The San Francisco call., 1910-07-31
MODESTO TO VOTE
ON new CHARTER
Proposed Document includes
Commission Form of Cow
ernment
Supporters Say Some of Its Pro-
visions Are Improvements
Over Any in Existence
[Speci0l Dispatch 10 The Call


MODESTO. July 80.-Fhe proposed
municipal charter. upon the adoption
of which the people of this city will
vote in the near future. is probably the
hrst constitutional document 10 recog-
n1ze the now practical science of aerial
naNlgation, enUmerating among its
stipulated powers the right to regulate
lhe- operation Of flying devices within
me CITY s boundaries and the power TO
construct public aviation landings. The
construction Of such landings has been
considered by the New York aero club
nd kindred organizations, but with
I ne adoption of the proposed charter
d. .s4odestO- will be the only. city having
.Ihe stipulated power TO construct and
lfaintaln as a public convenience air
Snip landings. The proposed charter
3lsi declared by its supporters TO con-
.1a5n improvements on the modern char
Ter. as eXemphfed by the charters eff
p. "a weston, Des Noines and Berkeley.
Among these is a new form of the
fecalE which IS calculated to eliminate,
SIS far. as. possible. the personal equa-
sion from the issue upon which the re-
ccalf may be invoked. According to the
new plan the electors first vote on
whether or not the official in question
shall be recalled. If the voters decide
against him a subsequent election is
.held 10 choose his successor. In this
way tile political trick Of clouding the
issue by putting up a number Of weak
or undesirable opponents is made i'm
ijossible.
A step beyond the usual plan is made
IN the franchise provision. Not only do
AL franchises have TO be ratified by a
lns jOrity Of the voters before becom-
sng operative. but a provision guards
sainst the refusal of the council to
place on sale franchises desired by
Jne public. This initiative in the fran
chise matter given to the people by
the charter may save the invoking of
AEthe recall in many cases.
The charter includes the commission
plan. The elective officers are a
MAYOR, four councilmen and five school
directors. All other officers are ap-
pointed. The majority choice in cleo
tions found in the Berkeley charter
has been followed. but carried even
. further-to the recall The initiative
J. and referendum are included, and a
school system similar to that Of Palo
Alto is provided.
The city trustees viii fix the date OF
The charter election at the meeting
Monday night
The campaign for the new charter
was begun through the local press by
j. j. Il. de NOe a young newspa perman.
about d year ago, and under his direc-
tion a campaign OF education was con-
.-Gucted through the two daily papers,
(which have worked together for the
new charter. At the general municipal
+. election in April the Is freehoiders,
. representing every faction in the city.
JYefa elected 10 draft the charter. These
We're:
J.. ". Bell, realty dealer; J.. r. Broughton
former mayor and banker; L. l.. bennett, atter-
ueE and candidate for the state senate: /. +. de
IA rnl rnna al non hfrrk
school PRINCIPAL: Z. 4. Drake former city trus-
:Tee and realty man: John Dunn. county super
s5irer; :. p Elias. attorney and merchant; c.
VS.: Evans physician; f. l. Fisher, editor; y. G.
Hsnsc0m. labor leader; George Perley. ah-
Strartor- Al Schmidt. saloon keeper; B. T.
SIni th, contractor; G. A. Williamson express
agent
The new charter has so far met with
practically no opposition.