Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-06-07
KNAPP LAW Is
NOT FAVORED IN
CITIES OF STATE
Elections Held Show Slight
Support for Commits
sion Plan.

That the Knapp law, authorizing cities
of Indiana to obtain a new charter, and
institute the commission or city manager
form Of government in place of the pre-
raflfne Federal or councilmanic-mayO
system OF government, will be repealed at
the first opportunity, is the prediction
made in Marion, Connersville and other
cities that have administered singing
! defeats to the new system.
While no organized movement has
taken form having as its object the re-
peal of the Knapp law, talk along this
| line is taking more definite form and it
Is confidently expected that before the
1928 session of the Legislature, there
azyIu have been formed in several cities
Examinations that have for their object
wiping of this law from the statutes.
bDIFICATION OF
w FAVORED.
EeYeral Of the leading politicians Of
rion where an election under the
app law was held recently have been
ked who Is behind such q movement
s6nd the answer always is, Every body"
Some Of the less bitter enemies Of the
/ law declared it might be possible to re-
| tain the statute, but added that 1t would
be necessary to remedy so-called defects,
such as Incorporating the referendum
and recall provisions and otherwise
strengthening It.
Z Others, however, are unalterably OBJ
posed to retaining the law in any form
( whatsoever, declaring they see no neces-
sity in having the expense Of another
special election foisted on the people, in
view Of the public opinion that prevails
hostile to the new plan of government.
Members Of the Citizens League Of
Marion which sponsored the proposed
new plan, declare the law should not be
repealed, and say they Will keep their
organization intact, IN an effort TO con
duct a campaign of education to teach
the people the good features Of the pro
posed plan. They say, had the people
been aware Of the real facts concerning
commission government, the outcome Of
the election there would have been far
different
'sI think It would be wrong to repeal
tha law" said Thomas E. Pickeri1. chair
man of the Citizens League Of Marion.
ssWhat should be done is to incorporate
the referendum and recall provisions in
the bin and then educate the people along
the lines Of what the new plan could
accomplish in municipal government"
Politicians and adherents Of the Re
publican organization in Marion are con
fdent. however, that an organized move
ment will take form before the next
session Of the Legislature, and that this
organization viii demand the repeal Of
the Knapp law.
EXPENSE OF ELECTION
azEADE AN ISSUE.
a axpayers Of the thirteen Indiana cities
Il have voted or will in the future
re- on the commission plan of gov
ment viii have spent approximately
600 in defraying expenses Of special
tions on the proposition, figures based
the cost Of the election in Marion,
Scate.
Yrne spectaI election there resulted In an
Denditure Of approximately $1,000, or
cents per vote Based on like figures.
thirteen cities in the State viii spend
- ms. for their special elections as fol
rs:
Evansville $500; Princeton, S1O5O;
bth Bend. $500; Kokomo. $500;
hmond. $1,000; Muncie, $500; Michi-
City. $1,000; Anderson. $1,000; New
kany, $500: Rochester, $3.50; Madison,
Connersville, $1,000.
# bnsidering the possibility Of defeat
- he plan in at least the majority Of
e cities, the taxpayers viii not be in
rame Of mind that would be favorable
the retention of the law on the statute
oks, with the possibility Of another
ecial election. that probably would cost
IRE money, four years hence.