The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1911-08-02

pality in the south to abolish this plan
Of nominating city officials. Instead
Of nominations being made by primary
elections, the Birmingham system pro.
yldes that any one can run for office
upon filing petition signed by five
hundred qualified voters, The pri.
mary system makes 1t certain. that the
Offices will be filled by Democrats, and
inasmuch as the Democrats are large
ly in the majority in southern cities,
the people as rule insist upon hold
Ing to the old method OF selecting
those whose names are to appear on
the official ballot.
Includes Late Features.
The plan includes the recall, the
referendum, the civil service anu
the corrupt practice feature. The
commissioners are required under
the charter to employ all subordl-
mates with refernce to their quail
Acation and without reference to
their political faith or party afTilia-
tions,'. 1t is made unlawful for any
candidate to promise a reward Of
any kind for political support, ex-
pulsion from Office being the penalty.
This is slight modification of the
Des Moines charter with reference
to corrupt practice, that instrument
going a bit further and adding i'm
prlsopment, in addition to the loss Of
official position.
The Memphis charter makes the
term Of the mayor and commissioners
four years instead Of two, as is the
case in most cities The salary of the
mayor is fixed at $4,000 per annum,
and that OF the commissioners at 49,
Loco each. The city government is d.
Ivided into five departments, includ-
ling Public Affairs and Health; Fire
and Police; accounts, Finance and
Revenue; Public Utilities; Buildings
and grounds; Streets, Bridges ana
Sewers. The mayor is at the head Of
| the department Of Public Affairs and
Health, having supervision of all Of
tRep AFFAIRS Of the city, presiding at
board meetings and being charged
with the duty of keeping the commits
sloners advised as to all matters con-
corning the welfare of the city,"
The commissioner in charge Of the
Fire and Police Department has su-
perylsion OF all matters relating to
these departments, being responsible
both for their efficiency and for the
expenditures relating thereto. AS
with other departments, the commits
sloner is held within the budget III
making improvements and in enlarg-
ing the forces under his command. All
matters of importance concerning the
department are brought to the atten-
ton of the board as a whole and must
be passed upon by that body, but as
rule the commissioner is given q
free hand in running that portion Of
the city entrusted TO his care.
Can Be Discharged at Will.
The city attorney, city Judge, city
engineer, city clerk, chief Of the fire
department, chief Of police, city pay
master, city chemist, health officer,
inspectors and all other city officials
are elected by the commissioners
and can be discharged at will, though
the subordlnates have the right OF ap-
peal to the civil service commission.
The people have no voice in the Sc.
lection OF any OF these officials, their
recourse in the event that the com.
Imissioners do not choose wisely, be-
] ling to discharge the commissioners.
Memphis was the first southern
city having population in excess OF
100000 to adopt a modern commits
sion charter. 1t is, however, not the
first experience Of the city with
commission government. Shortly aft
err the civil war the affairs OF the city
became so involved under a so-called
"carpet-bag" regime that bankruptcy
followed. The city was thereupon
dissolved by the legislature and q spe-
cal taxing district was created in It's
place. This district was governed for
d number Of years under the commits
sion system but after the community
was rerabitated and placed upon a
firm basis, the ancient aldermanic sys-
TEN was restored, in response 70 q
popular cry for government by the
people" This system obtained, with
occasional variations until the pres
ent plan was adopted.
There is, as matter Of course, q
wide difference between the com.
mission system Of today and that
tpbI1h nhtn inad In MemnhfS many