The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1919-02-12
tsy THOMAS .. MAYs.)

80 rLIAR1 ESTOS. w Va. Feb. IL
Home rule for the municipalities. Oh
West Virginia. regarded as the hroadest
stcp vet made by the legislature III
eliminating much of the work relating
TO local measure has been proposed IN
resolution offered in the legislature by
Senator Edgar d. Stewart, OF Morgan
town.
The resolution proposes on amend
ment to the constitution or the state.
to be designated by the title municipal
homo rule" and would allow oil OF inc
Municipalities 10 draft and adopt char-
ters in addition to the passage OF othor
luws which are vested solely IN the
legislature at the present time.
Section one Of the resolution sets
forth that provision shall be made by q
general law for the incorporation or
cities and villages: and by general
law for the organization and government
Of cities and villages which do not
adopt laws or charters In accordance
with the provisions Of section two OF
the resolution.
Under the Stewart resolution laws
may be enacted cffecting the orGaniza-
lion and government Of cities and vii
laces, which shall become effectiTe IN
any city or village only when submitted
to tho electors and approved by a ma
jority of those voting.
I. provides that any city may frame
and adopt charter for its own govern
mcnt in the following manner:
"Thc legislative authority of the city
bv a two-thirds vote of it's members. ana.
mon the petition Of ten per cent OF the
qualified electors, shall forthwith pro-
vide by ordnance for the submission to
the electors Of the question: Shall
commission be chosen to frame char-
tcr% The ordnance shall require that
Tho question be submitted TO the electors
Mt the next regular municipal election IL
one shall occur not less than 81 Gays or
moro than 40 days after its PASSAGE
otherwise. at special election TO Dc
called and held within the time aloFe-
said: the ballot containing such Quee-
,ion shall also contain the names o,
candidates for members Of the proposed
commission, but without party designa-
ton.
"such candidates shall be nominated
bv octition. which shall BIO signed ny not
loss than two per cent Of the Qualiheo
electors. and be filed with the election
authorities at least 20 days before sucn
election; provided that In no case shatl
the signature Of more than one thousand
electors be required for the nomination
of any candidates. If majority OF inc
electors voting on the question OF choos-
ing n commission shall vote IN the III
trmatIve. then tho fifteen candidates re-
rcivInr the highest number Of votes
shall constitute the charter commission
,nd shall proceed TO frame a charter.
"Any charter so framed shall be sub
nitted to the qualified electors OF the
CITY at an election to be held ut time
10 be determined by the charter COM
mission, which shall be at least 80 days
subsequent to It's completion ana not
more than one year from the date OF the
election Of the charter commission. Inc
commission shall make provisions loI
the distribution OF copies Of the proposed
charter among the qualified electors OF
the city. or for giving them by Qther
means notice OF it's contents, not less
than 30 days before the election at Whicn
it is voted upon.
Such proposed charter. If approved
by majority OF the electors voting
thereon. shall become the organic law OIL
such city at such time as may he ikea
therein. and shall supcrcedc any existing
charter and all laws affecting the or
ganization and government OF such city
when arc IN COllllGL
! 80 days after it's approval the election
authorities shall certify copy OF such
charter to the secretary Of state %ho
| shall file the same as public record IN
his Office. and the same shall be pub
lishcd as an appendix to the session laws
enacted by tho legislature
| The resolution provides that amend
! mcnts to any such charters may DE
= Trimmed md submitted by charter conf
| mission in the manner provided in sec