The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-05-26
NEW CHARTER
 TO STOP RULE
 FROM CAPITAL
Judge Mathewson Reports on DetailssOf His Commission
 Plan For New Haven But Five Elective Officers Pri- mary Election, Re call, lni- tiative and Referendum
 in His Draft.

New Haven, May 26-Before the Chamber of Commerce last night Judge A. Mcclellan Mathewson for the first time presented a preliminary outline of the proposed charter for the city of New Haven which he has been engaged on for nearly year past. He stated that he has the charter drafted now, but only in a tentative form and sub ject to such changes that it is not quite ready yet for presentation to the committee on legislation, but 1t is ex- pected that the charter in the form in which he wishes it. will be ready for submission to the Chamber at the June meeting. The essential features, how ever are all covered in his report which was listened to with intense in terSt last night.
 In speaking regarding the draft Judge Mathewson said that the only question now is whether the people of New Haven have reached a point where they really want. and not mere ly say they want. business charter. not one under which officials honest as their intentions might be could work in the same way as they would have to in order to carry on the work of a private corporation. The new charter, he said. was drawn to enable
 
 way. He declared it was not intended to be such a charter that every sug- gestion as to how things should come from Hartford. but general grant of power under which the city could conduct it's own business on home rule principle.
 The charter provides for Mayor and four Councilmen. These are to be the only elective officers of the city, and are to be elected on the even years so as to avoid connection with the more political State elections.
 Nominations can be made by peti- tion by 25 citizens and these names will be placed on a list for primary election two weeks before the final election. The ticket for the final elec- as many candidates for each office as can be elected, that is two for Mayor and eight for Councilmen, these being the highest candidates at the primary election and the highest candidates in final election are chosen.
 Wards are entirely abolished. Voting districts will be established instead. to be determined by the council. The Mayor and Councilnlen shall conduct the general business of the city. but will not be heads of departments, but will have the appointment of superin- tendents for each department. The Mayor will be as at present chief ex- ecutive of the city
 Three important new points are in cluded in the charter. the power of the people to recall an official whose work is unsatisfactory, the referendum and the initiative
 The Board of Education will be given the charge of the purely educational work of the department, but the board will have nothing to do with the busi- ness end, which will be taken care of by the council. The chiefs of police and fire will have power to nominate to the council the officials of their department, subject to civil service rules, and the council will make the appointments.
 These embody the main features of the charter draft which the judge spoke of last night