Arizona republican., 1910-11-22

democrats vote against Mr.. Whitesides
by the bushes on their checks"
But a roll call was demanded and the
result was So to 10 in favor of the ap-
pointment of Mr.. Whitesides, who was
thereupon sworn in.
A communication was received from
Governor Sloan enclosing letter from
Philip Wiseman of Los Angeles con-
tanning suggestion for better citizen
ship He said that one reason that so
many unfit men found their way into
office was because eStimable citizens
neglected to attend the primaries. Mr.
WiSeman believed that this evil might
he remedied if it were arranged that if
one did not vote at the primaries he
could not vote at the general election
The communication was referred to the
committee on suffrage. The convention
then went into the committee of the
whole and concluded the proposition
relating to county government. That
was done by striking out the remaining
clauses on the ground that they were
legislative
Municipal Government.
Then proposition 81, relating II
municipal government, was taken up.
IT was first proposed that municipal
corporations should he created by gen
cral and not by special laws. The
second clause provides that municipal
corporations now existing shall retain
the powers they now enjoy until they
shall be changed bv law. Though this
was provided for fully i'm the initiative
fierce struggle, Mr.. Crutchfield OPP
posed the same provision in the pend
ing proposition on the ground that it
embedded in the constitution a recOgni-
ton of a power that was repugnant to
a large class of the best citizens and he
moved to amend the clause. The mo-
ton was not seconded. Later in the
day Mr.. Crutchfield brought the mat
ter up again and he expressed a fear
that if that thing were allowed TO
stand, the prohibitionists would assist
in the defeat of the constitution at the
polls. Said he: IF we get up consti-
tuition that is acceptable to the people
and it is turned down at Washington,
we can enjoy the satisfaction of hav-
ing done our duty But if we get up a
constitution that is turned down by the
people, we will have to come back and
do it all over again"
Mr.. Jones Of Maricopa sought to get
at the matter in another way and Of
fered an amendment providing that
the municipalities should enjoy such
powers as they now have not abrO-
gated by this constitution"
In surprise, Judge Baker inquired
4
the constitution or what powers of the
cities it was proposed to abrogate. Mr..
Jones replied that none had so far been
abrogated and if none should be. the
amendment could do no harm. The
amendment was defeated by 81 to 8.
The most prolonged struggle took
place over that clause allowing cities
having a population of more than 5000
to prepare their own charters under
what is known as the "freeholders'
plan" Fourteen freeholders are to be
elected by the people TO draft d charter
which shall afterward be voted on. A
half dozen efforts were made to destroy
this clause, beginning with the clause
in its entirety. Then sections of it
were proposed to be struck out, but it
ran the gauntlet 1t was noticeable
that this form of home rule was fought
generally by those who had opposed
segregation.
Municipal Commercialism.
The franchise clause was passed with
single but, as it was pointed out, an
important amendment. Somebody with
the idea of making franchises harder to
obtain, had caused 10 be required
vote of two-thirds OF the citizens TO
grant franchise. fMr. Kingan moved
TO make only simple majority neces-
sary and, as he land Mr.. Cunniff ex-
planned, the two thirds requirement
played into the hands of those already
holding franchises and was calculated
to foster monopolies. The amendment
was made with little opposition.
The next clause is . peculiar one.
What 1t means is not clear, though it
nrnhal,l 20 int 70