The Cairo bulletin., 1909-04-13
IN PROPOSED COMMISSION
FLAN or CITY GOV
ERnMENT. 4t
BILL is NOW PENDING
in Illinois General Assembly Pernni.-
ting Cities to Adopt lt--Same
AZ Iowa Plan-5ili
May Pass.

| Springfield, Ill, Apfl l2.--There Is
lis bill now before both hous, OF
i the Illinois legislature which ii on
acted iEto law viii reYolutlonize
! The method Of city government ii
/ those cities of the state that desire
/ to take advantage Of rs provisions.
This bill enables cities Of Illinois %
/ ladopt what is known as the commits
lsien form of government. us preyis
ions are, in all essential points. iden-
tcal with the plan under which Des
Molnes and Cedar Rapids, Iowa, ale
inow operating with remarkable sue
cess.
Under this new system. city coun-
7 ellis, as we know them now, aye doae
/ away with, ara in their place Is es.
tablished mayor and four commits
cieua.s, al Of when are elecsed at
aIge. thus abolshing the ward rep
rasentatou system. All elections are
Inon-partisan
What the Bill Provides.
The law may be adopted by al
cities IN Illinois by a petition Of ten
per cent Of the voters thereof, and
popular favor vote thereon. By The
people,
1t provides for the government &C
the cities by a commission compg sea
Of a mayor and four commissioner.
nominated and elected from the city
al large. IN a nonpartisan ticket.
The term Of office OF the mayor and
commissioners is two years Any va.
cascy is to be refilled by the remain-
Ing members of the council.
Ward boundaries and ward systons
are abolished
No person interested in city con
tracts or in the public utilities of the
city shall be eligible 10 serve as a
city official or city employee
Bribery and the expenditure OF any
great amount Of money to be eleetel
10 Office are prevented
The mayor ard the commissioners
are the heads Of the five municipal
departments and legislative, execu-
tive and administrative power Is vest
ga IN tlC cUuuClI.
All franchise ordinances must be
submitted to the vote of the people
before their adoption
All other ordinances must be so
submitted il ten per cent Of the v3.
ters petition therefor, within ten days
after such ordinance is passed This
IA called the referendum.
twenty-five per cent Of the voters
may petition the city council to pass
certain ordinance If the council
does not DO so, then the ordinance is
referred to a vote OF the pedsle, and
The majority vote in favor therefor,
HE same is adopted. This is called
the initiative.
The mayor CT any commissioner
may be removed from ans Office be-
fore his term expires, by vote of The
people at special election called for
the purpose upon petition of twenty
| five per cent of the voters The oni-
Ger sought to be removed shall be al.
lowed 30 stand for reelection. Ii his
opponent gets more votes at the cleo
lion thas he does. then he is Re-
moved; il not, then he viii remain in
Office II he should resign within fve
lays after recall petition IS filed,
the remaining members Of the ooum.
.cil may FIJI the vacancy. and no
special election win be necessary.
This is called the recall.
Public Utility Regulation.
City councils shall have the right
10 regulate rates. charges and CONF
pensations of public utilities.
Any city may return to the OH
plan Of government after six years,
upon a popular vote q the people.
The city clerk. city treasurer. city
attorney and municipal Judge are
Appointed by the council instead OF
being elected by the people. and ara
subordinate to the departments Of
which the mayor and commissioners
are the superintendent
The bin makes as few changes in
the existing laws of Illinois as possi-
BILE. Il changes the man-er Of gov
crnmeut Of the city but not the laws
now on the statute books !or the =
arnweut Of cities except in a few