The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1913-01-30
MAYOR OBJECTS TO
A CLAUSE IN BILL
Commission Form of Govern
ment Discussed by the
Board of Works.
A HEARING YESTERDAY
Zimmerman Says the RE
movar' Clause Would Be
Very Unjust.

The bill that is now before the state
legislature to provide an act for the
government by a commission, of cities
having population of not less than
10000 nor more than $4,000 was read
and a motion to indorse it was made
by Mayor Zimmerman.
Wilfred Jessup, connected with the
city legal staff, attended one of the
hearings on the bill at the state legis-
lature yesterday. 1t was read in full
and it's merits and Objectionable feat
ures discussed. After a careful con-
sideration on the part of the board, Mr.
Jessup was instructed to appear at the
next hearing on the bill and try to
have one of the Objectionable features
changed.
The commission form of govern
ment provides for a commission of
five men to govern the city and
abolishes all boards and committees
including the city council for which
the present form of city government
calls. Each of these men will be the
superintendent of a department and
with the exception of the superintend-
ent of the department of public affairs,
who will be chairman or mayor, they
will be designated by the name of
their department. The departments
are those of public affairs, accounts
and finance, public safety, streets, pub
lie Improvement and property, and
health and licenses.
Offices Abolished.
This form of government abolishes
the board of public works, city council,
offices of city controller, city clerk,
street commissioner, and city civil en-
gineer. The county treasurer will per-
form the duties of city treasurer. All
the departments dispensed with are
provided for in one of the departments
of the commission form of govern
ment.. This will lessen the expenses
of the city and concentrate the execu-
ton of municipal affairs, according to
board members.
The bill provides for the removal
from office of any member of the
board of commissioners upon a petit
ton signed by Is per cent of the vot-
ers. Zimmerman wants this clause
altered. He contends that 1t would be
an easy matter for person who has a
grudge against one of the commission
ers to get out a petition for his remov-
al. He stated that it is his belief that
few petitions are justified because
persons sign them as an act of friend
ship and not from principle of the pc
tition.
The board accordingly requested Mr..
Jessup to attend the hearing of the
bill and suggest a modification of that
clause. He was instructed to recon-
mend that the clause be changed so
that it will be necessary for the per-
sons desiring the removal of a COM
county clerk and leave his signature
and address.
Would Be Optional.
The commission form of government
will be optional in cities of the re-
CURED population. Upon a petition
signed by % per cent of the persons
voting at the last preceding city cleo.
ton, the mayor is required to call a
special election within 80 days of the
filing of the petition. A majority is
required to institution the commission
form.
This plan eliminates the party ele-
ment in city elections as no limit is
placed on the number Of candidates
running for any of the five offices
The names of the men nominated are
placed in alphabetical order on the bal
lot, regardless Of their political affilia.