust have
not less than $4,000 nor more than
$4,000. Anderson, Muncie and New
Albany were formerly IN this class
but owing to increase in population
of the class are dropped back TO the
fourth class.
Cities of Fourth Class.
Fourth class cities are based on
population from fifteen to twenty-five
thousand. The cities in this class will
be Anderson, 2O,17S; Muncie, 20,942;
Lafayette, 1916; Logansport, 1924;
Marion, 1887; Richmond, 1926.
Cities in the fifth class, all under
fifteen thousand. As a result of this
change Elwood, Hammond, Jefferson
Vile, Kokomo, Michigan City and
vincennes fall back into the fifth
class from the fourth class.
In the case of Terre Haute and
South Bend, which are advanced from
the third to second class the bill pro-
vided that the present city officials
must serve out their terms under the
salaries obtaining at the time they
were elected.
With the change no cities remain
in the third class, although it is ad-
mitted hat many of the cities will at
the time the next census is taken be
found I'm this class.
In cities of the fourth and fifth
class the mayor becomes the police
judge and the Office Of police Judge
is abolished.
In cities of the fourth class the
Office of city controller is abolished
and in case the city is a county seat
the county treasurer becomes city
treasurer and controller. Where the
city is not county seat the bill pro-
vides for an election of a city treas
urer
In cities of the fifth class the Office
of city humane officer is abolished
and the city marshal is to assume
these duties.
Board of Works Abolished.
In cities of the fourth class the
board of public works is abolished, un-
less council by two thirds vote shall
see fit to create a board.
No city election is to be held prior
to Tuesday, November 1909, and each
four years afterward
No change is made in the number
of councilmen.
No person can hold office to exceed
four years in any eight. providing ii \
is the same office
All city ordinances which do not I
conflict with the act are not affect
ed.
No, public enterprise taken up by |
any city previous to passage of act /
are to be interfered with but must /
be completed. excepting contracts
which have not already been actually |
let.
The mayor of any city where vacan-
cies occur shall, with the approval of
the common council, appoint TO fill /
the unexpired term.
In case of the death or removal of
mayor the city controller. in cities
which have. shall be advanced to the
office of mayor.
In event of the death or removal
of both the mayor and city control
Ter the city clerk becomes mayor.
In cities where thee are no con
trollers the common council shall
within fifteen days elect man TO
fill the unexpired term.
The common council shall fill all
vacancies among their members.
In case of tie vote on any city Of
fee. the Office shall be declared va
cant and filled as the act provides
by promotion of appointment