The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1910-02-23
NIX. MCMAUAN EXPLAINS "
LEGISLATION.
How it Proposes to Affect the II
government of the CITY.
whole Plan is Given i'm G
FORM for the Readers of Thu
BY the Author.

Sini assembly, mas Dr6D or
lhe State the following stat of
some special features of the a ION
TO be voted upon by the city of
Columbia.
1T is provided by the act that
council shall consist of a mayor and
four councilmen elected at large.
whereas now the council consists OF
mayor and Is councilmen; the may
or alone being elected by the city at
large and the three aldermen elected
In each of the five wards.
1T is thought that the reduction j.,
number will increase the sense Of per-
sonal responsibility and will this
make it easier for the citizens % place
the blame for any public action that
! is TO oe' against the interest of the
ciy In large body of 16 (somewhat
| like legislature) it is not So easy TO
know who are responsible for The
measures which fail and sometimes
| the people may not even know all
who are responsible Ior the measm es
| that pass.
To insure further the fixing of re-
sponsibility for every act the new Law
| provides that on every vote the yeas
| and nays shall be taken and recorded
In the minutes and that every ordi-
nance shall be signed by those who
voted for it. Further it s provided
that no ordinance affecting the sire cts
or certain public rights shall be pass
| ed unless it is for one week upon file
for the inspection OF the public, in the
| office of the clerk of the city. in the
exact form in which it is finally pass
ed. This prevents eleventh hour
amendments which may radically
change the scope of the law, also
that no public utilities company shall
be granted any franchise by council
hui such franchise shall be submitted
| 20 the electors.
| Moreover, the provisions for the
referendum make it possible upon
petition of a certain number of citi-
zens to suspend the operation of any
ordinance passed by city council un-
til the same is submitted to the voters
in SPECIAL election, the result Of
| which shall either repeal the ordi-
nance, or if in favor of it, ratify it as a
| law. Moreover there is the right of
| initiative of ordinances. Thus an
| ordinance may be proposed by citi-
zens petitioning, and it shall become
| law unless council orders an election
and submits to the voters at such cleo
| ton the question of adoption or re-
Jecting such proposed ordinance.
I'm addition to this safeguard
against rascality on the part Of a city
council and against any acts which
| may be contrary to the Judgment and
wishes of the citizens, there is an ad-
dltional provision for the recall IF
! the mayor and councilmen. Thus up-
on petition by citizens for the recall
OF any members fo council a special
election must be ordered at which
the names Of such members and Of
any other candidate or candidates
for his position are put on a ballot
and the result of the election either
continues the councilman in office or
puts in successor to supplant him.
The new act further provides for
civil service commission of three to
be appointed by city council who shall
mold practical examinations testing
the fitness of applicants for service in
the different lines of city employment
| and council shall not be able to elect
10 such position any person who has
not been first certified and approved
by the civil service commissioners. 1t
Is provided that the police DEPART
ment shall be always subject to the
civil service regulations and that
council may put any other class Of
city employees under the civil service
protection.
"A city employe can not be re-
moved by council except for cause to
be approved by two out of the three
civil service commissioners. Thus the
new form Of government contem-
plates retention of the great body OF
city employees during period of eff
cheney and good behavior, which will
remove from them the constant fear
OF being dropped to make room for
political obligation to any ward boss
ana VIII tend to hold before them at
all times the sole consideration of
efficient service.
The mayor is to be paid salary
OF $4,000 and each councilman So
goo and they shall give to the duties
oil