The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1913-09-04
The Citizens BOARD.

OIL tne new charter. He HuFeILISe'
says:
The Citizens Board.
FOR the first time since 1t met to
organize, q quorum of the Citizens
board was present at the meeting last
night, and a meeting that was inter-
esting, even II 1t was unprodnctive
of definite. results, ensued. There
was much healthy discussion. par
ttcuiarly of the new street railway
franchise, but in the end there was
no action that was adverse to the
previous action Of the commissioners.
THE attitude that was assumed by
the Citizens board at this meeting
is In accord with the idea of the du-
ties of this organization that has
often been expressed by The Adver-
Ie-!iSer.
THE Citizens board is not CO.
ordinate branch Of the municipal
government of Huntington: 1t was
not intended sas such when the char
ter was framed, and 1t never has been
such in PRACTICE. and never will be.
at may have the appearance OF
threshing over Did straw, but lit
tie discussion of how the Citizens
board came to be may not be amiSs
at the present time.
In practically all the cities in 9TH
err states in which the commission
form Of government prevails, it is
coupled with the referendum and the
recall. When the Huntington char
ter was framed, it was the most pro-
gressive charter that had ever been
adopted for any West Virginia city.
At the same time it was felt by those
who framed the charter that 1t would
be impossible to get through a stand
pat legislature charterthat includ-
cd the referendum and recall. Those
who are familiar with West Virginia
politics will realize how well founded
that belief was. The Citizens board
was created as a check upon the conf
missiOners, exactly the check that isl
provided BY the referendum and re-
call in those cities in which the refer
endum and recall are coupled with
the commission form of government.
"Ihe Citizens board is possessed
Of large powers, but they are only
emergency powers. 1t has little in
itiatiyG; its action ordinarily must
be negative. 1t cannot initiate an
ordinance; but it has the power to
veto one, just as the people have the
same power where the referendum Is
in effect. OF course, it has the power
TO suggest affirmative action upon
any subject which 1t thinks ought to
be brought to the attention OF the
commissioners, but in that It has no
more standing than the Chamber OF
Commerce, the Ministerial Associa-
tion, the Woman's Club, or any other
civic organization,
1.-THE Advertiser has never been
one Of those who deplored the intre-
quency of the meetings of the Cttt'
zens' board. 1t has always believed
that the fact that members OF the
board failed to take enough interest
TO attend the meetings was pretty
good Indication that the affairs OF
the city were being conducted in y
satisfactory manner.
For when the emergency arises
the Citizens board has tremendous
power. 1t can veto any ordinance or
franchise that may be passed by the
commissioners. 1t can remove from
office any commissioner who may !
have been guilty of misconduct in Of
flee. But that power is only to be
exercised in emergencies, just as the
referendum and recall are to be e%'
crcised only in emergencies.
And let no one fear for moment
that the power will not be exercised
when the emergency arises. Should
the commissioners enact an ordi-
nance or grant a franchise that is IN
contradiction to the wishes OF ma
iority Of the citizens Of Huntington,
or that grants undue privileges to
any individual or corporation, there
will be no trouble in securing ma
iority Of the members Of the Citi-
zens' board to attend meeting: UT
let one Of the commissioners be gull
ty Of an official act that brings upon
him the censure of the general pub
lie, and public sentiment alone Will
bring about prompt action upon the
part of these men elected to guard
the publlc's interest.
1.-THE Citizens board is like fire
extinguIsher, for use only in cases OF
emergency, and when the emergency
arises 1t will not be found wanting"
Board Of Trade Uses It as Advertise.
ment for Huntington.
The Huntington Board OF Trade
[ has sent out thousands of copies of
the Huntington charter as an adyer-