The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1912-02-09
Charter Discussed.

On last Friday night, February Ist,
large asSemblage of the citizens of this
city gathered in the City Opera House,
at O'Clock, to hear discussed the report
of the Charter Commission, who pre-
pared the new charter for the city.
Those favoring the charter as origi-
nally drawn up by the committee, blame
the injection of politics as the cause of
the commissions report not being favor
ably received by the citizens present.
The excitement caused by the arguments
for and against the measure at the meet
ing, has been the chief topic of conversa-
tian during the week. No other local
question in years has caused so much
discussion.
As it now stands the charter has been
referred back to the trainers for an
amendment eliminating the grand
father clause" This amendment was
offered by Mr.. Reno S. Harp. The
charter will then be sent to the Legisa-
ture and if passed will then be returned
as law, subject to the sanction of the
voters OF the city. Mr. Harp says that he
favors the commission form of govern
ment, but he is opposed to the "grand-
father clause" passed by the Legislature
in 1904 and now city law.
1t developed that many persons op.
posed to changing of the present form
of city government. Their argument Is
that the new system is more expensive,
experimental and it the move of few
persons. Many citizens, however, favor
the commission form of government, and
have expressed regret at its failure to be
ratified as originally drawn up 1t was
pointed out that the trainers worked for
IS months to perfect the plan best adapt
ed to the needs of Frederick and by
unanimous consent agreed upon the
matter they presented for ratification.
John 5. Newman, a member of the
Charter Committee, and explained that
the city government of many TOWNS
throughout the country had been inves-
tlgated and the provisions of the most
prosperous were considered for Fred
erick.
Leo Weinberg, who voiced the oppo
sition to the charter, declared that the
draft presented contained many pernic-
iouS provisions and instead of taking
city affairs out of politics would bring
about more partisan government. He
pleaded that the question OF adoption
or rejection be submitted to vote at a
special election
Reno S. Harp then criticised the
grandfather clause" feature and claimed
that this provision of the present City
Election Law which is made part Of
the new charter, has been declared I'm
constitutional This developed situa-
ton new to many although Mr.. Harp
declared that the Charter Committee
had purposely sought to eliminate the
negro voter.
Excitement was running high when !.
F. Smith suggested that MIR. Milton G..
Urner be heard. after which no other
lawyer be allowed to speak, but that
some good business man should then be
allowed to take the floor. David Low
enstein at the same time took a fling at
the lawyers, saying that the further that
he kept away from the attorneys the
more money he was able to save. Mr..
Urner said that he was opposed to the
charter in its present form and moved
that it be referred to the Revision Com
mission Committee.
The fate of the charter seems uncer-
tain. Rather than to have it passed
with the grandfather clause, eliminated
some Democratic politicians prefer the
present city conditions as the city then
remains in their control.