Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1910-10-30

people of the city. If a franchise be granted for a period of thirty years Tor less, the proposed franchise must be published in the form in which it
 s finally passed, once week for
 pense of the applicant. And if at any time within thirty days after It's final passage, q written petition is
 presented to the council, signed by at least 300 legally qualified voters ,of the city, then such franchise must be submitted to an election of the people to determine whether or not it shall be granted.
 No franchise in the streets, high
 ways, thoroughfares or property of the city of Houston shall ever be three regular meetings of the coun- cil.
 l No franchise shall be granted un- less the ordinance granting the same provides for adequate compensation or consideration therefor to be paid to the city of Houston, and in addi- tion to any other form of compen- sation, the grantee shall pay annu- ally such a fixed charge as may be 1 prescribed in the franchise ] Every grant of a. franchise shall n T hot ho t@- f the grant the property of o~es, gran tee in the streets, avenues or othefs public places, shall thereupons with 1 out compensation, Or upon the pay ! 2lent of a fair valuation therefor, become the property of the city of Houston, and in estimating such val
 le the value derived from the fran chise, or the fact that it is or may be a growing concern, shall not be con-
 :dere% in determining the value. Every grant of franchise shall or otherwise. for efficiency of public service at reasonable rates and to maintain the property in good or dor.
 The city may inspect and examine,
 t reasonable hours any books or ac- counts of the grantee of fran
 Sse. which books or accounts shall be kept and reports made in ac-
 ordance with the forms prescribed
 oy the city council.
 The charter reserves the right in
 he city of Houston to regulate the rates of all public utility corpora tions.
 l It is to be noted that by tho con- stitut on of Texas, no person can
 ote unless, prior to February first of the year in whiSn ae offers to vote he has pai his poll tax in per- son. This provision eliminates INSny persons who would abuse the privi- leges of suffrage Of course, .n community where unrestricted man. hood suffrage prevails, with no check or restrictions on same the chances for the successful operation of a municipal government like that Of the city of Houston would not be as good as in the state of Texas. We have in our charter what is called the Referendum. That is, # five hundred qualified voters of the ;ity petition the council to call an election to determine the granting of any franchise, it is incumbent up-
 the councl to do so. Some cities which have lately adopted the coni- m.ssioh form of government have ipiaced in their charters the Initla- tive, Referendum and Recall. In my opinion, the Recall is an inheritaece of Populism. and has no place in bus ness government. It is a difficult matter to induce good men to give up their personal inter- est and work for the public good. ] The term of office in Texas is two years. This is such short period that the mayor and aldermen hardly have the opportunity to prepare the plans and systcmatize the gov rn- ment before their terms of office ex- ,,re. Far better for a community | would it be fo- them to say to the.r respective officers: We have choser You fer two years to manage GU