The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-01-27
PROVIDES FOR REPEAL
OF METROPOLITAN LAW
Argument Is Made That the
Bill in Question Would Bet
ter Government and Also
Reduce the Expenses
Palladium Bureau,
lndianaoolis. JaI,

"A Dill prepared Oy Lawrence BECK
er. mayor of Hammond, to amend the
cities and towns law. probably will be
introduced in the legislature within
the next day or two, and it is believed
that it will make the fur fly when it
gets to the committee that is looking
after such matters. 1t is in direct Op-
position to some of the things that
have been recommended by mayors
and other officials of some of the other
cities and to sine of the bills that
have already been introduced. The
house committee on cities and towns is
already wrestling with any number OF
such bills, but none of them are like
Becker's bill.
The house committee few days ago
referred to Representative, elliott of
South Bend and Stephens of Anderson
all t he bills that have been introduced
OH the subject of amendments to Oe
city and towns act and this sub-com-
mittee is hard at work trying to evolve
bill that will meet the demands of
all parties. But Becker's bin may
complicate the whole business.
New Police Law Bill.
Becker's bill provides for the repeal
of the metropolitan police law and
would make provisions whereby cities
may take advantage ca much the same
form of government that they now
have, but at less expense.
:, Senator Stotsenberg, who has given
much attention to the cities and towns
law is now studying the bill. at the
request of Senator Bowser who will
probably introduce it in the senate.
The basis for placing cities in the
fourth class would be changed, all
cities going into this class that have
population of between 10000 and
25,OOO and taxable property amount
ing to $5OOO,OOO. The present basis
for the fourth class is a population Of
10000 to 10000. BY this bill New AL
bany, Muncie and Anderson would be
in the fourth class. Jacksonville and
Elwood would be excluded and would
be in the fifth class as neither hos tax
able property valued at $5,OOO,OOO.
Salaries Provided.
In cities Of the fourth class the max
imum salary of the city controller
would be $500 a year instead of
81 200. 1t would provide also that
cities of the third and fourth classes
might pay their city civil engineers
81 500 a year instead of $1,000. 1t
would be provided further that mem
bers of the board of public works in
cities of the fourth class should re-
ceive $3.50 a year instead Of 81 600.
The council would have power by or
dinance to authorize the mayor to ap.
point commissioner of public works
and to provide that the mayor. the city
civil engineer and the commissioner
could serve as the board of works. the
may and the city engineer to serve
without additional pay.
cIerk Collects Water Rents
In cities of the third and fourth
classes that are not county seats the
city clerk would be authorized to COL
lect water rents. In cities of these
classes the board of works could let
contracts up to 5000 without ratifl-
cation by the council, and could let
contracts up to $500 without advertis.
ing.
In cites of the third and fourth
classes if the council shall provide that
the mayor. the city engineer and the
commissioner of public works shall
form the board of public works, then
the council may authorize the mayor
to name three other commissioners to
act as the board of safety or the mayor
may appoint superintendent of police
and a chief of the fire force. and these
three may act as the board OF safety.
In cities OF the fifth class the mayor
without ordinance would be empower
ed to appoint city marshal and a
chief of the fire force, and these three
would act as the board OF safety.
In instances in cities of the third
fourth and fifth classes when the may
OF, the chief of police and the chief OF
the fire force act as board of safety
none of them shall be entitled to addi-
tional salary.
Cheaper and Better.
II is pointed out that in such com.
binations as these cities would have
the advantage Of superior form OF
government and yet without great ex-
pense. AS to the provision that
boards Of works shall let certain con-
tracts without ratification by the city
council and without advertising Mr..
Becker says that now public businesl
in many cases IL delayed because Tor
every little contract the board ol
works must go through the formality
Of advertising and must get the sane
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