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VOL. ix. NO. 278.
ATLANTA. GA., SATURDAY, JUNE 24, 1911;
-p|3Trrrr. In Atlanta: TWO CENTS
1 XVAVyili. on Trains: FIVE CENTS
COMMITTEE OF FIVE ANNOUNCES PROPOSED CHARTER FOR
COMMISSION GOVERNMENT FOR THE CITY OF ATLANTA
THIS DIAGRAM SHOWS HOW CITY GOVERNMENT WILL BE ORGANIZED UNDER PROPOSED COMMISSION CHARTER
ORGANIZATION.
There shell be five commissioners and
i comptroller, elected by the people.
These commiesioners shall be:
1. Commissioner of publio affairs and
finance and ex.officio mayor,
2. Commissioner of streets, sewers
and waterworks. '
3. Commissioner of sanitary affairs,
health and hospitals.
4. Commissioner of publio safety and
lights.
5. Commissioner,, of schools, parks,
public buildings and libraries.
These commissioners are not. to run
for specific offices, but are assigned to
the various departments by the com
mission itself. '
Except at the start of the. system, all
commissioners shall be elected to .serve
four-year tfrms, unless recalled or
otherwise removed. Of the first set of
commissioners chosen', the two receiv
ing the highest vote shall serve four
years, the others two years. Thereafter
a regular election will be held every
two years.
The salaries shall be: Mayor, $6,600
per annum: other commissioners, $6,000
per annum; comptroller, $3,600 per an
num. ,.
The existing offices of mayor,
councilman and aldermen and all wards
and ward lines are abolished.
All boards are abolished.
City officers and employees retain
their positions till removed by the com
missioners.
The commission shall have the same
power to enact ordinances that the
mayor and council now have.
The commissioners shall moot at
least once a week and all meetings must
bs public.
Three commissioners shall constitute
a quorum, but the affirmative vote of
all three shall be necessary to adopt
any measure, motion or resolution.
The commissioner of finance (the
mayor) shall be in oharge of all assess
ments of property for taxation.
It is provided that any taxpayer may
protest against his assessment and if
the commission fails to meat his views
an arbitration Is provided.for. In addi
tion, any taxpayer may object to the
assessment of any other taxpayer and
call the attention of the commission to
any partiality thpt he believes exists.
No department can pay out or con
tract to pay out in any year any sum in
excess of the appropriation allotted to
it during the said year.
All bond issues shall bs submitted to
the people for approval as now provided
by law.
“THOU-SHALT NOT."
No commissioner, employee or serv
ant in any department shall be inter,
ested in any public utility dealing with
the city, either individually, as a mem
ber of a firm or as a stockholder in, or
officer of any corporation so interested.
No commissioner, employee or serv
ant in any department of the city ahall
be interested, either directly or indi
rectly, either as contractor or sub-con
tractor, for the sale of realty or per
sonalty by or from the oity, or in any
contract for the finishing of either
supplies, materiaL.or labor to the oity
or any of its departments.
SAFEGUARDING FRANCHISES.
The charter provides for seven weeks'
publicity in the matter of application
for new publio franchises or changes,
alterations or additions in the existing
franchises, to go upon, along, thru, Over
or under any of the streets. If, after
the commission should grant a fran
chise, the people obloct. they have 30
days in which to call an election and it
requires only fifteen per cent of the
registered votes to secure such an elec
tion. —
It is provided that the waterworks
shall never be sold, leased or otherwise
disposed of.
initiative, referendum, re
CALL.
A petition signed by 25 per cent of
the registered voters shell cause any
measure, resolution or ordinance to be
submitted to the people.
The commission shall be authorized
lo submit any measure or ordinance to
ihs people, the majority vote to decide
!he question.
The recall of a commissioner msy
>e submitted to the people upon a po
sition signed by 25 per cent of the reg-
stration list. No official may be re
called within six months after his elec
tion, however. He must bo given a fair
ihance. Ad
GENERAL PROVISIONS.
The charter is conspicuous for its
Iffort to secure publicity on thb trans
ition of all public business.
It carefully provides for check and
;ounter-check in the handling of all
he city’s money and all*the city’s buc-
nees. .
