The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1910-04-02

PRACTICAL SCHEME FOR
BUSINESS GOVERNMENT
By Senator Emory D. Brownlee, of Kingfisher


The citizens 0f kiEghsher are TO
have an opportunity to adopt q char.
Ter especially prepared by ten free
holders 10 be elected April s. See
tion Of Article S Of the cons itu-
ion provides that any city contain
ing a population of more than two
thousand inhabitants may frame a
charter for its own goyernmen.*+*
by causing a board Of freeholders,
composed OF two from each ward'F
to be elected by the qualified elect
crs7F*at amy general or special elec-
tion, whose duiy it shall be, within
ninety days after such election, to
prepare and propose a char-er for
such city The charter so prepared
is to be published for at least three
weeks and submitted to the qualified
elec'Os for their ratification cr re-
ieotion at gensgal or special cleo
ion. III the charter should be rat
flied, II may be amended by pro-
posas therefor, submitted by the
legislative authority at any general
or special election. A the time the
freeholders TO draft ,he charter are
voted fO', vote shall also be taken
upon the question of whether or not
further proceedings toward adopting
a charter shall be had in pursuance
the call and unless a majority OF
he electors voting thereon Shall vote
to proceed further, no further pfo-
ceedings shall be had and all proceed
irgs up to that time Shall be OF no
effect II a majority of the electors
so decide. he ten freeholders elect
ed will prepare a charter or consti-
ution for the city As to what the
provisions Of the charter will be Is
a matter entirely with the freehold
ers. They can provide for any SON
Of a government which in their judg'
ment will best suit the conditions Of
our city and hey arc unlimited and
uninstrUcted save and except that
The hoysi0ns of he charter shall be
consistent with the constitution ana
laws Of NE state.
There ae but seven provisions IN
the Oklahoma constitution which are
not found in the constructions OF
sCme or all of the other states, ard
The provisions permitting Cities to
adopt thcir own charters Is one OF
them Cities Of other states have
adopted charters, but only after spe
eiic legislative cnactmen s. The
legislature Of Texas provided for the
adoption OF chartes by cities and IN
1901 Galveston adopted q charter
which provided for commission Of
five to govern the city Houston
adopted il in 1908, Dallas followed in
1907 and since hat time Fort Worth,
DennsCn Greenyillc, Sherman, E
Paso and Austin have followed
Other state legislatures which have
sanctioned the commission plan are
iowa with the cities of Des Moines
and Cedar Rapids as the pioneers;
Minnesota, North and South Dakota,
Wisconsin. Kansas, Nebraska, Cali
TO MIA, Oregon. Idaho, Massachu-
sets, Tennessee and Mississippi
The legislature of Illinois has been
petitioned by score OF cities to
adopt The plan at least six other
states have given the matter much
tention. And half dozen cities
Of Oklahoma have found it success
ful
AS The idea is of recent inception,
we ask ourselves why ~ has received
such cordial reception and mas
been accorded such a ready hearing
Is X a fad in government? Is il
simply the desire Of the American
people to adop something new thaI
his scheme has had such a rapid
growth? Or do business men OF this
progressive age see way out OF The
municipal slough OF incompetent
methods and resultant extravaganza
and waste? Else why this rapid ao
ceptance OF a plan scarce ten years
old? The reply mnst be evident iC
every one familiar with the business
instinct Of the American citizen. The
plan proposed for the government O
cities Is familiar to every business
man. They age familiar with th'
plan of conducting the business o
large corpora ions wherein the stock
/ holders elect q board Of directors ant
the idea OF a city board Of director
at, once appeals 10 their business
Judgment The substantial citizel
grasps The idea Instantly; II is
familiar one; ho knows Us working
( in business; he understands 1t thol
/ oughly. He waits only 10 ascertain
The results in cities which have trle'
+ it. AS it is so much more simpl
than the mayor and council system
it appeals TO him from the FIRST, an.
the verdict of success pronounce
4 even by dhe conservatives whereye
the plan has been tsied, stamps On
seal Of successful experience upon 1t
The old feeling that municipal GOV
ernment Is q hopeless mess and nc
capable OF Improvement or refosm