Omaha daily bee., 1903-06-02
HOME RULE FOR DENVER.

center to circumference over a munich
pal contest that will place the Colorado
capital in position to enjoy genuine
home rule. The movement in favor of
home rule eliminated two years ago in
the passage by the Colorado legislature
of constitutional amendment granting
to all cities having a population exceed
ing 1000 the privilege to make their
own charters. This amendment carried
at the election in November, 1902, but
its practical operation was blocked by
the franchised corporations, who con-
tested its validity in the Colorado su-
preme court
By the adoption of the home rule
amendment the city of Denver and sew
eral suburban towns were cut off from
Arapahoe county and became "the city
and county of Denver" while the re-
naming part of Arapahoe county has
as Adams and South Arapahoe. The
city and county of Denver is given the
power within and without its territorial
limits to construct, condemn, purchase,
conduct and operate water works, light
ing plants and power plants, transpor-
tation systems, heating plants and any
other public utilities. The city also has
power to issue bonds upon vote of the
taxpaying electors in any amount neces-
sary to carry into effect the municipal
ownership of public utilities. The peo-
pie of Denver are also given exclusive
power In making, altering, revising or
amending their charter, but no fran
chise relating to any street, alley or
public place is to be granted except
upon its approval by the qualified tax
paying electors. Upon petition Of 5 per
cent Of the qualified electors for any
measure or charter amendment, or for
charter convention, the council is to
submit the same to a vote at the next
general election. and upon petition of 10
per cent of the qualified voters a spe-
cial election must be called.
The home rule amendment extended
the boundaries Of Denver and annexed
to the city several suburban towns,
some Of which have repeatedly refused
to become part of the city. BY the
provisions of the amendment, a charter
convention, composed of twenty-one
electors, must be called to draft a
charter which shall become a law II
ratified by a majority of the voters.
The city and county of Denver came
into existence Immediately after The
official proclamation of the adoption of
the home rule amendment, but the prop
osition for calling the charter conven-
ton was STAYED Off for several months
and the final vote is to be taken to-
day.
The charter campaign has been a
most exciting contest. The corporation
managers, who have controlled the
municipal government of Denver for
years, are endeavoring to secure control
of the charter convention, with a view
to extending their grip upon the munich
pal machinery of Denver for an in.
definite period. The present council
and mayor hold over until new officials
are elected, but the imperative need of
home rule for Denver is emphasized by
the municipal balance sheet.
The total sum levied in direct taxes
during the past six years for city pur.
poses only has nearly doubled, as shown
by the following figures: City taxes
1897, Ss36,6O9; 1902, S942,O35; 1903
81, ,627, ,442, or an increase in the taxes
for last year over the preceding year OF
$6S5,307. No wonder the taxpayine
citizens of Denver are desperately in
earnest to rescue municipal government
from corporation misrue.
We are divulging no secret when we
say that Omaha would have been en-
joying home rule years ago but for the
pernicious manipulation OF succeeding
legislatures by the same influences thai
have obstructed and retarded the home
rule movement in Denver.