It endeavors to eliminate politics,
'oth large and petty; ward-heeling;
ote.buying, putting relatives into office
nd getting city contracts by officials.
THE TEXT OF THE CHARTER IN FULL
AN AqT TO ESTABLISH A NEW CHARTER FOR
THE CITY OF ATLANTA; TO CREATE A
FORM OF COMMISSION GOVERNMENT
FOR SAID CITY; TO PROyiDE FOR THE
SUBMISSION OF THE SAME TO THE VOT
ERS OF SAID CITY, AND FOR OTHER PUR
POSES.
BE IT ENACTED by the general assembly of Georgia as follows:
ORGANIZATION OF CITY.
SECTION 1. That the corporate existence and Identity, territorial
limits and jurisdiction of the city of Atlanta, with all corporate rights,
powers and privileges conferred, and all duties, obligations and liabili
ties Imposed by law, are hereby preserved unto said city, except as altered
and amended by this act. All resolu-
Territorial Limits, Property tlons and ordinances thereof now of
Rights, Etc. force not In conflict herewith ahall re
main unchanged, subject, however, to
be hereafter amended.or repealed by the duly constituted authorities of
said city. All property and property rights now held, owned or poaseaed by
said city, all obligations of every kind and character due to or by said city,
and all pending suits or claims by or against said city are preserved un
altered.
SEC. 1. All existing offices of mayor, councllmen, aldermen .and all
boards, both elective and appointive, of
Offices Abolished. said city are abolished on January 1,
1912. Other officers and employees
shall retain their positions unless removed.
COMMISSION AND COMPTROLLER—Election, Qualifications, Etc.
SEC. 3. At the regular city election, now provided by lava to be held on
the first Wednesday In December, 1911, there shall be elected five commis
sioners and a comptroller for the city of Atlanta for the terms hereafter
named, and until their successors are elected and qualified. The two com.
missioners receiving the highest vote
Length of Terms and How Os- shall hold office for Jhe term of four
termined. years, beginning January 1, 1912. The
three remaining commissioners ahall
hold office for the term of two years. Thereafter there shall be biennially
held, at the time and In the way new provided by law, elections to Dll ths
offices of the retiring commissioners and comptroller. After said first
election the terms of all commissioners, except for unexplred terms, shall
be for four years, and until their successors ore elected and qualified. Each,
commissioner and the comptroller shall be subject to the recall provisions of
this act. |
SEC. 4. The nomination and election of the commissioners and comp
troller in primaries and legal elections shall be had In the way and by ths
authorities now prescribed by law. The commissioners and comptroller shall
be nominated and elected by the duly
How Nominated and Elected— qualified voters of the city at large.
Ward Lines Abolished. All existing wards and ward lines are
hereby abolished. The city ahall be
divided Into districts, by the commissioners, for voting purposes qnly. In such
way as to give all voters, a reasonable and convenient opportunity to cast
their ballots.
SEC. 5. If a vacancy occurs In the office of any commissioner, the re
maining members shall at once elect a successor, who shall hold office until
the next regular election, when a new
Filling Vacancies. commissioner shall be staged for the
unexplred term. Should a majority of
the offices become vacant at the same time from any cause, the judge of
Fulton superior court then presiding In the first division shall fill said
vacancies. The commissioners shall then at once call an election to fill
said offices for the unexplred terms.
SEC *. No person shall be qualified to serve as a ^commissioner
unless he shall be a bona fide resident
Must Be Bona Fids Citizen and of the city of Atlanta, and a duly quall-
Qualifiad Elector. fled elector under the laws of this state.
SEC 7 Before entering upon the duties of office each commissioner
shall take and subscribe an osth that he will faithfully and Impartially de
mean himself as a commissioner of the city of Atlanta during his continua
tion In office, and that he has not. In order to Induce his election to said
office, either directly or Indirectly, ex-
Oath of Office. pressly or Impliedly, promised his vote
1 r sunnort to any person forcany office
or oosition In the city government of Atlanta, or in any of the departments I
Continued on Next Page. J
Proposed Plan in Plain English;
Statement From Men Who Made It
TO THE PUBLIC:
On June B we were Instructed to draw n commission .form of charter,
embodying the Initiative, referendum and recall, which should be submit
ted to the voters of Atlanta for adoption or rejection.
