The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1909-05-21
THE HOME RULE CHARTER

Poiats Of taterest ID tho Oocumea,
Brought Out BY Attorney Poirier
for Consideration Of Virginia
| Voters.
Responsive to request from the
Enterprise scribe tor a few words
on the distinguishing features oi
the new Home Rule Charter which
wac drafted and adopted by the
Charter Commission and will be
up to the voters for endorsement at
the special election to be held on
June 1st, We are enabled to present
to the taxpayers of the city the
following communication, covering
the salient features of the docu.
ment:
Virginia Enterprise, City.
Gentlemen:
Pursuant to your request, 40 mem
Der of the Charter Commission OF
the City of Virginia, 1 am glad to
enumerate few of the importan,
features of the proposed charter:
The Charter Commission consists
of fifteen members appointed by
the Judges of the District Court
from among residents of the City OF
Virginia who had been free holders
of City property for a period of five
years preceding their appointment
The commission spent about ok
months in making an examination
of the city charters of different cities
throughout the United States, bout
thirty different charters having
been examined and considered, and
after this examination the principal
features which the members con.
sidered beneficial were drafted into
the Charter and adopted by the
Commission as the proposed Chart
er of the City of Virginia.
The present Charter of this City
was followed in many respects and
many of the members of the Com
mission have had personal exper.
ience with the operation of; the pres.
ent charter and the good points, as
far as possible, we're preserved in
the new charter. Under the Law
whereby the Charter Commission
was organized, the Commission con-
tinues in Office for q term of four
years, and provision is made for
amending the proposed charter
after it's adoption by petition by S
per cent of the voters of the City,
40 that if the proposed Charter is
adopted, and any changes are con-
sidered advisable at any time, they
may be voted upon by the people
by special election.
The proposed Charter increases
the Wards in the City to six and
provides for nine aldermen, which
will enable the City Council to more
readily conduct affairs of the City,
and the population is Increasing
rapidly, and additional representa-
tion by different parts of the City is
needed. The proposed Charter
further provides for the formation
of Fire and Police Board, a Ii
brary Board, Park Board and q
Health Board aud these different
Boards consist OF mem bers appoint.
ed by the Mayor and confirmed by
the Council, one member being ap.
pointed each year and to hold Offices
for five years, which arrangement
will at all times keep experienced
men on each board and will not be
affected by political changes. The
members of the different Boards
receive no compensation; they can
be members of only one board and
will be able to devote their entire
time and attention to the affairs OF
the Board of which they are mem.
bers. This plan of Government by
Boards has been adopted by many
of the leading cities of the United
States and its operation has beer
found excellent.
The proposed Charter has pro
vision for guarding the granting o.
franchises within the City in suct
a manner az to protect the City't
interest fully.
The City Election is held in Feb
ruary of each even numbered yea
which makes 1t seperate from any
National or State election and take,
the matter entirely out of politics.
Provision is also made for month
ly reports to the City Council b,
the different Boards of the City a,
to receipts, expenditures and opera
ton.
i Liberal provision is made in th,
Charter for the improvement O
streets, sidewalks, and city proper
ty and the Council is given eplare
ed power to carry out any work O
improvement which they deeu
necessary and advisable.
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