The Sentinel=record., 1914-09-25
COMMISSION BILL
Is DISCUSSED
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE MASS
MEETING VOTES DOWN TOO
RESTRICTIVE AMENDMENTS.
one OF the Most Representative Gath
erlnss of Citizenship Seen Under
one Roof Here in Many Months


Ohe OF the most representative on.
ulehces gathered under a single ROOF
III Hot Springs in many months was
that which responded to ths Chan
Der Oh Commerce mass meeting last
hlsht lot the purpose of discussion of
the proposed commission form of gov.
eminent bill. that had been nra.
pared by the Bar Association at tho
request Of the Chamber of Com.
merce. I'm
Inc general provisions of the bill,
as prepared by the bar were ad.
hered to as the bill was read section
by section by Secretary Latta. The
ilrst changes in the bill proposed
came up through offerings by Leo p.
Mclaughlin, one of which reduced
the term Of office to two wears an,
other of which prohibited succession
In office, and another which probih.
iied any man serving as mayor or
commissioner from engaging in anv
other line Of business.
Those who discussed the amend.
ments universally opposed them.
taking it for granted that the de.
mands required by other provisions
of the bill. requiring that certain
hours OF service be given, and the re-
call serving if inefficient or corrupt
Officers might be elected. were suf-
Ilcient to meet the situation. Every
Mclaughlin amendment was voted
down by overwhelming votes.
The matter of providing for the
police court, with increased jurisdic.
ton, proved the only issue unsolved
when the meeting took recess over
until aeXt Thursday. There were
some who favored adhering strictly
10 the bill as drawn by the bar mem
bers, while others believed that one
of the commissioners should serve as
judge Of the municipal court This
matter had been under discussion for
some time when a motion to take a
recess until next Thursday evening
prevailed
Practically the only change In the
bill as it had been proposed that
was made iast night was an amend
ment offered by Mr.. Simon Cooper
which restricted the salary of any
city appointee, providing that under
no conditions could a city employe
receive more salary than the mayor.
One other change was adopted on
motion Of George p. Wilmington,
which made the penalty for Illegal
voting under the new system the
same as now applies under the gen
eral election laws of the state.
In the discussions of whether the
mayor or commissioners could sur
coed themselves, or could be en-.
gagged in any other line of business
whine serving as such, Mayor Nc
Clendon thought that any man effic-
lent enough to serve as mayor must
almost Of necessity have some other
business interests, because success
ful men would be wanted in the re-
sponsible offices under the commits
sion.
Or. Connell thought that the recall
would be sufficient guarantee to the
six-year terms provided for under the
bill.
Judge Curl explained that in max
ing the terms Of office six years, and
providing for the election of one
each two years. it was for the pur-
pose of avoiding too many elections,
or one each year, which would be
necessary if there were three-year
terms.
Simon Cooper said that when eff
ficlent men were found for office
they should be allowed to succeed
themselves, and that the people
would want the privilege of voting
over again for good men, as they
would also exercise the recall in the
event mistakes were made.
George Wilmington stated that the
idea of commission plan generally
was 10 secure efficiency, and that
when good men were found for such
places. the idea favored their reten
ton in places Of public trust.
Dr. A. L. Williams favored sue
cession in office so long as the voters
had the recall with which to protect
their interests.