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

Huntington Is the best paved eft.
In the State. the streets are longer
wider. straighter. and more level. ant
so enthusiastic have been the citizen
over making Improvements there t
the streets. that 1t has been Difficult
for thereby to keep up It's part of I'll,
work inipaving intersections at eros
streets. 49,
Must Stay on the Job.
Under the new charter the com
miSsioners are required to keep OF
ficcs at the city hall and be ther,
every day for the transaction of tn
business of the city,
They are required to meet once ;
| week
| ThHy are required to take an Oatl
not to- make any appointments oil
subordinate officials In the interest
OF any political party.
They are prohibited from entering
into any contract with the city &c
furnish any supplies to the city.
They are required to deposit tho
funds of the city in some bank Of the
city that will pay 2 or more per cent
interest upon such deposits and tC
require the bank to give bond for the
security of the deposits.
Debt Limit S Per Cent.
The limit of Indebtedness Of the
city for any and every purpose what
ever Is placed at S per cent. of the
assessed value OF the taxable property
of the city.
The members of the commission
are prohibited from holding any 9th.
er office or position which will con
fiict with their public duties.
None of the foregoing provisions
are made in the present city charter.
Power Over Public Service Corpora.
ton.
Another provision of the new char.
ter that should appeal to every voter
IL the power the city is given to rcgu-
late public service corporations. The
city Is not only given the power to
own and operate its own public utili-
tics but It is given absolute power to
fix and regulate the price these cor
porations charge for service. On thu
point the new chapter says:
The city Is given the power to
erect. own, lease. authorize or pro.
hibit the erection of gas works, tclc-
phone plants. electric lights works,
or ferry boats, in or near the. city
and to operate the same and sell TIT
products or services thereof, and To
do any and all things necessary and
| incidental to the conduct OF such
business, including the right In any
franchise hereafter granted TO FIN
AND CHANGE THE CHARGES ANT
PRICES FOR WHICH THE SER
VICE OR ARTICLE OF THE PER.
SON OR COMPANY OPERATING
ANY SUCH PLANTS OR WORKS. or
ANY OTHER PUBLIC UTILITIES
OR PUBLIC SERVICE CORPORA
TON UNDER SUCH FUTURE
FRANCHISE MAY BE HAD BY
THEIR PATRONS OR CONSuM
Frs" .
Petitions Were for the Recall.
1t was also shown at this meeting
that the petitions which were circu'
lated tn the city favored either The
bipartisan or non-partiSan plan but
they all provided that the initiativ"
referendum and recall must be IN
the charter and these petitions served
their purpose and accomplish Their
| object as these three provisions were
included in the new charter AS II
passed the legislature. II has thai
much advantage over the Huntington
| charter where they do not have these
| lrovisions.
With the power of the initiative
| and referendum and recall the gov
crnment of the city is abSolutcl!
| placed In the hands of the voters
"a no can at any time recall any cleo
tive' officer anu can pass thclr OWL
| ordinances and franchises by direc'
| vote.
As to Salaries.
Some criticism has been made d
the salaries as being too large hui
when It is known that you cannot
;et good men to manage any business
In this city for less money the econ
omy OF paying adequate salaries II
apparent.
One member Of the city council
who Is himself good and successful
business man said the other day thai
he had attended enough council meet
iags TO know that four good mel
could very easily save many time
their salary by looking after tn,
business of the city in II proper maj