The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1911-02-25
~AcoMmlssloN GOVERNMENT.

SA5coMMlssloN GOVERNMENT.
iThe commission form OF government
received a favorable Endorsement In
the Fourth ward convention last night
when resolution was adopted re-
auesting that tie city convention to.
night be asked to take such necessary
steps as will have the charter OF the
city changed, providing for a commits.
sion form OF government, which. has
proved TO be very popular in many Of
the progressive cities OF the West as
well as In Huntington of this State.
The plan Of the Huntington charter is
q good4one and since Its. adoption
u Charleston has secured a similar form
OF government and now Parkersburg
has had a special charter bill passed
BY the session Of the legislature Just
closed. giving that city a government
along similar lines.
The first and foremost argument
for q commission form Of government
issthat It removes the focat-munictpaI
affairs from the mire of petty ward
politics and relegates to oblivion that
undesirable citizen. commonly known
as q ward politician. The West yir.
ginianl has at different times before
4 suggested the %advisability Of having
this form OF government for Fasrmont,
In fact ever since the Huntington
Charter was first put into operaaon.
There are many other arguments 9th.
or than the removal!o of local matters
from politics that can be urged in ia.
yor Of the commission government and
the West, virginian will later on have
something more to say along these
lines
The Chamber Of Commerce OF Hunt.
ingtons uses the admirable provisions
ot%its charter as an incentive in as.
Ing business firms and individuals to
locate there. 1t gives the city a most
plaasable argument in showing why
thesproperty rights OF the newcomers
Will be protected, why an economical
expenditure Of their tax money VIII
be administered and many other In.
ducements that appeal to good cIti.
zens everywhere. Below Is given an
extract from a recent publication sent
out by the Chamber Of Commerce OF
Huntington showing the opinion this
body of business men, made up from
members Of both political parties, has
Of the new form Of government. They
use It as booster" literature. A quo.
tatlon follows:
The city OF Huntington has pro.
cured for itself, from the legislature
OF West Virginia, a Model Charter"
IT. Is fashioned after the Commission
Plan Of Government but some OF Its
important. features are original in plan
and Will prove practical In their ope-
ration We claim for this charter that
AT Is non.partisan, not only in theory
but In practice as well. First, 1t de.
clares for non:partisauship In the ex
ercise OF Its functions. Second. 1t
teaches the voter to split his ticket,
because the voter may vote for four
candidates for commissioner, yet he
can; find, only three on t!sitlcket, there.
by compelling him to look for the
fourth man ontsome other ticket than
HIS own. This not only teaches indie.
pendence In voting. but the commits.
sio1ier, when elected, will not feel, SO
shideboaad' to his party as II elect
ed solely by the voters of his party
without the aid OF voters from oppos.
Ing parties. The fact that only two
candidates on any one ticket can be
electedto the Board Of Commissioners
Will 1inddce the more intelligent vot.
ers TO vote only for two candidates OF
his ticket and seek the other two on
other tickets. Third, since the police
and fire departments, the main politi.
cal Spoils departments, are placed IN.
der civil service there remains but
little inducement 70 a political party
q make the Effort TO capture the Board
for political ends.
The Citizens Board IS fpurposeiy
made Of large membership SO that Il
maylremainJ beyond the probabllitylot