Norwich bulletin., 1911-05-11
THE NORWICH CHARTER
 PASSED THE HOUSE Not a Dissenting Vote on the Meas ure-Representative Webster Gave His Personal Views on Commission Government.
Special to The. Bulletin.l )

Hartford May 10.-Entirely without debate or opposition the bill provid- ing for revision of the charter of the city of Norwich and providing for 8 commission form of government there in passed the huse Wednesday. Such comment as was made on the bill wIs by House Chairman Webster( liar winton) of the committee on cities and boroughs, and was principally in the way of explanation that the members might know. in a general way. the nature of the provisions of the act.
 MT. Webster said that the bill pro- vided for new departure in 1egisla- ton in Connecticut and that it was the first time a charter looking to- ward the commission form of govern legislature for approval IL is practi- caIIy giving a new form of govern ment to one city in Connecticut. he said. T do not approve of the com mission form of government" MT. Webster said to the members of the house; "the legislative form. which has stood the test of hundred years, is good enough for me; but this char ter was submitted by the citizens of Norwich and warmly supported before the committee and there was no ob- jection to it made before your com mittee, so ! recommend the passage of the biIl''
 Mir Webster said that he would not attempt to explain in detail the many provisions of the charter, as this would take too much time and he mentioned that the text of the proposed charter had been printed in the file. He felt, he said. that the majority of the mem bers were quite familiar with the gen. era1 idea of government by commits sion, about the advantages and disad- vantages. of which has been printed in newspapers and periodicals. He ex- platned that it was provided that the matter of adopting the charter set forth in the act is subject to referen- dunn to the people of Norwich and that they will have an opportunity to vote on the acceptance of it.
 In closing, Mir. Webster made refer 1 ence to the possibility that years hence 1 the commission form of government may prove to be the ideal form o1 i government. MT. Webster said after i wards, but not to the house, that while l he did not personally favor govern ment by commission, believing it tc 1 be in the nature of fad, it was evi- 1 dent to the committee that a desire | for the new charter was very strong l in Norwich and as there was no op. I position the bill had been favorablJ reported.
 An amendment to the bill, having l entirley to do with changing, in a mi 1 nor way, a word here and line ther' 1 in the pfiraseoIogy of the text of sec tions Of the charter was introduced by MT. Webster and passed before ac tion was taken on the bill as report l ed. MT. Webster told the house tha l a portion of the phraseology change provided for in the amendment wer the recommendation Of Governo l Baldwin, therefore, it may not be pre- | suming to anticipate that he will af fix his signature to the bill when i 1 comes to him after it passes the sen ! ate where no opposition is anticipate
 and where it will be starred for actiol
 next week.
 1 The vote in the house was unani 1 n1ously in favor. The fact that tn
 bill was the first of it's kind that eve i passed a branch of the general assem
 bly, of Connecticut seemed to espe
 cially interest the members.