The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-07-21
Senate Passes Bill h. troduced by Sena-
 tor Peck
t Provides For Commission Government in MuniCipali- ties Whenever Electors
 Express Wish
 For it
(By Our Staff Corres.l

r1dTCIOTu, July ZI-Ine senate ySS- terday, by a unanimous vote passed the optional charter bill,, so called and under suspension of the rules it was immediately sent to the House. This bill gives cities the right to vote whether to inaugurate the commission form of government whenever 20 per cent of the registered voters by pe- tition ask that vote be tAken. If a majority of the electors vote for the bill then government by commis- sion is esta ablished.
 There were two reports from the committee on Cities and Boroughs, Senator F. A. Bartlett of this city chairman of the committee was on the favorable report which was the majority and he explained the bill saying that in his judgment it was progressive legislation and should pass.
 Senator Donovan said that he was not familiar with the details of the bill but he was going to support it because it was the product of the Senator from Danbury. Peck.)
 My admiration for the Senator who is the author of this bill," continued Senator Donovan Heads me to give it my support because his record in this body proves that he Is a safe man to follow on all legislation that affects the people of this comm on- wealth. His splendid address in be- half of the income tax shall never forget and his courageous stand in behalf of the workingmen's compensa- ton act, and he himself an employer of labor, convinces me that I make no mistake in following his leadership in this matter, He has no peer in this Senate as a fighter for the real re- Co II, ,{@I- %l,1 - L. x~.- H&1k demand and of which they have long been denied mainly through the abil- ity of an interruptions lobby to ham dle men sent here to represent the people. He is worthy of the highest honors that his party can bestow up- On for he is a man to be trusted. His record in this Senate stamps him as an enlightened able and honest 1egis- lator and it is because I recognize in him fearless champion of honest legislation and a gentleman who is above trucking to the interests that I cheerfully cast my vote for the measure which he advocates"
 Senator Peck followed with the fol- lowing explanation of the measure:
 The bill before us has been so ably explained by the Chairman of the Committee on Cities and Boroughs that do not deem it necessary to take up much of your time in further explanation.
 As you know, am deeply interested in this question. or I should not take up any of the Senate's time to dis cuss the merits of the bill. It is we'll known that I presented this bill be- fore us providing for an Optional form of government now in vogue in about 150 of the cities in the U.s $. and so far as I can learn, giving gen. eraI satisfaction.
 Our present form of city govern ment is not satisfactory. It is inef- ficient, extravagant and unbusiness- like.
 And the fault lies in our three headed system of government of di- vided authority.
 This opinion that I have long held was strengthened and confirmed by my experience as member of two Charter Revision Committees in Dan- bury appointed for the purpose of re- vising our City Charter. l
 Our attempts at revision were al-' ways along the line of the present system and consequently, our efforts were always a failure.
 Since acting on those committees. have taken up the study of the commission form of government, in use in Galveston. Texas and Des Moines, Iowa, and after careful con- sideration, I came to the conclusion that the commission plan was a suc- cess and worth trying here in Conn
 This conclusion led me to prepare this Charter which is provided for in the bill lbefore us.
 If desired, could go over this Charter section by section and ex- plain the features in detail, but I do not deem it. necessary.
 Wiu Present General Plan.
 One of the principal features is the optional one.
 That is, before this Charter be- comes the law of the city, it must be voted on by the citizens of the city, and receive a majority of the votes cast.
 Petition of Electors for a Vote
 And in order to secure a vote a petition of the Electors equal in num- Der to 20 per cent: of the votes cast must be presented to the City Clerk of said citiy.
 This prevents the forcing upon any city this form of government unless the citizens desire.
 Optional Vote to Be Taken.
 This bill not only provides for an optionaI vote upon the adoption of the Charter but it provides for an optional vote upon the proposition of Board of Estimate and Taxation. Also the salaries to be paid to the city officials acting under the new charter, ana dnOtner optional feature is a vote upon the civil service propo- sition.
 The general plan is that the citi- zens at primaries may nominate can didates for Mayor and Councilmen who shall have charge of the city's af- fairs, executive, legislative and ad- ministrative.
 Nominated by Petition.
 Any citizen can be nominated by petition of 50 voters lodged with the City Clerk
 The two candidates for Mayor and the eight candidates for Councilmen receiving the highest number of votes at the Primaries, shall have their names placed on the ballot to be voted for at the City Election next to be held.
 Candidates for Mayor and Councilmen
 The candidates for Mayor and Councilmen receiving the highest number of votes at this election com prise the City Council with full power to manage the affairs of the city.
 Number of Departments. Under this form of government,