The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-05-16
Leaders Bar Initiative and
Referendum, But Allow
Recall"
LONG FIGHT IS WON
IN NEW YORK TOWN
Its Numerous Civic Societies Com
plete -Four Years Campaign
For Change.

NEW YORK. Nay 16--The first ex-
pertinent IN municipal government by
commission IN New York State Is 10
b tried at Mt Vernon Word has been
received there, through Assem- blyman
Coffey that the state Republican leaders
would permit the COdey bill TO pass this
week. II viii be reported by the cities
committee Of the assembly tomorrow;
# is already out in the Senate, and It
VIII 20 through before the week Is out
There Is every reason TO believe Cow
ernor Hughes VIII approve the measure
The many ward associations and civic
societies OF Mt Vernon which advocated
the commission plan & year ago are
delighted over the report. although they
were SOrTy- the leaders would not permit
the initiative. referendum and Massa-
Chusetts -5aIl0t clauses 70 90 through
However. they have the commission
itself. and what they regard most high
", the recall. which makes It possible
20 throw out Of Office any commissioner
who may prove unworthy OF his trust
Provisions Of the Recall
This section, which IS along the
lines Of the Des Moines plan, reads as
follows:
The mayor, and commissioner, or
r
at any time by the qualified voters of
the city. Upon receipt BY the mayor Of
q petition signed and acknowledged
or proved as leeds are required by
law 10 be acknowledged or proved
by electors OF the city registered at
the election held in the preceding No
vember equal in number 10 25 per
cent OF the electors so registered (of
whom number equal to 8 per centum
Of the whole number Of electors shall
be enrolled Republicans and a like
number enrolled DemoCrats). asking
for the removal Of such officer, the
board Of commissioners shall order a
special election 10 be held for the
election OF q successor.
AT such election the ballots shall
be the same as those required at a
regular annual election, except that
the name Of the officer mentioned in
the petition shall appear first on the
list OF candidates without recurring
that a petition nominating him shall
be Med Upon such election the can
d-date receiving a majority Of the
votes cast shall be deemed TO be elect
ed 10 MI such Office for the uneXpired
term OF the officer mentioned in the
peuuOus and upon his qualification
the officer mentioned in the petition
shall cease TO hold such office. Should
the successor not qualify within ten
be. deemed 70 be vacant
Inc Mt vernon commission plan
was demanded by the voters Of the
city az the election last November,
when they also specifically called for
the recall plank. The movement
that resulted IN that election was
started by almost unanimous consent
Urged for -Four Years.
II Is a city Of homes and It has many
civic societies, all of whom take an &C
tive interest IN municipal affairs. Any
innOvati8C OF government anywhere is
always studied and debated The NUM-
cipaI commission. plan was for four
years a favOrite subject The pressure
became so general that In March, 1909,
Benjamin Howe. then mayor, in g spe-
Cial message 10 the common council aU-
vOCated the appointment Of an iuvesti-
eating committee OF twenty-five 70 in
qUire into the subject
That committee. which enlisted the
services OF men ike Jarvis ". Mason,
Edward L Hydecker, OdeI D TOnnp-
kIns, and Sydney A Syme. recommend
received about % per cent OF the total
vote cast The bin was prepared alOuZ
the methods Of Des Monies Galveston
and Los Angeles, and introduced By M
COmeE- A rll Il Few thought u would
pass, but the young assembly be
came busy and Wrung the promise Of
favorable action when The three radical
clauses were eliminated.
The commission Of I'VE now is 70 be
elected for i've years, and the members
designate the mayor as one Of their
number. The other commissioners be
come, respectively, commissioner Of pub
lie safety. commissioner Of DubfiC
EOrks. commissioner Of finance, and
ssumisSiOner OF taxes and assessments
The salaries are s. 600 and $500
Mayor Edwin " Fiske, present city
executive. is not TO be disturbed during
his term. but all other municipal officers
go oJgt OF Office at once The commits
sioners are nominated by party pri-
maTIeS