The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-01-09
THE LATEST CHARTER AMEND.
 MECT


 MENT.
 on Dec. 18th, the Executive commit tee of the Taxpayers League pub ;ished an outline of a charter amend .nent increasing the Mayors respon- sibilhy and including the power of recall. On Friday last. the commit Zee published this amendment in form for presentation to the Legislature.
 It increases the Mayoriel term to four years and makes him ineligible at the next succeeding election. but does not diss1a1ify him for election after the four year interval; gives him power of renewal over any appointed official. except members of the Library and Park boards. but he must place his reasons on public record: confers upon him powers of supervision over all officials. aps,pintive or elective, and of requiring from them written monthly reports: llolds him responsible for any derelicti0h of duty by appofn- tive officers: reuuires public records of proceedings of all boards. with vote of each member on every resolution. motion or proposition; provides that when 5 per cent of the voters bring charges of misconduct by any ap- pointed officer and request his re- moval. the Mayor shall within 30 days and upon finding the charges true. remove him from office. or if not re- 1roving him. the Mayor shall publish ilis reasons.
 With regard to elective officers, the proposed charter amendment provides that 15 per cent. of the voters may charge specific misconduct and request a special election to fill the accused s position; that the Mayor shall within three days call such special election to occur within B to 45 days: that the name of the accused officer. un- less resigning or declining, shall ap- pear as a candidate for reelection; that six months must elapse before any recall petition can be filed: that any person may become a candidate at such special elections. provided he registers as such with the City Clerk, and obtains the written endorsement of per cent of the voters. and the City Clerk shall publish the names of such candidates.
 
 amendment is to increase the Mayors power. to make him responsible for the acts of all appointive officers. and to hold him accountable for his own acts. Elective officers. including the Mayor are also subject to test be- fore the voters.
 As the amendment does not provide for direct action against any appointed officers whom the Mayor refuses to remove, it is the evident intention, when the Mayors reasons for non removal seem insufficient. that the following procedure shall be against pointed officer in office with the rec ord showing only that he has been accused of misconduct and acquitted by the Mayor. with the latter's req sons therefor. The cases of accused appointive officers do not go before the people. except as involved in a petition for the recall of the Mayor. This gives him a very direct respon. sibility for the acts of all appointed officers Under charges of miscon- dust. he may remove them: if he does not. 15 per cent. of the voters can require him to. practically. become a candidate for reelection before the people against any persons obtaining the written approval of per cent. Of the voters. and he can be com psied to also face this ordeal. not only because of the acts of subordin- ate appointed officials but also on ac- count of his own acts. as for instance an unpopular ruling while presiding over the Board of Aldermen. or the execution of an unpopular contract with a public service corpora ton. should the amendment be incorporated in the charter. a decided degree of courage will become a necessary q1al- ification of Mayorial candidates. The Mayor may be compelled to defend siimseif before the people against all corners not only once but a number of times during the four-year term.
 While the Mayor is given jurisdic- ton over appointed officers and is held responsible to the people for their acts. his connection with the cases of elective officers accused of misconduct by 15 per cent. of the voters is wholly ministerial. He can only promote the presentation of such cases to the peo- pie. the power of finding the charges true or not. and of removal if found true. not being conferred upon him but reserved to the people. He has no Jurisdiction whatever over accused elective officers.
 For six months after being elected. the elective officers. including the Mayor. are virtually on probation and cannot be accused. Afterwards, they are subject to charges by 15 per cent of the voters. and must face the peo- ole and competing candidates within the outside limit of 4S days. That is. they cannot be removed from office for about TIE months after their cleo tion, but thereafter. if endorsed by the people they will be subject to re- n,oyal at intervals of from 3S to AS days. This process would be possible at such intervals during tine four-year term of the Mayor. and the two-year term of the other elective officers.
 ~>A nzr cant of tha voters nan