Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1911-10-04
TO CHANGE CITY CHARTER
Important Action Taken By Cham
Der OF Commerce AT Last
Nights Meeting.
MANY PROPOSED CHANGES.
Public Service Suffers By Present Con-
ditiOns OF Police And Street Clean
ing Forces.

The Chamber of Commerce will
take the initiative in suggesting ma
terial changes in the present charter
of Annapolis, and President Winson
G.. Colt has been authorized to APP
point committee representing that
body which will confer with the
City Councial and ask that body to
appoint a committee of conference.
While it is likely that substantial
changes in the present charter will
be proposed, it is likely that no eff
fort will be made to revoutionize the
present form of municipal govern
ment. 1T is likely that ethe course
suggesting separate bills each involv-
ing changes lalong certain lines will
be adopted At least, this is the
course that is strongly urged by some
who have considered the matter.
There have been many previous at
tempts to change the charter of An
napolis, which has existed without
material change since 1908, but they
have been ineffective. ThesA com
mittees generally began whit the fun
damental idea that the present form
of city government was all wrong and
should be changed in every particular.
By making changes of all kinds, natur-
ally much opposition was engendered.
and it has always been sufficient to
Illustrate any new charter movement.
A IS matter of fact, the form of
city government now used in Annapolis
is, on the whole, we'll adapted to the
community's need. Under it, the city
has had excellent government, and
has been free from the scandals which
have disgraced other municipalities.
While differences of opinion have fire.
quently arisen as to the advisability of
certain actions taken by various Coun-
ellis, it has seldom been questioned
that public money has been we'll and
honestly spent. On the whole, public
morals, safety and good order have
been promoted under the present form
of government.
For these reasons, the public as a
whole does not favor radical changes
in the present charter, though those
who have studied the subject know
that there is room for improvement in
many particulars. In fact, the mid
die course is the correct one, as in
most cases. The city charter is not
sacred instrument representing per-
fecticn, nor is it so antiquated and
blameworthy that it should be ripped
to pieces.
A reform that receives nearly unan-
imous support is that the police and
street improvement and cleaning de-
partments should be absolutely re-
moved from politics. 1t is not right,
it is held, that police officers and
other city employees, particularly
the former, should feel that their
positions depend upon the perma-
hence of one political party. The
public service suffers by such a con-
dition, and Annapolis has lost excel
lent employees because they were not
sure of holding their positions dur
ing good behavior, and were conse-
quently willing to accept other
places. 1t is admitted on all sides
that the personnel of these depart
ments would be improved by having
employees feel that they would hold
their places while they performed
their duties properly.
Many other proposed change will he
discussed by the committee, and
changes along a number of other lines
are likely to be suggested during the
coming session of the Legislature.