We have been In constant session, have given the subject matter our
best thought, considered the charters of other cities where that form of
government has successfully operated, collated what seemed the best of
each, and endeavored to adjust these to local conditions. It tnay be proper
to add that one of our committee has had the honor of presiding over the
city affairs as mayor, and other members of our committee have studied the
subject of commission government for several years past.
We have endeavored to discharge the duty Imposed from the standpoint
alone of preparing a charter worthy of the city and which would promote
Its welfare as a wfible.
Special elements, intarests and classes of ths city have been disregarded,
save only whsrs they operated materially upon ths publio good.
READ IT $ IT IS FOR YOU TO DECIDE.
Wo now desire to submit tentatively for your examination the result of
our work. If adopted. It Is to govern your city, and you should participate
In the work of drawing It and share with us the responsibility. Existing
conditions call for Its careful examination by every thoughtful. Impartial
and disinterested citizen. We urge that you give It this examination and
request that, after you have done this, you communicate to us such changes
and alterations as you think wIlMmnrovr It.
That ws may hsve this aid we will hold the charter open until Friday,
June 30, for your criticisms and suggestions.
We do not ssk for communications which contain mors arguments
against a commission charter, as we are not authorized to submit any
othsr form.
HONEST SUGGESTIONS MADE TO BETTER THE CHARTER, SUP
PLY OMISSION8, POINT OUT DEFECTS, OR WHICH WILL SERVE
TO FURTHER ELIMINATE POLITICS AND FURNI8H AN ADMINIS
TRATION UPON MODERN AND EFFICIENT BUSINESS LINES WILL
BE THANKFULLY RECEIVED AND GIVEN FULL CONSIDERATION.
The charter will then be Immediately revised In the light of your sug
gestions, and submitted In final shape.
Please address communications to any one of the committee, except the
chairman, who will be necessarily absent from the city next week.
He has considered and approved the charter as It Is now presented
and the committee Is unanimous In Its action.
WHAT IS COMMISSION GOVERNMENT?
It may be helpful In examining the matter to define what Is commission
government, what is sought to be accomplished thereby, and the viewpoint
from which It Is to be approached in order that Its value and the terms of
the proposed charter may be determined.
It Is. first, not to be confused by the word "commissioner." The plan
does not depend In any respect upon the use of that name. In many of
this class of charters the officials are designated as governors, aldermen,
councllmen, managers, etc. Under the commission form of charter prepared
by the sub-cpmmlttee of the general committee of 49. Ih 1909. they were des
ignated as "councllmen." FULTON COUNTY IS CONTROLLED BY A
BOARD CALLED "COUNTY COMMISSIONERS." THIS. HOWEVER, 18
NOT COMMISSION GOVERNMENT, BUT BOARD GOVERNMENT, AND
DIFFERS IN EVERY FUNDAMENTAL ELEMENT FROM THE ACCOM
PANYING CHARTER. PRACTICALLY THE ONLY THING IN COMMON
IS THE MERE U8E OF THE TERM “COMMISSIONER.”
Commission government means merely the application of modern busi
ness principles to the administration of the city's affairs; the enforcement
> of those principles by honest, competent men; the exercise of allotted power
by an Individual elected by. and known to you. and who Is responsible alone
to you for the management of his department; and. finally, the retention of
ultimate control over all administrative and legislative functions by the
electorate.
JUST A BU8INE88 CORPORATION.
A clear conception Is had at once if the voter will Imagine he Is a
stockholder In a private corporation which operates several different de
partments. The stockholders, or taxpayers, elect officers, who have entire
charge of administering the corporate business. These are the commis
sioners.
If these officers prove lncompet«nt. Inefficient or otherwise unsatisfac
tory. the stockholders request his resignation and elect his successor. This
Is the recall.
If the stockholders desire a by-law passed, or an existing by-law re
pealed, they simply make a motion to this effect and have It submitted to a
vote of the stockholders: This Is the Initiative.
If the directors are In doubt as to whether a particular thing should be
done, or regard It as too Important for them to act upon alone, they refer the
matter to the stockholders for advice and action. This Is the referendum.
