Bisbee daily review., 1906-12-08
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These are the cardinal features of the new charter law which is being prepared by City Attorneys Merritt, of l,isbee. and Lockwood. of Douglas, under the authority of the councils Of their respective cities. which will be submitted to the city councils of those cities and If approved submitted to inc territorial legislature. The major portion of the proposed new law has beea prepared by Mir. Merritt and sub mitted to Mir Lockwood. The draft of ihe new charter has now gone back with the contribution of MT. Lock wood, in the way of laws. suggestions and such approvals as the local city attorney saw fit to give the proposals of the Bisbee attorney.
 The more radical features. those of initiative and referendum and munic- ipaI ownership. are the proposals of Mr. lockwood. While strongly favor ing both of these principles. he admits that it is very doubtful if the legfsla- ture would concur in the first and is moi a,toeether certain 1t would favor inc last named. He believes his idea of municipal ownership is thoroughly Dracticsl and conservatives He does not believe in forcing it upon cities but by legislation so that municipal ownership would be possible Ii II were desired. with the condition that under no circumstances could city dispose of municipal utilities unless it was sanctioned by the vote Of the people of the city.
 MT. Lockwood strongly believes ir initiative and referendum. but is not sanguine of the territory being ye' ready to adopt that principle of gov ernment.
 The charter as prepared by the tVe city attorneys will be submitted to the Bisbee city council shortly and it vii then come to Douglas. 1t was the orig iual intention to prepare charters jus for the cities of Douglas and Bisbee but City Attorney Merritt enlarged tho scope of the project so as to make i of general applicability.
 For several weeks past Merritt hal been diligently working on the manu script copy of the law. making notes and considering the changes deemeS advisable by him in the present char te. laws of the statutes of Arizona as they now stand
 t'Tte trouble with the laws at pres ant" says Merritt, in recent inter view in Phoenix, -are that they are Eot applicable to any great extent tf any os the frst-ciass cities of Arizona For cities of hundreds of thousands ol inhabitants the laws as they stand ai present would be very fine ones, but for territory where airs the towns are snaa and ithe tax list of necessity proportionateiy small. they are yerJ -rauch out of place @
 31 .ss laws that have drawn uT ' aa.e fieated this. subject yefy fullS rom ,oxEs of 300 inhabitants on ur to as large as any city in the Icountr, could wish. in the-smaller towns hay ing fewer officials while in the larger ones the Eamber of inhabitants gov -r .ne naraberEof officials. and SD or al minimum.
 T Nteck a special trip to Douglas seY e~al days ago and placed tsie dTaugh of the law 1u~the hands Of City Atior ney Lockwood for his 0Iamination ana arproval. The reading of the iav ant its adoption will doubtless require a i-esi a week. and possibly two. il th' councils ad.pt 1t at all.
 "I shall then take it. and. actini ca their suggestions. will revise tn