The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1917-02-19
Bipartisan Scheme is Embodied in the
Amendments Prepared for Intro
duction in Both Houses
at Charleston
BUSINESS INTERESTS DEMAND CHANGE
CATION are Retained-Public Spirited
Republicans Endorse Movement.

Unless some parliamentary ruling
prevents 1t an amendment to the Fair
mont charter of 1915 which has been
in litigation ever since 1t became law
will be introduced in both branches of
the legislature at Charl , .on. II for
any reason 1t Is Impossible to get the
measure in today 1t will go in the very
first thing in the morning. Although
the session ends Saturday of this week
1t is confidently hoped that the amend
ments will be passed and that the po-
litical incubus which has been hanging
over this town and retarding its
growth, industrially and commercially
will be removed. -
The movement to amend the social
ed new charter has been on foot for
a number OF weeks. In both that char
ter and the charter of 1913 under
which the city is now being governed
there are a number OF things that. are
Objectionable to members of both the
Republican, and Democratic parties.
With a view to eliminating these
things and to putting the municipal
government upon basis where par
tison raneor will not periodically dis
rupt the citizens and prevent hearty
cooperation upon those community en-
terprises which must be undertaken
IL the city is to grow and prosper
the Democrats made overtures to rep
resentative Republicans the substance
of which was that II a scheme could be
devised to take the city government
out of politics and place it upon an
efficient plane they would agree to
withdraw opposition to the new char
ter.
At this time this overture was made
committee representing the Demo-
Gratis and another one representing
the Republicans were named to go
over the draft of the 1915 charter and
formulate amendments which would
make 1t acceptable to both sides with
out at the same time destroying the
valuable features OF the 1915 charter
The men selected on those committees
although admirably qualified for the
task were unfortunately chosen as
far as the progress of the movement
was concerned. On the Democratic
side Mr.. Alexander was called to the
east for an extended stay and Mr..
Raymond was compelled to go to
Charleston to take up his duties as a
member Of the House of Delegates.
On the Republican side Mr.. Prichard
was also called to Charleston and
Mr.. Meredith also found his hands full
OF other duties.
So the matter was permitted to
slumber until last week when 1t be-
came apparent that the charter in
litigation probably would hang fire in
the supreme court of the United States
for year or more only to start the
most damaging kind of partisan war
fare when its status finally was de-
termined: Business men in both poll.
tical parties recognized that this would
mean the complete ruin of the Fifty
in-Five movement and all other eff
forts to upbuild the community and a
high speed effort to whip amendments
to the new charter into shape was
made. 1t was a heculean undertaking
but under the direction OF Attorneys
Frame and Conley on the Republican
side and Alexander and Morris on the
Democratic side 1t was finally complet-
ed early Sunday morning and yester-
day two copies Of 1t were sent to
Charleston for introduction into the
two houses for the Legislature today.
The main idea Of the amendments
is to take the city government out Of
politics and to reduce political dis
turbances in the community to mini
mum. The text Of the 1916 charter is
adhered to as much as possible with
that idea in view. The first election
under the new form of government
will be held on the second Tuesday
in August, which would be August
IA, and the new government would go
into office on the first of next Sep
tember. The charter that Is to be
amended calls for an municipal cleo
ton every two years but the amend.
ments provide that four years are to
e1apse between them. Elaborate pre-.
cautions are taken to make 1t practi-
cally. certain that. there will be. only
two parties in the field and that each
Of them will elect two members of
81, 3. Y E y