Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-02-09


plan, and secure it's adoption.
Prominent lawyers became inter-
ested. A committee drafted the amend
ment with great care. 1t was discussed
-Mld modified to meet serious objec-
lions, land sent to the legislature, seek
ing pernr5sSion to be considered and
voted upon. ~There it met three enc
mics. First, city solicitors, sent by
their respective city goyernments. OPP
posed that part which, IKE. the Iowa
law, gave other cities permission -
consider the same plan. That yves
stricken out. Second, the corporation
lobbyist opposed the article requiring
popular vote of the people upon all
franchises. He declared he would kill
the act unless that be dropped. 1t had
to go-for the present. But the death
knell is soon TO sound for the lobbyist
Third, the Haverhill politician was
there opposing the whole plan. The
mayor shrewdly presented a substi-
tute. At length the legislature passed
the act authorizing the special election
and it was held Oct. 6.
Despite the strenuous opposition of
nearly all of the old city officials and
the political forces back of them. also.
strangely enough. of many socialists,
so numerous here, the vigorous CAM
paign resulted in a majority of SIG
votes for adoption
Fooled in their efforts to defeat the
adoption of the plan, the professional
politicians made grand scramble to
but it was fruitless. Men of high
standing in the city appeared as can
didates under the plan which in their
opinion, made good results possible,
and the preliminary election weeded
out all of the professional officeseekers
except two On Jan. the old order
of things passed away into outer dark
ness, with weeping and crashing of
teeth, and the new city government
quietly entered the city hall and went
to work. The salient features of the
new plan are thus enumerated:
1. The municipal council, which
shall consist of mayor and four al
dermen, all elected at large. Tenure
of office, two years. Salary. mayor
$4,000; aldermen, $1,000 each.
2. Non Partisan Ballots. No party
designation appears upon any ballot
formal balloD is free for all, but only
the names of those candidates receiv
ind the largest and second largest
number of votes for each Office at the
preliminary election are printed upon
the ballots used at the final election
with "stickers" by the voter
3. Publicity All meeting of the
council must be public, votes taken by
yea and nay, and recorded. Every
member must vote when present. APP
preparations and contracts for 81 900
or more must lie over one week before
final action. A complete monthly
statement of transactions must be
published.
A. The Recall. At any time thu
voters may secure the removal of {
member of the council by petitionins
for a, special election. The petition
must, however. be signed by a humble
of voters equal to % per cent of th'
votes cast for mayor at the last elec
ton, and the member may be a candi
date for approval.
5. The Referendum. Upon petition
of voters equal in number to % pc
cent of The total vote cast for mayo
at the last election. any proposed ordi
nance must be submitted to the peopl,
at a special election.
G. The Initiative. Upon petition O
voters equal in number to 25 per cen
of the total vote for mayor at tn,
last election, requesting the enactmea
of any ordinance desired by the people
the municipal council must pass
| within 20 days. or call a special cleo
ton, allowing the people to pass TIL
act. Upon petition of voters equal t
10 per cent OF the votes cast for mayo
the proposed ordinance must be sui
mitted to vote of the people at tn
next general election.