Tonopah bonanza. [volume] (Butler City [i.e. Butler], Nev.) 1901-1909, 1903-11-07
UNANIMOUSLY FOR
incorporation
The Citizens Association APP
proves the Charter
Eloquent Exposition Of the Various
Reasons for incorporating
TOnOpah.

at the opera house, and the whole
matter of Incorporating Tonopah was
thoroughly discussed and finally ap
proved.
President Wonacott being absent
on account of illness, S. A, Knapp pre-
sided over the meeting. The speakers
were Hugh H. Brown and Key Pitt
man, the former combining himself to
the reading of the charter and dis
cussion of its legal phases, while the
latter urged the municipal need OF
its adoption and explained how slight
an expense it would entail
Mr.. Brown read the proposed
charter, stopping to discuss the more
important points. He explained that
the act had been drawn by Key Pitt
man and approved by the legislature
at its last session, which means that
it becomes operative after majority
of the tax payers vote IN favor of it.
The officers for which the charter
provides are mayor, a council OF
five, police Judge, chief of police,
city attorney and treasurer.
The chief of police, Mr. Brown,
explained, is also to act as ex-officio
chief of the fire department,
while the other officers, by perform
ing such duties as the council may
require of them, will supply the other
needs of the citys administration.
According to the explanation voun-
teered by Mr.. Brown, municipal well
fare will hinge largely upon the proper
selection of u council, for it is the
members of this body who, although
they draw no compensation them
selves, nevertheless are vested with
authority to fix the salaries of all
of the city's servants. 1t is also
their duty to pass such ordinances as
they may deem advisable for the
city's government, and while the
mayor is vested with the usual veto
power and can vote in case of a tie,
a four hfths vote of the council can
pass or rescind measure over his
head. Annual cleo tions are to be held,
although all officers shall hold over
until their successors are duly in
stalled.
Mr.. Brown succeeded in impress
ing his hearers with the fact that
the charter has been carefully framed
and is one which will provide an eco
nomical and, at the same time, most
effective government for a growing
mining camp. He showed further
that the provisions of the incorpora-
ton act are sufficiently elastic to
allow the council considerable discre.
tion in the administra ton OF the city s
affairs. Expenses seem to be figured
at the minimum and no unnecessary
attaches are contemplated. Under
the act, the council has power tc
levy upon city property a tax of from
one-fourth to two per cent, but it is
understood that taxation will be
minimized and large portion of the
city's revenue taken from the county
as Tonopah is entitled to her pro
rata of the amount to be expended
annually by the county for roaC
work. 1t is also understood that
after Tonopah has been duly incor
porated, an effort will be made tC
reduce the county assessment and t.
defect from the county treasury
such tax money as may be possible
for the individual use of the city.
In explaining the expense and the
need of Incorporating Tonopah, Key
Pittman gave an Introductory dis
sertation upon community life, its
advantages and the duties it entails
He explained that the numerous sub
divisions which the federal govern
ment allows, when not inconsistent
with its own purposes, are but the
efforts to assure to each community
and each individual, wherever stu
ated, the benefit and the protection
which is the only legitimate object OF
representative government. AS a
logical corollary, it follows that while