The Washington herald., 1909-05-20
NOVEL RULE OF A CITY.
Commission Form of GOvernmenr
Adopted at Colorado Springs.

Adopted at Colorado Springs.
Col0-zdo sDz1nzs sgessl to New Yo-k Ts4bzns.
Colorado Springs has Just adopted BIZ
a vote Of s,1s1 to 5ss. the commission 1urn
Of government, under a charter which
abolishes the ward system. eliminates
party politics. provides the recall. initie-
tive and referendum. and places ample
restrictions around the granting OF iran
chises
The charter is probably the most liberal
adopted by any American municipality,
because Of the fact that the legislature
gives cities q free rein IN making their
charters. Colorado Springs Is the first
Colorado city 70 adopt the commission
form although Grand Junction. Pueblo,
and other cities are now taking steps 70
that end. The instrument was drawn by
twenty-one representative citizens, nomi-
mated b. joint committee from the civic
organizations. The first election under
The new charter VIII be he,s July {
n many respects the Charter is TemarF-
sble. The only elective officers are q
mayor and four eouncilmen, who cUn
49, 80 ee--A-%+a AZ H-4-NA AAGC NV u
The city are vested. Responsible IS
fixed BY the creation OF Eve departure Is.
st the head OF each OF which Is ore men,
Der. The departments are: Wat.r and
water works. governed by tte mayor:
finance, public health and sanitation.
public works and property. and public
safety. Provision is made 70 put the
water system on a self-sustaining basis.
and an effort Is made 70 obtain a uniform
system OF public accounting. The mayor
receives q salary Of S2.5oo. the councllmen
S-e9
Ine most radical measures, perhaps, are
in regard 10 elections. the idea being 10
eliminate al factional control Nonina-
tons are made by . fling OF twenty
five individual certificates, the singer OF
each o. which. as well as the nominee
must make affidavit 20 the fact that the
candidate IS not the representative OF
any political party. The charter further
provides Nothing on the ballot shall
be indicative Of the source OF the csudi-
dacy Or % the support OF q candidate
No ballot shall have printed thereon any
party o. political design or mark. and
there shall not be appended 10 the name
of any candidate any such party OF po-
htical designation or mark. or anything
indicating his views OF opinions" A
majority OF 81 votes cast Is required; IN
case no one receives q majority, = second
eIection IS held Except for iavalids. no
carriages are allowed On election day.
No franchise nav be granted except on
vote OF the qualified electors. The people
reserve The right 70 regulate fares and
rates. and may license street cars. meters
poles, and similar fixtures The city re-
ta!ns comprehensive oversight OF any
franchise affecting the city's water sys-
ten Each corporation is required 10
make detailed annual report The city
receives on al franchises per cent Of
The gross receipts for the drst fifteen
years and 5 per cent for the remainder OF
their lie The city may purchase any
granted for pe-io5 Of more than twenty
FIVE years.
On petition OF 50 per cent OF the quail
fed electors. a. elective officer may be
removed from Office through the recall. -
The Initiative requires the signatures ot
IS per cent. and after these have been OBJ
tatned the council has the option OF pass
ing the proposed ordnance or % submit
ting IL 10 a vote OF the people The
referendum works n the same way.
Under penalty OF removal. no Official may
receive free service from corporation
A civil service commission Is authorized
% provide Tor placing the FIRE, police, and
public works employees under civll serv-
ice. other employees are appointed by the
mayor upon recommendation OF the couR-
Gilman The levy Is limited 10 % mills,
and the bonded Indebtedness 70 5 per cent
OF the total valuation. excepting for the
purchase Of profit-yielding utilities. One
section makes Il obligatory on al ply
sicians 10 report infections, contagious.
O. communicable diseases. and the de-
partmeut Of public health Is authorized
70 require such means as Il deems wise
for protection.