Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1922-06-07
BUDGET WITH REAL TEETH
WRITTEN INTO PROPOSAL
FOR CITY-MANAGER PLAN
Charter Bill As Drawn BY Citizens Committee
Approved With Small Changes At Meeting -
Sharp Colloquy Takes Place Between Oppon-
ents And Proponents Of Change

"a vi es'tiN buhSNN SSNsiNsf' ii"ni' 'ita
city officials personally liable under
their bonds for public money spent
when no tarthorized by law, was
written into The commission-manager
city charter aill by a vote of the citi-
zens attending the meeting at the
city hall last night to receive the
report of the committee previously
named to draft such bill. The
budget section was prepared by
Stephen Pace, who wrote into present
charter while member of the legis-
lature the budget provision under
which the mayor and council have OPP
Grated for little more than year
The provision drawn by Mr.. Pace had
been accepted in advance by the
drafting committee, but inasmuch as
it had not been contained in the pub
lished summary of the act it was
disposed of as an amendment last
night.
The meeting was not largely at
tended, about 35 men being present.
After some spirited discussion, led by
John Allen Fort and his brother,
Major Jas. A. Fort, who vigorously
assailed the whole commissions mana
ger movement, the meeting aodpted
motion to receive the report of the.
committee, instructing that arrange
ments be made with Sumter county's
representatives in the legislature for
its introduction and passage, and that
the necessary legal notice be given.
The vote was 1876, several not voting.
Five Year Terms.
The only other change authorized
in the charter bill was d return to
the original draft making the terms
of office of the five commissioners
five years each, one to be elected
each year, instead of making the
term of Office three years each. The
recall provision accompanying this
provision originally, however, wasn't
restored. The committee had decid-
ed on a reduction of the term of of
fee, but w. M. Jones, a member Of
the committee, recommended the
| change back to five years, declar-
ing that after much consideration he
had come to the conclusion that
electing one man each year instead
OF greater number, and for so long
term, would result in the people
| giving more care to the men they
chose for this important office.
There were no dissenting votes.
John A. Fort was the first speak
er when discussion opened. he de-
clared that there appeared to him to
be no needs for any change; that
the effort to enact new charter for
the city was beside the point; that the
problem that confronted the city was
the payment of the $144,000 floating
debt, and he didn't see that the new
charter provided any method for pay
ing it. He declared the present sys-
TEN of government entirely adequate
to the needs and to be working all
| right, and laid the whole trouble to
failures of those in authority to com.
| ply with the requirements of the law.
Pace Offers Budget Plan.
At the conclusion of his detailed
talk Stephen Pace offered his budget
amendment. This was so drawn as tc
contain teeth, and Mr.. Pace declared
it would compel the officials to stay
within the law and the city's reve
nues, something that had not beer
! done under the present charter. He
declared to Mr.. Fort that any mar
who said the present form of city
| government was working all right
had very different ideas on the sub
| ject from his own. He declared thai
/ it was not claimed that the new form
Of government would bring the city
out of debt, but was intended to give
the city the benefit of having {
trained man at the head of its busi
ness operations so that the greatest
economies might be practiced
Major James A. Fort took up the
discussion when Mr.. Pace had con
cluded. Both he and John Aller
Fort spoke from prepared notes. Ma
jor Fort declared he had some idea,
in his system that he wanted to gel
rid of, and he set in to assail the
entire charter change movement in 8
vehement fashion. He declared
among great many other thing!
that the present floating debt of The
city was illegal. Mr.. Pace had sale
the same thing previously and Majol
Fort declared this was the first timt
he had even heard any proponent o.
the commission-manager plan admi
its illegality. Here sharp colloquy
took place, mostly between Majol
Fort and Mr.. Pace, in which Mr.. Pac,
asked Major Fort if he would repudi
ate that debt.
Wouldn't Pay Debts.
The latter declared the taxpayer
already had been assessed for tn,
| legal debts of the CITY and there