The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1912-01-19
FREDERICK S NEW CHARTER

Tee named al meeting OF Inc CltlZeHS vi
the city, The charter has been drawn
in legal form by City Attorney Edward
Smith, and all that now awaits lis conSld-
Grafton by the Maryland Legislature, is
the careful consideration Oft by the MEM
bers of the committee. which is compos-
ed of the following President OF the
Board of Trade James H. Gambrlll, Jr.,
CITY Health Officer DR.. Ira J. McCurdy,
former Chief Judge Glenn H. Worthing-
ton, Alderman John l.. Johnson, d. John
Markey John S. Newman and George ,.
Rodock
As has been stated for some time the
form of government that the committee
wishes for Frederick, and which it be-
lieveS the citizens want, is strictly non
partisan government. To secure such a
form of government the election maChin-
cry which provided for minority represen-
tauon upon all election boards has been
repealed, and men are to be appointed
without reference 10 their political faiths.
The committee has been at work upon
the charter ever since its appointment
The work was gone about carefully, and
there were charters secured from almost
all the cities in the country having COM
mission and other forms OF government
that might be desirable for Frederick.
The charter as submitted by City Attor-
nev Smith has been drawn up along lines
suggested to him BY members of the COM
miitee. but il is now tn intention OF the
committee TO go over it carefully and dis
cusS it section by section before making
the statement that is in shape to leave its
hands.
As soon as the charter is in such shape
that the committee Is satisfied with H. it
is the intention Of the committee 10 call a
mass meeting of the citizens and to sub
nit the charter to them for their approval.
Upon the action of the Ci,izeuS viii de-
pend whether the charter will be submit
ted 10 the Legislature with the request
that it be passed in place OF the existing
charter.
The form Of government provided in
the new charter is in direct opposition 10
many OF the existing provisions OF gov
ernEeut in this city. The initiative ref
erendum and recall are provided for in
the new charter.
If the new charter is given by the Leg
islature, 1t provides that an election shall
not be held until May 1918, 50 that the
present CITY officials may fill their Offices
for the full term for which they We're
elected. Under the new order a city
official will be elected for term of four
years.
After disposing Of the matter OF cleo
ton laws which was A troublesome lot
1t work ne new charter provides that all
gNI,tju- n,t.nlnCeS 40 the CITY, not in
entln any %. hr provisions OF the
.-N Gil. ,.r N 10 ryN IN in force until
c' ageu
ANY person desiring to become a can
djda;e TOR any elective office may do so
fling with the Civ Register a petition
slsned p. : qualified voters asking jhat
his name De placed upon the primary bal
10. All those who have so fled their
names with the City Register VIII then
cause to be published in some neWSpa-
per of general circulation, the names OF
those who have filed certificates nominal
ing them for some office These names
are TO BE- published three times. The
| primary is 10 be held on the second Tues
day preceding the election
Following the primary. the two Candi-
dates Receiving the highest vote for
Mavor aud the four persons receiving the
/ highest vote for Aldermen shall be the
nominees of the party and shall be voted
upon. ore person to be Mayor and two 10
be Aldermen If not more dian one per
son files certificate Tor Mavor or two
( for Aldermen there viii be no need for an
/ election to fin hese Offices.
/ No candidates in the primaries or in
| the election can promise any reward to d
! helper in the election. nor can anyone
. perform any service under promise OF re-
} Tn. rs.-r3ir, O., AMI s.r MIL h. u
! fine of S3oo or so days in Jail upon con-
yirtion.
I The MAYOR and the two Aldermen shall
/ b. known as the Board Of Aldermen aud
/ shall meet at least once each month.
/ Each member Of the Board Of Aldermen
Shall have a vote and every motion or or
dinance passed must be reduced in writ
/ ing before passed and the yea or nav
vote OF each member recorded.
! AT the first nIeeling Of the Board y AL
I dermeh after the election. Aldermen hall
I be assigned their particular depart hts
r which may be changed il later condGlors
warrant
The charter provides that the 7yor
I shall be The head OF the Departm of
Public Affairs Police and Public : etv.
( One Aldermen shall be the head Ct the
I Department Of Accounts and Finances
and another head OF The Department OF
/ Streets. Public Improvements, Parks and
Public Property
The Mavor shall have supervision over
all departments, but he shall have no
/ power to countermaud any order given
by the head Of any department, although
+ the who'll body Of Aldermen by maior.
+ lily vote may do 81,
/ The Mayor shall have charge Of the po-
lice an. health departments and shall
have supervision OF the FIRE companies
and the purchase Of property
The superintendent of the Department
of finances. in the absence or death Of the
Mayor shall exercise the powers of the
Mayor. He shall have charge of the col.
lection OF taxes, and shall require all de
pdrtments of the CITY to make full ac-
counts of receipts and expenditures. He
shall audit or cause to be audited. the
accounts OF all public officials. and shall
make quarterly report He shall have
charge OF the purchase of all supplies not
designated by ordinance He shall re-
port all accounts and Us before jhey are
passed upon bv the Board OF Aldermen.
The superintendent Of streets. shall
have charge " the streets ana alleys of
,h- ciy and lighting of Inc same All
public property shall be under his care.
including the City Opera House All
contracts between the city and any public
service corporations shall be under his
charge 10 see that they are carried out
The head OF each department is given
he RIGHT 10 nominate the men for his own