Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1911-09-30
THE PROPOSED COMMISSION CHARTER.

The proposed Commission charter will be submitted to vote
of the people October 23d.
Whether will be adopted by the people
seen, and is matter of great uncertainty.
Any charter for city is political document and open to
public discussion by the voter
1t would be desirable for the city of Salem have the
right kind of a commission form of government.
Many of the most progressive cities of the United States have
adopted such commission charters.
AS political document the stronger than its
best points, minus its weak features
Sometimes very important political step is defeated by
minor matter that ought really to be overlooked
The Capital Journal believes the people should read and study
this proposed charter when it is published.
1t is to be published both Salem daily newspapers five
times and in pamphlet form and mailed every voter the
people should broadly and favoraby consider it.
The Tacoma plan of commission government provides pri
mary election.
Candidates named small petition and go the Aus
tralan ballot.
Amy candidate receiving majority of cast at the pr
mary is elected and need not run again.
for office receives majority the two recev
ing the highest vote put for final election two weeks
later, and majority vote decides.
That is the plan adopted at San Francisco.
The Salem charter that proposed aboses primary
tion, and seeks to expenses Of one election
All candidates nominated small petition of 25 electors
All names go upon the Australian ballot
But no majority is required to elect.
If twenty candidates for the three ommissonershps
nominated the three receiving the highest vote would be elect
ed.
The Salem plan is not so good in our opinion as the Tacoma
plan
1t gives too much chance for combinations of special interests
Three strong candidates representing three strong interests
could combine and win.
The proposed charter eliminated parties but has not
eliminated interests.
Probably charter could bedrawn eliminate special
interest
The proposed Salem charter would pay the mayor $2500
year, and the two commissioners $500 per year.
The county judge and commissioners cost Marion county
about $4,000 per year.
Why should the city cost much more?
On top of three commissioners there be small army
assistants engineers attorneys clerks stenographers book
keepers etc.
The proposed charter has many good points there should
be way to adopt them
Perhaps would be best adopt the proposed commission
charter and amend it afterwards
There should be meetings held in all parts the city for dis
cussion of the charter.
The authors of the charter include the men like x
Mayor Rodgers Gideon So Max Buren and Wang and
they should go before the people with the charter
The trainers of the charter have done their work. and
have done it free gratis.
Salem has better public-sprted citizens and
business than the gentlemen who drew up the commission
form of government.
They have consulted the best work of other cities in this line
and will be able to throw great deal of light and information
on its vital features.
Mass meetings should be held and the who framed this
charter will doubt be glad to explain every section fully
the voters if any explanation is needed.