The ordinary business rules which Insure correct bookkeeping, courte
ous treatment of the public, prompt dispatch of business, wise buying, hand
ling. manufacturing, selling, etc., arc carried forward and applied practi
cally without change, to the. city affairs. It may be generally said that
no rule accomplishing these ends In a private corporation can be inapplica
ble, Inappropriate or dispensed with. In a commission form of government.
PROFESSIONAL POLITICIANS HAVE NO PLACE.
In' putting Into practical effect the above stated principles In commis
sion government, the first rule requisite Is to wholly eradicate politics; and
It Is provided In the charter therefore: ,
1. The successful commissioner shall file, under oath, an Item
ized statement of. his expenses, the contributions made to his race
and by whom made.
2. He must make oath that he has not pledged his vote or In
fluence In behalf of any position In any department.
2. No one related to any commissioner or the comptroller with
in the third degree, by blood or marriage, can hold any position In
any department.
4. No officer or employee is allowed to solicit votes or attempt
to Influence the vote of any person with reference to any city posi
tion.
5. Merit and efficiency alone shall govern the retention and pro
motion of every employee In the city.
I. The ward heeler pursues his vocation at the peril of the
chalngang.
A disregard of any of the foregoing vacates the position Involved, da-
bars the person guilty from holding any city office or position for the terW
of ten years-thereafter, and, in several instances. Involves the penalty of a
misdemeanor. >
NO BU8INE88 GRAFTING POS8IBLE
To obtain commissioners from pure sources and exclude all conflict
ing Interests. It Is provided:
1. He must be a bona fide resident of the city and a state elec
tor. -
2. He can have no personal Interest of any kind In any contract,
or sub-contract, work done for or supplies purchased by the city. This
> Is made a real and not a "near” provision.
1. He can not be an officer, agent, employee or stockholder In any
public utility corporation.
A violation vacates the office and debars him from holding any posi
tion with the city for ten years thereafter.
ONE MAN RESPONSIBLE—EASY TO REACH.
All corporate powers now enjoyed by the city are divided among and
to be exercised by five commissioners. Each commissioner selects his own
employees. He Is given the power to make good In his department. If he
does this, he alone Is entitled to the credit; If he falls, he Is alone respon
sible for It. The responsibilities of a proper administration of the affairs of
that deaprtment are Individualized, centralised and specifically attached to
that particular man. It Is no longer scattered throughout numberless em
ployees, officers, boards, councllmen and aldermen. If garbage Is not prompt
ly removed, there Is but one ■man who' Is responsible for this—the commis
sioner controlling that department—and you' know his name, office, where
to go and wlth N whom you alone are required to deal. You will no longer be
required to play battledore and shuttlecock.
To command the services of men of character, standing and adminis
trative ability, sufficient salaries must be provided for. . We do' not believe
the amounts named are excessive. They should represent fair compensa
tion to the commissioner, who 1s required to give his entire time to the dis
charge of his duties.
THE CITIZEN'S PROTECTION HERE.
As you, by this charter,would vest these commissioners with large pow
ers, it IS highly Important that you should be protected from a misuse on
their part of these powers;, and, therefore, the charter provides:
1. Their qualifications.
2. Their freedom from conflicting Interests.
3. bond of $60,000 In a surety company doing business In this
state.
4. The preparation of the budget, which requires an Itemized
written statement to be filed by each commissioner of the amount of
money desired, the Items'upon which this Is to be spent and his es
timated cost of each Item. In the event the full amount saked for Is
not allotted him, a second and final estimate Is to be prepared by the
commissioner showing these Items and the estimated cost. No Items
can be placed In the final estimate which are not In the first esti
mate submitted to the commission as a body. He Is thereafter pro
hibited from using any of the money allotted to him except up.n the
Items specified by him. These different estlmnti s are to be filed in
the city clerk's office for the Ins.oectlon of the public, and are to be
published. Thus you will know always what work It Is the commis
sioner proposes tq do, where It Is to b.- done, and what his estimate
of Its cost will be.
5. The congnlsstoner can not pay. or contract to pay, any sums
In excess of his appropriation.
B. Each department shall keep books which disclose the condi
tion und workings of that department.
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