The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1913-09-12
Proposed Plan for City of Fairmont,
Which Will Be Submitted to the
People on Sept. Is, Discussed in
an Impartial Manner at Meeting
Thursday Night.
STRONG RESOLUTIONS
ADOPTED BY CHAMBER
Arguments in Favor of New Charter
Advanced by Prominent Citizens
Who Feel Change is Necessary and
Resolutions Are Passed Without
Dissenting Vote.

Dissenting Vote.
At one of the largest and most en-
thusiastic meetings held by the
Chamber of Commerce in many
months last night the proposed
Greater FairmOnt charter. providing
a commission form Of government for
the city was endorsed by resolutions
without a single dissenting vote.
The meeting was attended by the
leading citizens Of the city, many of
them pioneers in the early building
and development OF the city, mostly
large property owners, and men now
most actively engaged in business in
the city, who gave voice of approval
by their speeches and by their votes
to Il movement which they, as pro-
grcSsive business men, believe Is Il
large forward step toward insurng
the future growth and advancement
of the city.
The first business transacted NJ
the meeting was the consideration
Of some amendments to the cOnstitu-
ton and bylaws, which were pro-
posed by special committee APP
pointed to draft the changes SOM
time ago. The amendments were
adopted as proposed and the change
will no doubt be very popular
movement as it does away with til"
nominating committee for directors
and provides for the election Of all
directors from the floor Of annual
meetings of the chamber. The an
nual dues were also changed by re-
ducing the amount from $50 to $40,
The bylaws as amended also pro-
vIdes that contributing members
may give an amount per year to the
support of the organization greater
than the $40 assessment but no
member, nor corporation, will be Civ
en- more than one vote upon amy
question, no matter what amount
they contribute to the organization.
Having completed the cOrsidcra.
tion and passage, Of the several
amendments, Anthony Bowen intro
Guccd resolutions endorsing the pro-
posed new charter for FairmOnt, and
upon the adoption OF the resolution
Il general discussion was had Of the
chnrter. The meeting was address
cd by Anthony Bowen, \. d. Scott,
j. NJ. Jacobs, A. l.. Lehman, Frank
p. Kelly, O. S. Mckinney. l.. NJ. Da-
Wis, Sam Il. Nuzum, j. NJ. Hartley, j.
Walter Barnes, DR.. W. II. Sands and
President r. r. Cunningham. all OF
whom. save ono, favoring the ell
dorscmCnt of the charter.
Anthony Bowen, who represents
the MOnungahCla Industrial COM
pany with large real estate holdings
on the East Side, now outside OF tn"
city limits, very earnestly advOcNt-
cd the passage Of the charter on the
ground that these outside properties
would be greatly benefited by con-
ing into the city and getting tn
benefits of the protection and M
rrovGmcnts that the other residents
OF the city are afforded.
Mr.. Bowen was followed by J. NJ,
jacobs, a man who is a substantial!
property owner in the city ana one
of the city's most progressive busl'
ncss men. Mr.. Jacobs very ably told
of the advantages 81 having 4 Great
cr FairmOnt. He said that with the
boundary line increased Fairmont
would be the largest city in the
northern part of the state except
Wheeling. He cited the city 0'
Huntington as an example Of wha'
can be done under Il business like
administration of affairs afforded
by a commission government. H'
stated that the opposition to tn;
charter was mostly based upon abSo-
lutte Misrepresentation, appealing t
the prcjudiccs of the people, and
that no sound argument had yet
ECCn produced against the chHTlcI'
a. l.. Lehman also advocated the
endorsement of the charter and IL
an experienced lawyer, man of cX'
cellcnt business Judgment, and who
is versed in municipal governmental,
affairs, Ire gave the paving section OF
the bill his approval. lie stated that
the most of the opposition was bas'
cd upon this section of the bill, but
that as he saw It, it was the particu,
lar part OF the Garter that most APP
pealed to his judgment. Under The
old system lie stated that few PEG
pic, or even one citizen could block
and prevent the paving of any street
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