Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1911-10-20
LAWS GOVERNING
COMMISSION FORM
Extracts From State Law Concerning
Commission Form of Government.
Twenty-Five Per Cent of Voters
May Call for Election.

. commission form of government, and
therefore are not in a position to
form a conservative opinion as to
whether or not Pullman would be
best served by such a government. In
order to eniighten our readers in re-
gard to the workings of the commits
sion form of government, The Herald
publishes below extracts from the
state law, enacted by the legislature
of 1911, pertaining to the manner of
placing a city under a commission
form of government, elections, quail
fications of candidates, etc. Next
week further extracts from the law,
dealing with the powers of the mayor
and commissioners, the recall, etc.,
will be published:
Be it enacted by the Legislature of
the State of Washington:
Section /. That any city, now or
hereafter, having a population of two
thousand five hundred and less than
twenty thousand, as shown by the
/ last state or federal census, or by any
special census taken by the city In
the manner prescribed in section
74S5, Remington and Ballinger's
Annotated Codes and Statutes of
Washington may become organized
as city under the provisions of this
act by proceeding as hereinafter pro-
vided
Sec. Q. Upon petition of electors
equal in number to twenty-five per-
centum of the votes cast for all can
didates for mayor at the last pre-
ceding city election of any such city,
the mayor shall by proclamation sub
nit the question of organizing as
city under this act at a special cleo
ton to be held at a time specified
therein, and within sixty days after
said petition is filed. If said plan Is
not adopted at the special election
called, the question of adopting said
plan shall not be resubmi tied to the
voters of said city for adoption within
TWO years thereafter.
Sec. g. All regular elections I'M
der this act shall be held triennially
on the first Monday in December, at
which time there shall be elected a
mayor and two commissioners, who
together, shall constitute and be
known as the City Commission,
al,a
three years and until their successors
shall be elected and qualified: Pro-
vided, That the first election hereun-
der shall be held within sixty days
after the adoption of the proposition
to organize under this act as provided
for herein: And provided further,
That the commission elected at the
first election shall serve until the
third Monday in December following
such first election, and for three years
thereafter.
Sec. A. All existing laws govern
ing cities of the second class or APP
plicable thereto, not inconsistent with
the provisions of this act, shall apply
to and govern cities organized under
this act. All bylaws, ordinances and
resolutions lawfully passed and in
force in any such city under its for
mer organization shall remain in
force until altered or repealed under
the provisions of this act.
Sec. 5. If any vacancy occurs in
the city commission the remaining
members of said commission shall, by
appointment, fill such vacancy for the
unexpired term.
All of said officers shall be nomi-
mated and elected at large They
shall qualify and their terms of office
shall begin on the second Monday
after their election. The terms OF
office of the mayor or counciImen or
aldermen of such city under the for
mer organization shall terminate at
the beginning of the term of office
of the city commission elected under
the provisions of this act, and the
such city under such former organi-
zation, except as hereinafter pro-
vided shall terminate as soon as the
commission shall by resolution de-
clare.
Sec, 6. Each member of the city
commission shall, before qualifying,
give good and sufficient bond to the
city in sum equivalent to five times
the amount of his annual salary, con-
ditioned upon the faithful perform
ance of the duties of his Office, which
said bond shall be approved by II
= judge of the superior court of the
State of Washington for the county
, in which said city is located and filed
/ with the clerk of said court And