The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1913-03-01
COMMISSION GOVERNMENT.
important Features of New Plan of
Municipal Administration Briefly
outEined-Digest OF Law Passed
at Last Session of Louisiana Leg

Now that an election has been call
| ed to submit to the voters of Donald
| sonville the proposition to adopt a
commission form of government for
this city, The Chief, with a view to
Informing it's readers on some of the
salient features Of the new system Of
municipal administration. reproduces
from its issue OF Nov. 8 last the fol-
lowing excellent article on. the sub
ject prepared by B. NJ. Harvard, a
leading attorney of Hammond. which
contains a digest Of the law proVid-
ing for the adoption Of the new form
of government. by towns and cities:
The people OF Hammond are now
face to face with the issue OF whether
Or not the new form Of govern
ment for municipalities in Louisiana
will be more suitable than the present
form. The new plan is popularity
known as the Commission form
The question is squarely presented
in the mayors proclamation calling
a special election for this purpose
Assuming that all legal require
ments necessary prior to the is
suance of the proclamation have
been strictly complied with, it is a
most important thing to know some
thing Of the new law by which it is.
proposed to alter the basic principles
Of the government under which the
people here have always. lived.
The law is officially designated
as Act No. 207 of the general as
sembly of 1912. It provides in gen
eral that all towns in Louisiana hay-
ing population Of $500 and more
may adopt the new. form OF govern
ment. According to its classification
Hammond would be a city of the sec
ond class, it having a population Of
2500 and more. The law aims to
fix Individual esuonsi 4oI the
may or and ea linz d. hey will
each have entire of some
particular department Of the scily,sH
affairs. If their Official acts be
come unsatisfactory they may be
removed from office. They can pass
no law giving a franchise or i'm
portant grant unless it is ratified by
the people. Another good feature
is the provision that the voters may
submit to the council any law they
desire to pass. Should the council
fail to pass it in twenty days, it |
must be submitted to an election.
thus we have the Initiative,
referendum and recall in the new
act. 1t seems to provide. every
thing the advocates of the commits
sion form of government have de-
sired. It comes about as near plac-
ing the government Of the city in
the hands Of the people as it is
possible to do.
the act as a whole, going through it
section by section, and have pre-
pared in brief but accurate form al
he important features CT the new
plan as it will apply to Hammond.
4 they are read carefully a very
clear idea can be gained CT what the
changes in our city government will
De should the election be in favor of
he adoption Of Act No. 2G7 OF 1912.
important Features OF xile New law.
l. There viii be a mayor and two
'ouncilmen, elected at large.
2. There will be three depart
ii0nes oL government, VIZ: l, depart
nent of public health and safety; 2,
department. CT finance; 5, depart
nent Of parks and streets. &
8. The mayor will be commission '
II Of department one councilman s
VIII be commissioner OF department J
, and the remaining councilman will {
'e commissioner Of department 8. /
T. The officers will be elected for K
our years. \
o. The salary of the mayor shall S
ot exceed $1,000, nor that of the
ouncilmen $3.50 each.