Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 15.djvu/532

 5i8 THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY

them ;" or else they must be "persons specially fitted by education, training or experience to perform" these duties. The mayor must certify to one or the other of these facts in making appointments, and must add that the appointment is made "solely in the in- terest of the city." Before they become effective, however, they must go to the state civil service commission for investigation and certification as to the facts alleged.

The second or political part of the act was referred to the voters of Boston in alternative form, the choice being made at the November election. The first plan provided for a two years term for mayor, and a city council consisting of one member from each ward except two, which shall have two each, nominated in the primaries and elected for a two years term, and nine members elected at large for three years terms: making in all 36; nominations for mayor and councilmen at large and the school committee to be made by the old convention system. The second plan, known as the "Finance Commission Plan," provides for a four years term for the mayor, subject to recall after two years by not less than a majority of all the voters in the city; a city council, to consist of nine members elected at large for three years terms; and all nominations for municipal election to be made by petition of not less than 5,000 voters, without party designations on the ballot. By a small majority the voters approved Plan No. 2.

Ohio during the past eight years has been the scene of a very interesting municipal development: as a result of the sweeping supreme court decision handed down in 190 1, all the old munici- pal charters and legislation were swept off of the statute books. Chaos was only prevented by the supreme court extending the operation of the judgment of ouster for a sufficient time to enable the governor to call together the state legislature to enact the necessary legislation. The Municipal Code passed by the legis- lature of 1 90 1 proved cumbersome and expensive, especially in the smaller cities. So great and so wide-spread was the dis- content with it that the legislature of 1909 passed a law, known as the "Paine Law," which abolished unnecessary boards, cen- tralized administrative power, simplified the machinery of munici-