The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-01-29
LAUNCH FIGHT
ON SLASH At
MANAGER LAW
League Officials Prepare to
Battle Measure to Kill
Plan in State.
HEARING ON WEDNESDAY
Michigan City Only Indiana
Town That Now Has
Business Form.

City manager league officials TO-
day prepared to fight to save for
Indianapolis citizens the right to
adopt business form of municipal
government, won in the election of
1927 after four-year battle and
now threatened by a bill introduced
late Monday in the state senate by
Senator George w. Sims of Terre
Haute
Sims, member of the old Ku-Klu
Klan faction Il former legislatures.
was the author Of the mayor
savior" bill passed by the 1927 as
sembly, which prevented city man
ager government from going into
effect in Indianapolis until Janu-
ary, 1880.
Sims latest bill repeals the law
of 1921 permitting Indiana cities
to change to the city manager or
commission forms of government if
majority vote in favor. Indian
apolis voted for city manager gov
ernment by majority of 5 to 1.
Hearing Set for Wednesday
Sims bill specifically provides that
cities which have voted to adopt the
manager form, but not yet changed
to it, shall continue under the fed
er"' form and that those cities
which have changed to. the man
agH or commission form must go
back to the old form Jan. /, 1880.
Michigan City is the only place in
the state now under the manager
form.
A strong movement for a man
ager election is under way in Sims
homeecity, Terre Haute.
The senate cities and towns COM
mittee will hold a public hearing
Wednesday evening. at the state
house upon the Sims bill and the
bill permitting indianapolis to vote
for city commissioners under the
proportional representation method,
and otherwise strengthen the man
ager law.
A joint meeting of the cities and
towns committees of both houses
was scheduled after completion of
routine business today.
Says Bill Is Bad"
1.-THE Sims bill is bad," said Claude
w. Anderson, executive secretPry of
the city manager league
THE bill is bad. do not feel that
there is any danger of it being
passed by the present general as
sembly The Marion county delega-
tion will not follow Sims on this
measure declared Claude H. An
derSon, attorney and league execu-
tive secretary.
Anderson said he is more con-
cerned over the decision of the state
supreme court in the New albany
and Michigan City cases questioning
the constitutionality of the city
manager. Arguments are set for
Wednesday.
THE Sims repeal bill is directly
contrary to the fundamental prin-
ciples of government that the peo-
pie are sovereign and should have
the opportunity to determine their
own form Of local government. If
we do not have that right chen one
Of the most sacred privileges is de-
MED u.s." Anderson declared.
Complicates Local Situation
'The city manager act of 1921
does not require any city or town
to adopt the city manager form, but
gives them the privilege to do so if
desired. That is an inalienable
right which our citizens now pos
sess and to which theory they must
steadfastly adhere.
Under that act Indianapolis citi-
2enS voted s to / to adopt the man
ager plan. Provisions of the Sims
repeal bill would deprive Indian
apolis, and any other cities that
might make the same choice, the
right to determine under what form
Of municipal administration they
choose to live.
I'VE can not believe, therefore,
that the Sims repeal bill will find a
welcome reception with the high
grade personnel of the present house
and senate"
Representative Henry F. Kott-
kamp, indianapolis, introduced a bill
in the house Monday which further
compiicates the local situation. It
provides for division OF the city into
five districts and the appointment of
a representative from each district
on all city boards and commissions.