The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1909-05-17
ADOPT
POPULAR RULE
Colorado Springs Abolishes Ward
System and Eliminates Party Poll
tics-0nly Five Officers Elective.

NO-OhAllO 81 hiNbSt Ahl.' MAY 80
Colorado Springs has just adopted
by an Overwhelming vote the commits
sion form OF government under char
ter which abolishes the ward system.
eliminates party politics. provides the
recall. initiative and referendum. aud
places ample restrictions around the
granting OF franchises. The charter
is probably the most liberal adopted
by any American municipality. because
OF the fact that the legislature gives
cities a. free rein in making their
charters. Colorado Springs is the
first Colorado city TO adopt the com
mission form. although Grand June
ton. Pueblo and other cities are now
taking steps 10 that END. The charter
comes as the result OF movement
advocated by the press and backed
by the Chamber OF Commerce and
other civic bodies. The instrument
zens, nominated by joint committee
from the civic organizations. The
first election under the new charter
will be held Tuesday. July 6.
In many respects the charter is re-
markable. The only elective officers
are the mayor and four councilmen.
who compose the council In which the
powers OF the city are vested. Re
sponsibility is fixed by the creation
or five departments. at the head OF
each OF which is one member The
departments are: Water and water
works. governed by the mayor.
finance: public health and sanitation.
public works and property. and pub
lie safety. Provision is made To put
the water system on a self-sustaining
basis. The mayor receives $500 sal.
AIRY and the councilmen $4,000.
The most radical measures perhaps
are In regard TO elections. the IDEA
being TO eliminate all factional con
troll NemiP atieHs- aFe-made by The
filing OF % individual certificates. the
signer OF each OF which. as we'll as
the nominee. must make AFFIDAVIT 10
the fact that the candidate is not the
representative OF any political party.
The Charter further provides:
Nothing on the ballot shall be In
dicative OF the source OF the caitdi-
dacy or of the support OF candidate.
No ballot shall have printed thereon
any party or political design or mark,
and there shall not be appended TO
the name OF any candidate any such
party or political designation or mark,
or anything indicating his views or
opinions
A majority OF all votes cast is re
quired. In case no one receives
majority second election is 10 be
held. EXCEPT for invalids. no car
rlages are allowed on election day.
No franchise may be granted except
on vote OF the qualified electors. The
people reserve the right 10 regulate
fares and rates, and may license street
cars, meters, poles and similar fix.
tures. The city retains comprehen-
siNe control OF any franchise affecting
the city's water system. Each cor
poration is required to make de
tailed annual report. The city re
oeives on all franchises per cent OF
tie gross receipts for the first 10
years; per cent for the remainder
Of the term The city may purchase
any public utility. No franchise may
be granted FOR a period OF more than
25 years.
On petition OF 80 per cent OF the
qualified electors. an elective officer
may be removed from Office through
the recall" The initiative requires
the signatures of Is per cent. and
after these have been obtained the
council has the option OF passing the
proposed ordnance or OF submitting
IL to a vote OF the people. The REF
endum works in the same way. I'm
der penalty OF removal, no official
may receive free service from cor
poration. A civil service commission
il authorized TO provide for placing
the fire. police and public works EN-
pIoyes under civil service. Other ern-
ployes are appointed by the mayor
u pom recommendation OF the council
men. The levy is limited to 20 miles
and the bonded Indebtedness to per
cent OF the total valuation. excepting
for the purchase OF profit-yielding pub
lie utilities. One section makes II
obligatory on all physicians TO report
infectious. contagious or commun-
icabfe diseases, and department
OF public health is authorized to re-
Quire such means as IT deems wise for
protection.