NEW CHARTER FOR CAMBRIDGE

The Cambridge Charter Commission, appointed by Mayor Edward Barry on April 18, 1913, has completed its report and the draft of the proposed new City Charter. The members of the Commission are F. J. Carney LL.B. '01 (chairman), H. J. Mahoney (secretary), J. H. Hurley LL.B. '94, Professor W. B. Munro h.'99, F. H. Thomas, W. M. Wadden, S. Bell '96, Edward Cohen, M. D. Collins, W. G. Davis '97, and J. F. Facey.

The need of a new charter for Cambridge has been keenly felt for many years past, the document now in force being, with the exception of certain changes made in 1891, the same instrument of government adopted in 1846. Many amendments have been made both by general and special acts, so that the provisions of the original charter are now in many cases entirely out of accord with the law and with the actual practice of the City government.

Prof. Johnson for Commission Form.

In 1911 Professor L. J. Johnson, of the Engineering Department, drew up a charter on the commission form of city government, modeled after the newer charters of the western cities. This document was submitted to the voters on a referendum and it was defeated, the chief objection being that it did not take sufficiently into consideration the peculiar needs of Cambridge. Professor Johnson has revised this charter and it will probably be again submitted to the Legislature and to the voters at the next elections.

The charter Commission began its work by a careful study of needs of Cambridge not fulfilled by the present charter and an investigation of the inadequate provisions of that document. As a result of this investigation, greatly facilitated by Professor Munro's experience in the matters of municipal government, a number of recommendations as to changes were drawn up. These recommendations are embodied in the draft of the proposed charter and embrace changes in many departments. Various other proposals were made, such as the adoption of a Commission form of government, the abolition of party designations, preferential voting, and others, but were vetoed.

The result of the work of the Commission will first go to a committee of the Legislature. Here it will get a public hearing and will be debated upon. Before it can be finally accepted, it will be submitted to the voters of Cambridge at the next regular election, where a majority of affirmative votes will be necessary for its passage.