The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1913-08-16


cstly urged the Civic League to gel
behind the new charter and push /,
earnestly and effectively before til,
voters Of the city.
All. Favor the New Charter.
Every speaker who spoke fav0rct
the new charter and was enthusiasts
tically applaudcd showing that tn,
sentiment Of the meeting was strong.
" in favor of the new plan of gov.
crnment.
Some Points Brought Out.
Some Of the points brought out Ia
the meeting were that every citizen
living In the proposed larger boun
Diary would be permitted to vote on
the adoption of the charter.
That there were naturally som,
small impcrfcctions In the chartc,
but not of sufficient Importance [,
be reasons why any voter should yot,
against the bill II he really wants !;
change In the form of government
That these few minor defects could
easily be- corrected by amendments Il,
the next session of the legislature.
That all the points objected to
were found to exist in the Hunting
ton charter. word for word, as the,
are found In the Fairmont charter
with the exception of the clause on
Milling OF vacancies.
That these so-callcd ohiectionabh
points we're not put into this charter
bill by or through the design of an,
person in Fairmont.
That the bill was AS whole an ey.
act duplicate of the Huntington char
ter and was prepared by the joint
committees OF the Chamber of Com.
mcrcc and the Business Mems AsGo
citation. the members Of which are.
}. Walter Barnes. chairman: J. NJ
Hartley. 4. NJ. Sh0waltcr, ]. o. Wat,
son. NJ. i. Hutchinson, representa-.
the Chamber of Commerce. and T.. e
Jones. a. b. Scott, w. II. Spcddcn
j. u. Morgan and l.. NJ. Davis. repre-
/, S"nting the Business Mems AsSnria
ton. with exception of the paving
sewer and sidewalk sections whicl
were copied from the amendment.
mad" to the Huntington charter a,
the last session of the legislature.
II was shown that the commi,
SloncrS to have charge of the city.
affairs would all be 'rcquircd to civ.
bond before entering upon the dis.
charge of their duties. except whr,
they are appointed to Rll an uncx.
pircd term.
That til" present city council OK
"rciSing the same functions of gov
'rnm"nt are not required to give an,
bond at all.
The advantages of the new pavins
regulations were made apparent Il
every person who wants local self
government and who wants to giy,
the city ample power to do all ncccy
say improving of the city. Under
the present charter paving is don
! under I'll" tSatc law OF lSg5 aud til,
tty Is pOwcrlcSs to pave any stree
| except upon the petition of the prop
"r'y owners representing at lea
| half OF the frontage upon sucl
streets. Under these conditions Til.
Improvement could be blocked in tn
middle of any street In the city. I'm
der the new law which. Is nodclc,
after the act Of the legislature o
1905 tao city is given power to x,
on with street improvements whct
dccmch necessary or cXpcdicnt, an.
the city may issue bonds for that pur
pose but only upon the vote of three
fifths OF the voters.
! LIBERAL provisions are made 70
the paying of paving assessments. til.
payments may be strung out for te,
years in yearly installmcnts maxim,
II a very slight burden upon the prop