The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1907-01-23
CLOSE TO
THE PEOPLE
SHOULD MUNICIPAL GOV.
ERNMENT BE
BROUGHT
HUGHES ON OUTLOOK
chairman Of Municipal Cor.
pOratiOuS Committee
Tells Of Plans
HUGHES ON OUTLOOK

chairman W. 4. tiuRncS OF inc COu-
mittee on municipal corporations
made the following statement this
morning relative to the work OF the
committees
Now that the county boundaries
and county seats have been fixed, all
The committees are working rapidly
upon the great questions which the
convention must deal with The com
mittee on Municipal corporations Is
actively at work. We hone to soon
make report. OF course. | would not
assume to forecast the report. | am
only one member of the committee.
"The organization of municipalities
is a matter worthy of the best thought
Of the committee and of the conven-
lion. ana : am sure it Will receive
both. | am satisfied the convention
will provide for the largest measure OF
local self government that is con.
iistent with the stability OF the state
The general trend of thought among
real Democrats is toward bringing
government closer TO the people. This
carries the idea of broader powers OF
ocal self government,
Personally, ! think that while we
should not overlook the conservative
safeguards which time and experience
have tested, yet we should hesitate
about taking the advanced steps
which the enlightenment of the age
clearly points out as proper IN the
committee and in the convention, 1
shall contend for the application of
the principles of the initiative and
referendum TO the government OF the
cities as well as Of the state This
will, of course include the granting of
franchises II Is a common thing for
q valuable franchise to be frittened
away by sleepy councilmen or cor
yuptly traded off II Is also common
'or cOuucilmen under the influence OF
franchise holders ia refuse to grant
a competing franchise. In the one
case tae people are robbed and in the
other The growth of the city is re-
arded. No franchise should be grant
I'd by any city council other than sub
ect to disapproval by direct vote of
he people Such provision in the
constitution will prevent franchise
grabbing, and make il sure that no
franchise viii be granted without
reasonable compensation directly or
indirectly. Neither should any city
council he permitted to block the de.
iires of the people I'm this "espect
Give the people the right TO grant
franchises by direct vote. and Il will
be impossible for the corrupt council
permit corporations to stand in the
way of the development OF the city.
Wonderful development is yet to come
IN Oklahoma. Many good cities will
grow up, and many of Our present
ones will become far more important
md populOus With this growth many
valuable franchises will be granted
Some of these may seem OF little
value at first. and yet be of immense
value within a few years. u Is of inn
measurable Importance to the people
of the state, but they completely con.
troll this matter VI will mean much
to them in dollars. and also in con
venience. as time untolds the life OF
Oklahoma.
While the people should have the
suggested control over granting fran
chises, they should also have the pow
ar TO own and operate their public
utilities whenever they desire To do
so. have no doubt the convention
will render Il sure they viii have
both.
You ask If the constitution will
authorize the form of city government
which is i'm fo-ce i'm Galveston and
commonly known as the Commission
government" Personally, / favor per-
hitting the cities to make theis own
characters. which ! think will include
the right to establish the system re,
ferred TO Sentiment along this line
seems strong in the convention. and
an confident IL viii prevail ] find the
commission government idea very
popular I'm all our large cities, and Il
met with much favor IN the recent
meeting in this city which the mayors.
city attorneys, and representatives OF
he business organizations held for
the purpose of making suggestions TO
the committee on municipal cOropra-
tons : think such cities should be
permitted to adopt il as may desire TO
do so"