The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-01-09
sAFErYEIRsT.

The Fairmont charter commission
which has been at work diligently for
the past five or SIX weeks on the draft
Of the new charteT, has its work al.
most completed and yesterday the
final decision was reached and the
plan adopted was given the unani.
nous approval of all the members OF
the commission. the meeting yesterday
being the largest held since the work
was commenced.
The charter, as originally prepared,
provided for city manager plan OF
government and this new plan had
many friends throughout the city. but
there Swsre many others since the plan
was publicly outlined, those of more
conservative views, who thought the
plan was too radical departure from
established practice to put into oper-
alton now and believed TINT It would
beisaferl to s.stand pat" on the original
non.partisan three commissioner plan
that was practically unanimously up.
proved by the people and the various
organizations OF the city two years
ago, and VIZ at the behest of the
Democratic politicians of the city,
was defeated, substituting the bi.par.
tisan four Commissioner plan.
1t was pointed out by those who
are opposed to the city manager plan,
and those who favor 1t but who are
somewhat doubtful about trying to
adopt II without a better general un-
derstanding Of its features, that the
original plan had been so thoughly
discussed and was SO well known to
practically I'll the citizens of the city,
that It would be much easier to get
an united support behind It. The cost
In direct salaries Of the two plans will
not Wy but a few hundred dollars
and either will provide an enormous
saving In salaries over the present
plan. The idea being to provide both
efficiency an economy which either
plan viii do. Il,
The West Virginian has outlined the
city manager plan to considerable
extent and thinks well of 1t after hav.
ing gwen Il "a careful study and would
stand by its endorsement Of its fea.
lures. but it Is willing to yield its
opinions in the matter to the will OF
the majority OF the people, believing
that no mistake can be made In sup.
porting the original plan OF two years
ago which seems to have lost none of
lis popularity during the time It has
been cast aside by a hostile legisla.
ture. In fact Sitshas gained friends in
the mean time and now we find that
many who were then opposed to many
of its provisions are now its firmest
supporters. II Is certainly a st-z-g
testimonial for the fairness and merit
Of the bill to see SO many people
standing firmly by the plan and Will
ing to do all they can to secure It's
passage through the legislature.
Since the plan was proposed two
years ago developments since have
shown the wisdom Of placing a limit.
not only on the direct salaries proved
IN the charter. but on all salaries OF
all appointiye officers as well.
The non.partisan plan does not
differ from the city manager plan In
the manner Of holding elections. both
providing that elections be held after
the approved short ballot system,
ieeognizing no party and using no
party emblems:
In the way Of direct salaries the
proposed plan has the advantage OF
$500 per eyar by combining the
street and water commissions under
one head and with one salary, saving
thereby the sum Of So. 900 per year. II
will also combine the treasurer's office
with the commissioner OF finance and
save the salary of the treasurer,