Evening journal., 1911-06-30

,ehther than an entirely new in
eAent, the burden of his argument
TX that judicial decisions have made
II practically everything in the
lent charter Mr.. Harman said:
T. Chairman, Ladies and Gentle
men:
f'Our time tonight is limited, ana we
Annot therefore. say all that could
Ir should be said upon this subject.
"If changes in the form of our
municipal government are desired, Il
Jam in favor of having them made by
4 amendments to the present charter.
My reasons for this opinion, are as
follows:
"First-The present charter, as al
whole, is a good charter
Second-Judicial decisions have
made known TO us the meaning OF
practically everything Of importance
in IT,
Third-We are familiar with the
practical workings of IL.
"Fourth-A radically new charter
would render nugatory a number OF
the ordinances and resolutions, and
leave others in doubtful state.
Let us take these reasons up in
their order.
"First-The present charter as a
whole, is a good charter. We may APP
proach perfection, but we cannot hope
to attain perfection this side the skies
and for this reason, our charter, OF
course, is not perfect.
prior to 1883 the Mayor and The
Council practically ruled the city. The
Mayor appointed the police force and
helped to hold Court. The Council was
then the legislative body in fact, and
by and through its committees on
water, park, streets and sewers, II
governed the city. In 1883 the change
came The Municipal Court was estab-
lished, thus abolishing the old Mayors S
Court Then the Board OF Park Com
missioners was created. Then came the
Board of Harbor Commissioners and
then the Water Department The Street
and Sewer Department was created IN
1887, and this was followed in 1891 and
1898 with the present Police Depart
ment, and these departments, with the
Board of Health. and We may add, the
Board of Public Education, come pretty
near TO giving us a Commission Form
of Government.
The Mayor.
"The Mayor under the present char
ter, makes appointments (subiect "a
confirmation by CounciD TO all the
above named bodies. excepting the
Board OF Public Education and the
Police and Park Commissions. He ap-
points city solicitor and city audi
tor He may remove members OF the
Board of Health for cause He may IN
stitute impeachment proceedings
against the Street and Sewer and the
Water Commissioners. He may investi
gate the affairs of the city. He pre-
u sides over the Advisory Board, which
body has power to Settle disputes be
tween and among the different Depart
ments and officials of the city. He i.
now lsince 1889 vested with the vet6
power, which in itself is a tremendous
power. He is "A conservator OF M
peace. and he may take acknowledg
ments Of deeds and mortgages. He u
also the custodian of the city seal III
also possesses the power TO perform
the marriage ceremony, and this IS on
of the powers that should be takel
from him. Il is his duty to see that al
laws. and ordinances, of the city ar
obeyed and enforced. We may add th7
he may be impeached and removed b.
Council from office by two-thirds vote
The above are some of the Mayor
powers and they make him a Mayor II
fact, and not merely in name.
The Council.
"The Council may institute investi
cations as to the affairs Of the city y
the same manner as the Mayor, !
may. by refusing to confirm what
may consider improper appointment
made by the Mayor. help in that way
the appointment of good aud capabl
officials Il may, by impeachmen
proceedings, removing the Mayo
from Office and also the Police, Waite
and Street and Sewer Commissioner.
II fixes the city tax rate, and hear
and decides election contests of cit
officials. It fixes the status Of Oh
police force and their salaries, an
NAV change the salaries OF all cit
officials. It makes numerous al
pointments, but the appointment
the Clerk Of Council, the Bailin {
Council and its own committee
would seem to be the proper limit;
ton in this respect It Is eSpressl
stated in Section 81 of the charte
to be the legislative body of said cit
but since the creation Of the warrior
departments it has been shorn OF
great deal of its powers, as the sire
and Sewer Department, the Water ID
partment, and the Police Departmel
an have power to change any Of Il
ordinances of the city relating TO
connected with, their respective d
partments. This is wrong, and OF
of the first changes, if any are to
made. that ! would advocate, wou
be 10 take all legislative power fro
these departments, and leave the
exclusively and wholly in and wi
the Council where they properly b
long. Another change I would url
would be- the granting to the Coun'
of greater power in regard to &
handling and spending of the cit,
q, money. instead of merely making 1t
disbursing agent in this respect.
Departments.
'The departments Of the city
special work, and in my opinion, IN
do il we'll. and upon the theory a
principle that specialists in their pi
fessions are superior to general, a
round practitioners, ! favor the pre-
ent system in this respect, since
seems to me that men selected to
special work (regarding always tn.
special fitness for that kind of worl
and who will give their time to Il
particular kind of work and nothi
else. will give us. better results eve
time than we could obtain from
large and cumbersome body, or
small committee, dabbling in lit
of everything In other words.
stead of jack-of-all trades, we wa
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