Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1909-05-20

the new charter will be on Tuesday.
July 6.
In many respects the charter is re
markable. The only elective officers
are the mayor and four men who com
pose the council, in which the powers
of the city are vested. Responsibility
is fixed by the creation of five de-
partments. at the head of each of
which is one member. The depart
ments are: water and waterworks 5.
governed by the mayor, finance. public
health and sanitation, public works
and property and public safety. Pro-
vision is made to put the water system
on selfsustaining basis, and an et-
fort is made to secure a uniform
! system of public accounting. The
mayor receives $4,000 salary, the
councilmen $4,000 each.
| The most radical measures, per-
haps, are in regard to elections, the
idea being to eliminate all factiopaI
| control. Nominations are made by the
filing of twenty-five individual certifi-
Gates. the signer of each of which. as
we'll as the nominee, must make affi-
daVit to the fact that the candidate is
not the representative of any polite
al party. The charter further pro
vides: Nothing on the ballot shall be
indicative of the source of the candi-
daCy or of the support of a candidate
No ballot shall have printed thereon
any party or political design or mark
and there shall not be appended to the
name of any candidate any such party
or political designation or mark, or
anything indicating his views or opin-
ions"
A majority of all votes cast is re-
quired; in case no one receives a ma
jority a second election is held. EX-
cept for invalids, no carriages are al
lowed on election day.
No franchises may be granted ex-
cept on vote Of the qualified electors.
The people reserve the right to regu-
late fares and rates, and may license
street cars, meters, poles and similar
features. The council retains com
prehensive oversight of any franchise
affecting the city's water system. Each
corporation is required to make a de
tailed annual report. The city re-
ceives on all franchises per cent
of the gross receipts for the first tif-
teen years and per cent for the re-
mainder of the life of the grant The
city may purchase any public utility.
No franchise may be granted for a
period of more than twenty-five years.
On petition of 80 per cent of the
qualified electors an elective officer
may be removed from office through
the recall"
The initiative requires the signat-
ures Of 10 per cent and after these
have been obtained the council has the
option of passing the proposed ordn-
ance or Of submitting it to a vote of
the people. The referendum works in
the same way.
Under penalty of removal no Of
fetal may receive free service from
corporation. A civil service commits
sion is authorized to provide for pla =
ing the fire, police and public works
employees are appointed by the mayor
on recommendation of the cOuncilmen.
The annual levy is limited to 20
mills and the bonded Indebtedness to
3 per cent of the total valuation, ex-
cept for the purchase of profit-yielding
public utilities.
One section makes it obligatory on
all physicians to report INFECTIOUS,
contagious or communicable diseases
and the department of public health is
authorized to require such means as it
deems wise for protection.