The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-02-10
REFERENDUM NOT
PROVIDED BYNEW
MEMPHIS CHARTER
CONTINUED From First Page.l


Continued From First Page.)
The mayo will he recognized as the
official head Of the city for all cere-
monial purposes, by the courts for the
purpose OF serving civil processes, and
by the governor for military purposes.
City Manager Big Boss.
The city manager will be the chief
executive officer of the city" under
the new charter. He will be appointed
by the council, and according TO the
charter shall be chosen solely on the
oasis or ms executive and administra-
tive qualifications and need not, when
appointed. be an %inhabitant Of the city
or state" The salary which the man
ager shall receive is left entirely to
the discretion of the council, and
though he is appointed for an indefinite
period, ne serves at the pleasure Of the
council, If removed at any time after
he has served six months, however. the
city manager may demand written
charges and a public hearing, Pending
n during the hearing the council
may suspend him from office.
The charter reserves to the council
the right to appoint the director Of the
department of law, but TO the manager
Is decreed the power TO appoint all
other directors of departments " .
on the basis of executive and admins
tA"NANO dbAllAgs anu OA cuuCdkipIl, TRAM
ing n experience in the work which
they are to administer" Directors so
appointed are Immediately responsible
TO the city manager and subject to
discharge by him at any time.
He Is Sole Executor,
A preceding provision in the charter
delegates the freest rein to the ram
ager in appointing his assistants and
department heads and in the admins
tration Of all affairs under his juris-
diction. The charter says that except
Tor the purpose of inquiry the council
and its members shall deal with the
administrative service solely through
the city manager ana neither the
council or any member thereof shall
| give orders to any of the subordinates
OF the city manager"
The reservation is made relative 10
The managers powers of appointment
that tho appointees shall be confined
TO citizens OF the city OF Memphis. ex-
Cept IN such specific cases as the coun-
Gil may suspend this requirement"
Section 50 provides that the city ad-
mlnistration must be organized in de-
partments. and makes mandatory only
the department Of law, Other depaCt.
mehte may be created by ordinance
after the appointment Of the city man
ager.
Recall Easily Invoked.
Tho recall may be set in motion for
the deposition Of n member OF the
council by the filing of a petition by
n aggrieved elector which bears the
signatures OF electors OF the city equal
IN number to at least IS per cent OF
those who voted at the last egula
municipal election. Prior 10 the filing
OF the petition with it's signatures, the
complainant elector must file with the
city clerk an affidavit containing thu
name OF alleged offending member o
the council and stating the grounds
for removal.
After the recall petition has beef
passed on by the city clerk-and fount
sufficiently signed-and by the council
n the councilman whose removal Il
sought does not resign within five day
subsequent to receiving notice from tn
council, the council shall fix a day 70
holding a recall election. An election
must be held, either In connection witt
a general election or special election
within not less than ~ or more thai
60 days, following presentation OF tn
recall petition to the council.
Candidates to succeed any council
man whose remOva is sought shall b
placed in nomination by petition
signed, filed and verified as provide,
for nominating petitions for a regula
October municipal election, except tina
each petition paper shall specify tina
the candidate named therein is a can
didate to succeed a particular council
man whose removal is sought"
. Section 20 rules that mo recall pe
ton shal! be tiled against a counci
OFFICE. nor, in case OF a councilma
subjected TO a recall election and nc
removed thereby. until at least 81
monthO after that election"
Complete Initiative.
7 Tho noutar ~ +hn in;tiatiyA daIaroto
by the new charter to the electors ir
cludes proposal of ordinances and resc
/, buttons granting franchises or priv
leges. Initiative petitions 10 be effec
) tive must carry the signatures {
/ electors in number equal TO at least
per cent of those who cast their vote
at the last preceding regular municipi
, election. The final finding by the clt
! clerk Of the insufficiency Of signature
on a petition does not make invali
: the filing of a new petition for tn
same purpose.
al ter provides in section 81 ito pass
, proposed measure. or shall pass II In
form different from that set forth
v the petition therefor, the committee
I petitions may require that II be sui
= = mitted to a vote OF the electors eth,
4 in its original form or with any chang
!, or addition presented in writing at
. public hearing before the committee
which IL was referred, or during !
/ consideration by the council"
30.Day Wait for Referendum
/. II my municipal election is TO be he
5 not more than six months nor less ths
= 30 days after the receipt OF the Ci
$ clerks certificate Of approval on q
proposed Measure shall be submittt
20 a vote OF the electors az the fiy