Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1909-08-06
DESIRE TO
PUT CITY UPON A
BUSINESS BASIS
New Commission Government
For Colorado Springs Now in.
Actual Operations Monument
For Gen. Palmer.

Especial Correspondence to Morning Journal
Colorado springs, colo Aug. B..
Colorado Springs has formally ~
tered the list OF American cities un-
der the commission folm of govern
ment. on Tuesday July -. the Of
ficials elected under the new charter.
assumed control of the city's affairs,
The election was one of the most in
tercstine in the history of the city.
There were five candidates for mayor
ana twenty-eight for the four coun-
cilmanio positions. Under the pro-
visions of the charter, successful
candidates must receive a majority
of all votes cast. The first election
resulted in no choice, and two weeks
later a econd was held between the
two highest candidates for mayor
ana the eight highest for councilmen
The new charter seeks to eliminate
partisan politics by a%bolishing nomi-
mating conventions and party designa-
lions on he ballot and by requiring
candidates and their nominees to
make affidavit that they are not the
representatives of any political
party.
That this aim was accomplished is
indicated by the fact that while
Colorado Springs is normally repub-
lIcan by Il comfortable majority, H..
+. Avery. the successful candidate
for mayor, is a democrat, while two
of the eouncilmen are democrats and
two republicans. The new officials
declare that they win make all ap-
pointments on "A non-partisan basis.
At the first meeting, the administra-
tive departments were apportioncd,
as follows:
Department Of water and water
works, Mayor Avery.
Finance, j, A.. H~imebaugh.
Health and sanitation, +. w. Frost.
Public works ana property. \. j.
LaWton.
Public safety. f. c. Whitaker.
In entering office, Mayor Avery
said: Every member of the new adj
ministration is in hearty sympathy
with the charter and We intend to
carry out its spirit and intent to our
best ability. We believe we shall be
able to put the city ON a business
basis, and in our business policies we
SHAH not be controlled by any poiiti-
cal party or Influenced by political
considerations. We shall try to CON
duct the eity's business as that Of a
corporation is conducted, and
to that end II Of the first things we
shall take up is the matter of
economy"
Aside from providing for the COM
~ fgGinn form nf pn"Ns4lnnfAnt tho
contains several new depar-
lures in the insertion of the recall,
the initiative and the referendum,
stringent provisions. in regard to
franchises. civil service in some dc
partmcnts, and adequate health re-
7trictions. The mayor is to receive
a salary of SO. coo, and the council
men $1,000 each, they being OK
poctcd to devote their time to the |
business.
Colorado Springs is the first city
in Colorado to adopt the commission
form of government.
Plans for a monument to General |
William j. Palmer, the distinguished |
'ivil war officer, builder of the Den
ger Il Rio Grande and Mexican CEN
raj railroads. ana founder of Colo
Springs. are being made by a
committee Of citizens appointed by
he chamber of commerce of colo
ado Springs. Or. William T.. Slocum,
PRESIDENT Of Colorado college, is
hartman Of the committee, ANA j. A.
Iayes, s%on-in-law of jefferson Davis,
member of the executive commit
ee.
The survivors of the Fifteenth
pennsylvania cavalry, General Pal
ncr's regiment. have east a bcauti-
nj bronze tablet in memory Of their
ate commander. It IS to be placed
n Palmer hall at Colorado college In
eptcmbcr. shortly before his death,
;encral Palmer entertained all the
urvivors for a week at his noun
ain home. Glen lyric.
A movement is on foot to have
he remains of Gen. Zcbulon l.. Pike =
uricd within the shadow of Pixies
At Madison Barracks, near
ackett's Harbor. the government Is
disinterring the remains Of 256
oldiers. among them being the body
f General Pike. Agitation to bring =
ne body Of the noted explorer to the =
1ot of the great peak bearing his
anne was started at the time Of the Z
ike centennial celebration in 1906.
ommemorating the one hundrcdth
Of the discovery OF Plies
.oak. and it has now been AXE up
ne state historical society. !