The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1911-08-05
GIIE HOME RULE


Continued from page ouel.
-.
lhaYe held np the perieice 90 ehl'
cSg6 as an object ss0r q Whit gan
be aecomplish Shed when q city Is lett
to its own RESOURCES IN its hght toF
better municipal cont itions
Under tie Michigan constitution
cities 81 alI CLASSES are governed as
fto what they shall aud shal moi 10
Ebyl;the same general law. This ilaSw
had to be broad enough to allow Pc.
troit. witlS It's nearly half a million
people, the necessary freedom Of tadt-
Ion OF atmetropolls, and at the sane
time It had to sbe specific enough IN
detail to; guide the unframed Official
Of the country town Of five hundred.
II Is provided that when q 5revisionyo Of
a charter Is sought, there must be an
initlatory petition signed by at least
20 per cent OF the voters. II two
thirds OF the legislation body favor.
ably on this petition, 1t Is, at the next
muAcfpta1 election, submitted to the
electorate II a majority vote in "a.
vor OF the revision, charter com;
mission Is next chosen, consisting Of
one member from each ward and
three at largei who are chosen as ne
regular city officials are, except that
their names are placed on a separate
ballot, on which no party designations
are permitted. 4,
Amendment is easier than revls-
ion. In this. case the Legislative body
by a two-thirds vote, may propose an
amendment, and II the amendment is
able to command majority Of the
votes cast at the next municipal cleo
ton, it becomes a part of the charter
There is also a provision in the con
lstitutioh requiring that no charter
shall become law until 1t is first ap
proved by the governor, although 1t
ois provided that the city may over
ride his veto by a two4thirds vote
A number Of other safeguards, such
as the limitation Of indebtedness and
| the right Of taxpaylng women to vote
when questions Of taxation are pend
| ing are provided by the constitution
Charter Reform.
Charter reform is one of the most
important tendencies of the new mum
icipal movement, both in home rule
cities and those municipalities which
do not enjoy home rule. In twt
years 1873 cities asked the municlpa
experts to the National Municipal ex
perts Of the National Municipa
League to assist them in building Of
rebuilding their charters. This In
cluded nearly all the larger cities o
the country and number OF states
as well. The present organic law o
the city Of New York consists OF I
large collection OF statutes aggregat
ing half a million words, a hodge
podge or ali sorts Of laws and regu
Iations, thrown together by chartel
tinkerlng processes covering man!
years. When Justice Hughes was go
ernor Of New York he appointed I
commission which drafted moderl
charter; for the fcity,'the new 'instru
ment covering entire situation Il
10000 words. But the legislature AM
the governor locked horns over char
4, ter reform and the question Is yetiun
settled.
st. Louis has had a board OF free
holders at work on a new city Char
ter, into which it is sought to hcor
porate the best ideas of the Englsl
and German systems with those Q
the advanced American system, 81
Paul and Pittsburg also have been a
work doctortngi their lmethods of gov
eminent SO asobo incorporate in thcl
charters the best lessons of muicipia
experience. San Francisco has show
a deep interest in charter reform, an
the indications are that the presen
decade will witness a greater era o
chartr making progress than any otp
er decade in American municipal hiE
tory.
Can Experiment.
The privilege Of home rule 70
cities gives individual muntcipalitie
opportunities to try experiments tina
never would be granted general lay
passed by state legislature. 1t wa
while acting under its home rul
privilege ,ithat Los Angeles made
notable departure in municipal al
fairs by incorporating recall prov
vision in its charter. That the reca
has been abused In some instance
may be admitted, and that 1t has nc
been on trial long enough to justit
a final decree in its favor may. be co
ceded, but on the whole it has gon
long way toward proving It's cas-
j, in the court of public opinion, and
will probably become one OF the mos
potent influences for pure municipt
government yet discovered. II
justlaes the hopes d Its advocates
will in itself be, a sufficient excuse f0
, home rule. While Los Angeles ha
not been as successful in itss use a
have some other cities, 1t is hope
that the recall WILDE more a perpe
! ual warming than an instrument
!. frequent use.
Tue TeCdi mas Uevh S .NSi 49, NV
! enough to demonstrate that the peopl
i who may invoke 1t will do so If the
become convinced that their city go
!, eminent is not to their liking. Dalla
! has invoked the recall, and there hay
been enough other horrible example
to keep the average municipal othcl'
in the straight and narrow AZ way,