Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1913-09-30
The Commission Plan Act
Condensed For Use Of
Busy Readers
IT SHOULD BE STUDIED
Aside From Improved Manag-
ment Changes from Pres
ent Law Are Slight

present warn COunCuuidu oyotCm VI
city government or the adoption OF
the Commission form, under the Alien
Act. will without doubt he submitted
to the people of Aberdeen before the
close of the year, and, as much misin
formation is being circulated regard
ing the terms of that act, the Herald
believes in giving the law the widest
publicity in order that an intelligent
vote may be cast for or against its
adoption: To publish the act in full
would prove too long for the patience
or understanding of the average read
er, and it Is the object Of this article
to give a synopsis of the law in plain
language and as briefly as may be
consistent, with giving the substance
of the act for the use of the busy
man, who may have neither time nor
inclination to wade through the leg
al verbiage of the statute.
Who May Adopt
Any city with $500 and not more
than 10000 may organize under the
provisions of this law, when a pc.
tition is signed by rs per cent of the
vote cast at the last election, request
ing a special election for the purpose
of deciding If the people so desire.
At this election the voters will vote,
"FOr Organization as city under
commission" or Against Organiza.
ton as city under commission" II
q majority decide for commission,
the city will hold an election within
sixty days of such adoption to elect
a mayor and two commissioners, to
serve for three years from the first
Monday in December following their
election. The new commissioners
will assume Office on the second Mon.
day after election at which time the
present mayor and councilmen shall
retire. The other officers shall con-
tinue in Office at the pleasure of the
commission.
How Elected
Primary elections are held two
weeks prior to the regular election
for the nomination of candidates, all
the names being printed upon one bal
lot. To be placed upon this ballot,
the prospective candidates must, not
less than Is nor more than Is days
before the pripary election, file his
declaration with the clerk, which must
be supported by a petition Of at least
100 qualified voters, and each petit
ton must be verified as to Qualifica-
tions and residence, and must give
the street number of each signer. The
names of the candidates must be pub
lished twice in daily newspaper be-
fore the ballots are printed.
The two candidates receiving the
highest number Of votes for Mayor
and the four highest for commission
ers, are the nominees at the regular
election at which the three officials
are chosen from the six candidates.
Any person who shall agree to assist
any candidate for money, or anything
of value, or attempt to bride any cleo.
tor. or who shall solicit or accept
such bride is liable to fine and I'M
prisonment.
Vacancies and Bonds
Any vacancy occurring In the COM
mission shall be filled by the remain
ing members for the unexpired term
and each commissioner shall give q
bond in five times the amount OF his
annual salary, for the faithful per-
Torrance of his duties, and they may
require any of the appointees to give
bonds.
Duties and Powers
The powers and duties are divided
into three departments, viz: Depart
ment of public safety, Of which the
mayor shall be chief; the department
of finance and accounting. and the de-
partments of streets and public I'm
ouEpAI.D Pr
provements. They shall, by ordin
ance, determine the powers and du
ties to be performed in each depart
ment. as we'll as the duties and pow
ers of officers and employees. They
shall appoint a city clerk and sucI'
other officers and assistants as may
be required, who may be removed by
a majority vote Of the commission
at any time, and whose salaries shall
be fixed by ordinance.
The commission must maintain an
Office at the city hall, and hold pub
lie meetings at least once q week.
All meetings, regular or special, shall
be open to the public. The mayor
shall be president Of the commission
and preside over its meetings. The
commissioner of finance and account
ing shall be vice president, and shall
act mayor during the absence or in
ability of that official.
Salaries.
The mayor shall receive a salary
of $4,000 and the commissioners ST.
900 each, per annum, payable month
ly. (This is based upon population
OF $4,000, which the Herald believes
Aberdeen has, although the federal
census was 24O short of this number).
Legislative Powers and Restrictions.
Every ordinance appropriating mon
ey, or ordering any street improve
ments or sewer, or granting any fran.