The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1913-02-20

Tho Falrmont Charter Bill has
passed both branches OF the lcgisla.
ture providing commission govern
mcnt for the city. The charter in Its
general provisions IS very full and
elaborate and gives the city. ample
power to keep pace with its future
growth and development for many
years 10 come.
1t provides u Greater Fairmont with
eight wards.
It will substitute through its COM
nissioners simplicity and efficiency
for government at random"
1t is safeguarded with a council Of
Two members from each of the eight
wards who have the power to remove
any commissioner for good cause, as
well as the negative or veto power
over all ordinances adm franchises.
1t is further safe guarded with the
Initiative, Referendum and Recall,
three features in which a large major!
ity of the citizens of the city express.
cd a. very. great interest and abiding
faith. ~
The civil service provisions have
been added to the bill, but this Is left
aptional with the commissioners. 1t
was = part OF the original bill but was
discarded by the special committee
which came TO Charleston to adjust
certain differences before the bill was
passed through the house, but it was
thought bes't on later consideration 10
make provision for this feature in or.
der that it might be used If deemed
proper The original objection to the
civil service was found In the general
belief that Fairmont was not large
enough 10 carry II out successfully, but
If at any time It is found to be prarti.
cal it may be put into effect without
amending the bill.
The Initiative, Referendum and Re,
call are embodied in the bill just as
they were in the bill which passed the
house. In the Recall, to use the Ian.
guage Of Woodrow Wilson. the people
oi FarmOnt have THE shotgun behind
the door," 1t is there for convenient
usc If II should ever be needed, but
The general experience with til recall
is that when il is provided 1t is sci.
dom needed or used,
The Referendum is one OF the most
popular aud sensible provisions in the
bill. 1t gives the people the fullest
possible expression on ordinances and
franchises and makes the veto an ef.
rectua safeguard for good govern.
ment.
The new charter bill Is elaborate
and complete Both OF the OrigIna
bills wcrr not. complete, and upon
clit':al examination many errors and
defects Cere found, About 25 pages Of
typewriLtcn matter we're added to lh'
bill, the work being made necesSar!
by the curing Of certain defects IF
the huntington charter, after whicG
the FairmOnt charter is very largely
patterned. In the preparation Of the
bill the advice and counsc! of Geo. l.
Neal was found to be ol very great
assistance. Mr.. Neal was the drafter
Of tho Huntington charter and was at
the head OF the Municipal Code Com,
mission, which ,made close study of
municipal government needs, as shown
by the report Of the commission.
Tho hattie for commission govern
ment has been won by the people, and
while many did not get all they want
cd, the main thing sought has been
brought about and that is a complete
change In the form OF government,
The only thing lost or conceded was
the non.partisan plan, about which
there arose much difference OF opin
ion. After all 1t must be conceded
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