The Columbia evening Missourian., 1921-04-16

in place Of the old system, as the resul
Of law passed by the recent session o
the State Legislature. By means Of thi
law cities Of this class are enabled Il
eliminate politics from their municipa
affairs and to conduct their sdministra
tions in a more business-hke manner
Columbia, being a third class city, il
given the right to adopt the city manages
plan.
THE TEXT OF THE LAW
The law providing for this change reads
as follows:
"Section l. Amend article 5. chapter
Y of the Revised Statutes Of Missouri
1919. entitled municipal corporations. by
adding thereto sixteen new sections TO be
known and numbered as sections 859a
to 83O6p inclusive and to read as follows:
section 8396a. Any city Of the third
class, or any city operating under a spec
isl charter with a population entitling il
10 become a city Of the third class, may
become organized under the provisions Of
this act by proceeding in the following
manner: Upon petition Of electors re-
siding in such city equal in number to
Is per cent Of the voies cast for mayor
in the last preceding election, the mayor
shall by proclamation submit the question
Of organizing under this act. at a special
election to be held at a time specified
therein. and within sixty days after said
petition is filed. Notice thereof shall be
Published in al least FIVE issues Of
daily newspaper Of the city, or il there
be no daily newspaper Of the city, then
in al least two issues Of a weekly news
paper Of the city. The first publication
shall appear at least thirty days prior to
the date Of the election. At such election
the proposition 10 be voted on shall be
submitted. ....... The election thereon
shall be conducted, votes canvassed, and
results declared in the same manner as
provided for by law in respect 10 other
city elections Of cities Of the third class.
II a majority Of vgtes cast at said cleo
lion shall be in favor Of adopting the
optional form Of government provided
herein, the city clerk shall transmit TO
the secretary Of state and tr the county
clerk Of the county n s,.,-.. lid city |
is located. duplicate copies Of certificate
stating that such proposition was adopted.
Said city shall then proceed to organize
under this act. by nomination of candi- |
dates and election Of cOuncilmen as here
matter provided. Such elections shall be
held at the FIRST regular municipal cleo
iion following the date Of adoption Of /
this act. prorided that If regular munich
pal election is not to be held within six
months after date Of adoption Of this act.
then the mayor by proclamation shall
call special election to be held within
sixty days after the date Of adoption, for
the purpose Of eleciing councilnen, and
notice thereof shall be published in three
issues Of one or more Of the daily news
papers Of the city. and the first issue
shall appear not less than twenty days
before the date Of election II said plan
is not adopted, the question Of adopting
said plan shall nol be resubmitted to the
voters OF said city for adoption for at
least one year thereafter, and then the !
question Of adoption may be resubmitted
upon like petition. proclamation and
notice as provided above.
OFFICERS UNDER NEW PLAN
section 8396b. The council shall con-
sis, Of five members, and all persons now
eligible for the position Of councilman
under the laws governing cities Of the
third class shall be eligible to serve as
ocuncilmen under this act. The term Of
shall be three years, provided
that Of the first council elected after the
adoption Of this act, one member shall
serve for one year, two for two years. and
two for three years. Those councilmen
receiving the highest number Of votes
at the FIRST general election shall serve
ior the ihree-year term, those receiving
the next highest shall serve for the two
year term. and the other for the one
year term. An eounciImen shall be
elected at large. but for voting purposes
the council shall divide the city into
voting precincts. 49,. The terms Of ofhce1
Of such eouncilmen shall begin the frs,
terms Of Office Of the mayor and council
men OF aldermen Of such city, in Office
ai the beginning Of the terms Of Office
Of the council first elected under the pro-
visions Of Ibis act. including all boards
and commissions, shall cease and de-
termine the terms Of Office Of all city
officers. whether elective or sppointive. in
force in such city except as hereinafter
provided shall cease and determine as
soon as the council shall by resolution
declare; provided. however, the council
may continue the board Of public works
end the library. hospital and park boards
for such time or times after organizing
under this act as the interests Of the city
in iis judgment may require.
'-Soclion s396c. Candidates to be voted
for at all general and special municipal
at which the officers are to be
elected under the provisions Of this act.
shall be nominated by primary election.
and no other names shall be placed upon
the general ballot except those nominated.
Section 8396e %. The city council