The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-01-06

One of the first bills to be 1ntro-
duced into the state. legislature Is the
so-called Optional Charter Bill"
which will give all cities in Indiana
an opportunity OF calling an election
for the purpose of ascertaining wheth-
er the citizens of the community are
in favor of either the straight commits
| sion form of government or of the
commission-manager form of govern
ment.
A short digest of this bill, as it now
| stands, reads as follows:
This bill will apply only to those
cities which by election choose one of
the two forms of government prescrib-
ed.
"The special election takes place on
petition of ten per cent of those who
voted at the last preceding municipal
election.
"The election board for the special
election consists of the city clerk and
two others, one known to be opposed
and the other in favor of the plan.
1.-THE plan selected shall take effect
| the first Monday in January next sue
ceeding the first election of officers
| under the new plan.
COMMISSION PLAN.
| The commission shall be elected at
large and shall have all the rights,
| powers and duties of the common
council. mayor and executive depart
ments and boards.
| THE commission sl.all be elected in
two groups, one for two years and one
for four years. Thereafter members
shall be elected for four years.
"The election shall take place on the
first Tuesday after the first Monday
in October of odd numbered years.
"If all the candidates to be elected
do not receive a majority of the votes
cast, another election shall take place
in November.
Nominations are made by petition
Of at least one per cent of the qualified
voters. Nominating petitions are to be
filed with the city clerk.
Ballots are to be without party
| designation and the name if the can
didates are to be rotated in such a
way that one mans name does not
appear first on all the ballots.
majority vote required for cleo
ton to commission. Vacancies on
commission shall be filled by it.
Commission shall meet at least
/ once each week.
| Shall 6leCI OuS VI It's
members chairman with the title of
mayor.
City clerk chsen by commission.
Commission shall act only by ordi-
nance or resolution. No ordinance
shall be passed unless it has been
read on three separate days.
1.-THE voters shall have the right to
propose any ordinance or resolution
by petition and to adopt the same at
the polls (Section 81 to 33 inclusive.)
! "Bill provides for the referendum.
| mo ordinance except emergency
! ordinance shall go into effect until
! thirty days after passage.
bill provides for a strict and COM
prehensive budget procedure. (Sec-
! ton s.
| Bill provides against political as
sessments and contributions.
Forbds Dual Office Holding.
BILL forbids dual office holding.
permits the purchase or lease of
public utilities.
Permits cities to make contracts
with public utilities running for not
| more than twenty-five years.
Requires separate accounting sys-
/ TENS for municipal utilities.
Referendum required on bond is
sues and franchises.
Commission appoints the city at
torney.
Commission appoints the city
| judge
Commission consists of five mem
bers in cities of first class, salary
not to exceed five thousand dollars
three thousand dollars in second class
! cities; two thousand dollars in third
class cities; firteen hundred dollars
in fourth class cities, and one thous-
and dollars in first class cities. Mayor
receives an extra 20 per cent.
Each commissioner gives a bond
ten thousand dollars in cities of first
and second class and five thousand
dollars in the other three classes.
Five executive departments, public
Safety, Finance, Public Utilities, Pub
| lie Works and Parks.
| The commission shall assign one OF