The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1908-06-25
THREE nUNIciPALiTIEs WILL
VOTE on we oUEsTios.
TULSA WANTS COMMISSION
Said that Shawnee VIII Stick to May
or and A herman Plan, While
Oklahoma City viii compro
mise as Between the Two.

ma City and Shawnee. will have new
charters to vote upon at the general
election next fall. The Tulsa and
Shawnee charters are finished, and the
Oklahoma Cit, freeholders are making
good progress with their work
Tulsas charter definitely provides
for a commission form of government
Shawnee is as definitely against II.
while in Oklahoma City where the
charter is not yet completed the lean.
ing seems 10 be toward the commits.
sion form.
The Tulsa charter vas drafted by
a non.par'isan board, after long and
arduous sessions. The only elective
officers provided for in the charter
are the mayor and four commission
ers. all chosen for term OF two
years The salary Of the mayor is
fixed at $500 and that Of the com.
missioners 1920. while the salary OF
the city auditor is left to the deter.
mination OF the commissioners. as
well as the selection and arrange.
ment Of salaries of all other city
officials.
Among other things the new char.
ter provides for the initiative and ref
rrendum and the recall in city affairs.
park board and system OF public
parks eight hour day on city work.
and municipal ownership of all public
utilities.
While the Shawnee charter does not
adopt the commission form, 1t places
| greatly increased powers in the hands
of the mayor, who IL 10 receive 81 80 l
per year and devote all Of his time to
the Office Besides the mayor and six
aldermen, who are TO receive $500 per
year each and hold meetings each
week the only elective officers are
the city treasurer and city assessor
and tax collector. All other officers
are appolntive. All officers hold for
three terms.
The charter contemplates the ulti.
mate acquisition Of all public utilities
by the city On petition Of 25 per
cent of the voters, the question of the
acquisition or establishment of any
public utility shall be submitted by
the council TO vote Of the people No
franchise can be granted or renewed
for a longer period than twenty-five
years and then only on vote OF the
people at the expense Of the corpora.
tion seeking the franchise. Public
service corporations are taxed on their
receipts. On all new franchises grant.
ed under the charter the city Is to re-
ceiye 3 per cent of the receipts.
Aldermen and members of the board
of education are to be nominated BY
wards and elected at large. Two will
ne elected each year after the first. \
board OF public works is provided for,
consisting of the mayor, city engineer
and superintendent OF city water,
works.
The plan contemplated at Oklahoma
City is the selection OF five aldermen.
this body 10 select its own chairman.
who shall act as mayor The mayor.
with the advice and consent OF the al.
dermen, is TO appoint three civil ser
] yip4 p,pnpti . i,p.r. u.b, ar. .. l.1l
annual examinations for applicants for
the various city positions The mayor
( with the advice of the council, is 10
| appoint board of three park comm s..
sioners, and similar number Of H.
prary commissioners, two OF whom
shall be women. The usual provis-
/ ions as to initiative and referendum
and popular vote on franchises are in.
/ cluded
The regulation OF public service cor
/ porations is the thing which Is caus-
ing the greatest amount OF worry to
the Oklahoma City freeholders, Their
idea is strict regulation rather than
municipal ownership, and numerous
hearings have been given TO the var
ious corporations in regard TO the reg
ulatiye provisions proposed, a question
especially under discussion being the
one requiring telephone companies 70
bury their wires, at any rate within
the fire limits and possibly over tho
whole city The telephone people ad-
NIT the necessity OF such action with.
In certain limits, but insist that TO
carry the idea too far would either
ruin their business or necessltate a
raise in rates,
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