Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1914-11-06
NEW CITY CHARTER
READY FOR VOTERS
Managerial Commission Form
Adopted To Go Into Effect
in 1916

The new city charter for Salem pro.
viding for the managerial commission
form of city government will be sub
mitted to vote of the people at the
city election December oe this year
if the report of the joint committee is
adopted at the special meeting of the
city council tonight. The charter as
framed by the committee of fifteen
was Objectionable in number of ways
to the city council and it was referred
back to joint committee consisting
of three oouncilmen, three members Of
the original committee and City Attor.
ney Page for revision and the worked.
over charter will be submitted tonight
If the charter is adopted by the peo
pie at the December election, the pres
ent city officers will hold their posi-
tions until January, 1916, when the
new charter goes into effect. The cleo
tions for commissioners will be held
on the first Monday in November
1915, and the primary elections one
month earlier. It was the opinion Of
the trainers Of the new charter that
by putting the matter off for year
the city would be saved an expense
of about $1,000 for holding an election.
AS this expense has already been in
CURED for this year, the now charter
will have an opportunity to go into eff,
feet without any revolution of the bus.
iness administration Of the city govern.
ment. and the new set of officers may
take their positions under the new
charter much the same as any newly.
elected ticket takes office today and
with no more upheaval in city affairs
By the proposed charter the city
government is to be in the hands Of
six commissioners and one city mana.
ger, The commissioners are to be nom.
mated, one from each ward, but to be
voted upon at large. The city mana
ger is to be chosen by the commission.
ers. The commissioners scrve without
pay, but the city manager is to be paid
a regular salary. The manager attends
to all Of the details Of the city's work
under the appropriations made by the
commission, The authority Of the com.
mission to raise taxes is reduced from
Is per cent, as at present, to 10 per
cent, and the authority of the commits.
sion to levy taxes is reduced from III y
mills, as at present, to 10 mills.
Tho salary Of the city manager is
paid out Of n fund set aside when the
tux budget is made up and his tenure
Of office is subject entirely to the au-
thority Of the commissioners. The
commissioners hold office for two
years, but to provide for one.half of
the commission to be hold.overs each
year, on the first election those from
the wards bearing even numbers will
be elected for one year only. The long
terms going to those from the wards
bearing odd numbers. The recall pow.
ers of the people against the commits.
sion acts as an automatic check upon
any excesses that the commission OF
manager might countenance.
The management of the police de.
partmcnt fire department and street
department is in the hands Of the city
manager, who hires and discharges tho
mon.
The city Is also given the power 10
make its own street improvements and
to take up outstanding Indebtedness by
means Of serial bonds. The city man.
ogcr is required TO put up 10000
bonds, and the city treasurer 100000
The city treasurer is required to pay
two per cent interest on the average
daily balances Of funds In his DOS.
session.
The city manager is restricted in
advertising for supplies and cannot
mako any contract for more than 1886
without the consont of the commits
sioners. No city cmploye Is allowed
TO be financially Interested in any con
tract.
The commissioners are given power
20 engage In amy public utility for the
use Of the people Of the city and Il
buy or lease any plants for such use.
The procedure for assessing proper
~ for improvements has been improved
over the old methods now In use and
no assessments cnn be made for i'm
proyements without first allowing The
property owner time 60 file objections
TO the proposed improvements In writ
ing and to have hearing In the mat
ter. A large amount Of technical pro
cedure has been eliminated and the
new charter is shorn Of the cumbersome
methods used in the present charter
according TO Mr., Page.
All iu all, the Joint committee Is Of
| thn ouiuion thnt a nnW ahartnr AMI
and out is the thing to provide an ef