system thus provided will also guard against the possibility of collusion between the Council and the Comptroller. MUNICIPAL CIVIL SERVICE. While not providing fixed terms for the subordinate officers of the city government, the committee has made provision for a power of removal to be exercised by the Mayor, subject to no limitations except that he may not remove an officer for political reasons and that in case of a removal, a statement of the reasons therefor shall be made. The committee further recommends that the appointment of all subordinate officers be made on the basis of merit, which shall be shown, wherever practicable, by competitive examination. In the framing of the provisions of the Act relative to this matter the committee has felt obliged to enter into greater detail than will be found in any other portion of the draft. It has adopted this policy because, in its belief, the experience of the United States shows that it is unsafe to leave this matter to the discretion of the appointing officer and because the same experience has justified and approved the soundness of the regulations recommended in the act. PUBLIC SCHOOLS. The committee has purposely omitted from the draft all specific provisions relative to the organization of the educational department. It has felt that, on the whole, the school administration has been one of the most satisfactory departments in our local governments and it is aware that in a large number of cities the school administration has not been regarded, strictly speaking, as a part of the municipal administration. This department is often assigned to a school board elected or appointed by an authority other than the Mayor or the Council, and exercising powers more or less independent of either. The committee deems it unwise to recommend any change in those cases in which the present system has proved satisfactory. is well to bear in mind, however, that the independence of the school administration has diverted from the city government some of the best energies of the community. By making this department a branch of the city government, the interest in the general affairs of the municipality and in the character of the candidates for It Art. IV. the Council would be greatly increased. Such an arrangement of the relation of the city to the public schools is made possible under Art. II, Sec. 8. the proposed draft. It will be noted (Art. 11, Sec. 8) that the city is made the agent of the State for the administration of the general laws for which no other specific authority has been provided. The schools may thus be made a branch of the city administration where there is no general school law providing for the vesting of this power in another authority. Art. II. II. POWERS OF THE CITY. This question has been sufficiently discussed in connection with the Constitutional Amendment. III. METHODS OF PROCEDURE IN THE EXERCISE OF An examination of the charter will show that the provisions under this head are more numerous than those relating directly to the grant of municipal powers. Without unduly limiting local discretion in the manner of exercising local functions, your committee has felt that these principles represent standards, conformity to which will contribute towards efficiency in government. CONCLUSION. The committee is fully aware that its recommendations do not constitute the last word on the subjects with which they deal. Municipal government in this country offers such great diversity of local conditions that an attempt to frame a general charter is certain to violate some local traditions. We realize that good government is not to be achieved at a stroke; nor do we exaggerate the importance of the form of governmental organization as a factor contributing to this end. Civic advance in general and municipal efficiency in particular are the result of a combination of forces, of which higher standards of public opinion and lofty civic ideals are the most impor tant. The form of governmental organization is to be judged by the ease and readiness with which it gives expression to these forces. In the Constitutional Amendment and Municipal Corporations Act your committee has endeavored to give to the city. such a position in the political system of the State and to provide it with such a framework of government as will give the widest posible freedom of action to every city in providing the details of its own organization and in the determination of its local policy. The committee recommends, finally, that the League refer the recommendations of the committee, together with the criticisms and discussion to which they may give rise at this meeting, to a committee to be appointed by the Executive Committee of the League, with instructions to complete the work thus begun and to report, for action, a Municipal Program at the next meeting of the League. HORACE E. DEMING, Chairman FRANK J. GOODNOW, CHARLES RICHARDSON, GEORGE W. GUTHRIE, ALBERT SHAW, LEO S. ROWE, CLINTON ROGERS WOODRUFF, Committee. CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT. ARTICLE FIRST. SECTION 1. The right to vote and registration. SEC. 2. Secrecy in voting. SEC. 3. Separation of City Elections from State and National Elections. Nominations to City office. ARTICLE SECOND. No private or local bill granting exclusive privileges, immunities, or franchises. ARTICLE THIRD. SECTION 1. A city's public places inalienable. Franchises for their use only for limited term. Stated financial reports of the grantee and right of city to inspect grantee's books a condition of their grant. SEC. 2. Limitation of city's power to incur debt and of its tax rate. SEC. 3. City's power to establish minority or proportional or other form of representation as to elections to elective municipal offices. SEC. 4. Uniform methods of city accounting. SEC. 5. City may establish minor courts. SEC. 6. Organization of cities hereafter created must provide for Mayor vested with executive power of city and appointing heads of all city departments except Finance Department; a council; appointments and promotions in administrative service on the merit principle; mayor and members of council only city officers elected by popular vote. act. SEC. 7. General powers of cities. SEC. 8. Legislature shall pass a general municipal corporations ARTICLE FOURTH. A city having a population of twenty-five thousand or more may adopt its own charter and frame of government. ARTICLE FIFTH. PETITIONS. CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT. ARTICLE FIRST. SECTION I. Laws shall be made for ascertaining by proper proofs the citizens who shall be entitled to vote at popular elections and for the personal registration of voters, which registration shall be completed at least ten days before each election. SEC. 2. All elections by the citizens shall be by a secret ballot or by such other method as may be prescribed by law, provided that absolute secrecy in voting be preserved. No voter shall disclose the contents of his ballot at any polling place or within feet thereof. SEC. 3. Elections of city officers elected by popular vote shall occur at a different date from that of any election by popular vote of officers of the State or National Government. Nominations of such officers shall be by petition signed by legally qualified voters of the city concerned. The number of the signatures to such petition shall be determined by the legislative authority of the city concerned, but in the absence of such determination fifty signatures shall be sufficient. Such petition shall be filed in the office of the mayor at least thirty days before the date of the election; provided, however, that in the case of the death or withdrawal of any candidate so nominated such petition may be so filed within a less period than thirty days. The legislative authority of the city shall determine the form of the ballot to be used in the election of city officers; provided, however, that the names of all candidates for the same office must be printed upon the ballot in alphabetical order under the title of the office. ARTICLE SECOND. The Legislature shall not pass a private or local bill granting to any private corporation, association, or individual any exclusive privilege, immunity, or franchise whatever. ARTICLE THIRD. SECTION 1. The rights of every city now existing or hereafter created within the State, in and to its water front, ferries, wharf property, land under water, public landings, wharves, docks, streets, avenues, parks, bridges, and all other public places, are hereby de |