The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-02-21
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ProVlOlnS the recall to prlHs lue So'- ernment closer to the people"
 In explanation of the limitation of a mayor to a four year term and then deny him a reelection without an in- tervening time MT. Phelan said, Our committee found that mayors have been known to do electioneering dur ing the last year of their term. This shouldn't be so. We want him to give his four years term to the office and not be able to look forward to a re- election. will ask those here if they remember mayor under our present system who has remained in office for more than four years"
 We have not recommended a com mission form of government. We be- lieve that the present board members are as capable as could possibly be selected under a commission form of government. We have on boards more expert knowledge than 1t would be possible for us to pay for under the plan of having a single headed com mission for each department. The league proposes to leave the boards as they are and at the same time save the salary that would have to be paid to the expert who would likely be the single headed commissioners. "Now as to the elective officers. If anyone is displeased or incensed at the way they run their office 15 per cent of the electors can present a pe- tition to recall them. It requires man to stand for re-election-to be brought back to the election bar. If I was holding a public office and someone started a petition to recall me I might resign.
 "But if I decided to ask the people to vindicate me stand for re-eiec- tion. Now st this time there may be number of people who have an arn- bition to run for the same office. They t~nf,s oil ffNy p1a After a specified time those who have registered will be entitled to circulate a nominating petition upon which he must secure the names of per cent of the voters upon the last voting list. The names of all nominees must be on sthe petitions of each candidate so that the voter cannot say that he did not know someone else was candi- date, and so that the name of an elec- tor will not appear on two petitions.
 "The recall system does not inter fere with ordinary elections. There will be no expense for registrations
 "What elects plurality?", asked AL derman Wilder.
 Whoever receives the largest num- Der of votes," replied MT. Phelan. City Clerk Boucher wanted to know if it was in effect any place else.
 'In about 100 cities" replied MT. Phelan.
 
 to know why the league exempted the library and park boards from it's charter amendments and did not hold the members of these organizations amenable to the same law.
 we would be glad to include them but they are exempt now by law" replied MT. Phelan.
 MT. King expressed an opinion that the Legislature could change the law as 1t had made it..
 In answer to Attorney Robert G. DeForest, MT. Phelan explained that an officer was immune from it's recall during the first six months of his term. #
 "A man does not get experienced within that time". replied Mir. DeFor- est Are we going to be continually putting men in and out of office. What Is to become of the public?"
 "It is possible and not probable that months. A man in office is going to do his best with the recall. But even if he commits an offense in office why shouldn't he be removed. If he sins a second time why shouldn't he be recalled.''N replied MT. Phelan.
 Wont this open the door for cliques with personal animosities to be in a position to be continually harass- ing a man whose clothes or politics they dislike.'' enQuired Alderman De- Forest.
 ''I don't think so as it requires 15 per cent of the voters or 5000 people of one mind to get the recall. Do you think that the people are going to al- low you to be treated in that way?" replied MT. Phelan.
 Alderman King came back again with a protest against self perpetual ing boards. He asked, Why didn't your league incorporate in your mea- ~Iri II ncrfcy lot n 1yo to repeal the section of the charter making the park and library boards self perpetuating
 "Personally would support such an appeal,' replied MT. Phelan.
 Senator Paddock said, Your recall is not effective within six months. How would it affect me-the Legislature is over five months after election"
 "I admit that it would not amount to much. They might recall you af- ter the session, if they were angry enough and make 1t impossible for you to bear the title of Senator" was the reply.
 "You're safe, Senator" said Alder man Jackson.
 Alderman Wilder foresaw a danger in the possibility of there being so many candidates that the successful one might go into office with only 10 per cent of the people voting for him.
 
 might be said was possibility of every election in which there were a large number of candidates in the field
 Alderman Jackson conceived the idea that making an office holder inn mune for six months made it possi- ble for a tax collector or other official to make a six months getaway with $50, 900 or so of funds without anyone daring to say that the office was va cant. Honduras was the country where Mr. Jackson thought 1t would be proper for the absconder to To- cate.
 MT. Phelan said that under such circumstances he thought that the same steps would be taken to care for the office as there would now if the collector should skip now. Attorney Phelan asked the Alder men to bear in mind that during the istence in this country that there had not been more than three cases where it had been resorted to.
 Alderman Primrose said: "It seems to me that the fate of an official under the recall depends on his ability to get out the vote There is no ac- counting how an election will go with several candidates in the field. At the time of his first election he prob- ably would have only one formidable opponent. In the recall he would have a number of men against him. and his chances for reelection would be greatly lessened. He would be guilty if he did not get a sufficient number of votes to elect him." MT Phelan said after 15 per cent. of the electors had petitoned to recall