The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1910-01-11

legal experts. who drafted briefs on
the constmtionality of The new char
ter, which were presented to the
states executive and argued before
Kim and others in his department.
AT last Governor Haskell turned the
charter over 10 Attorney General
West for his opinion, 1t took West
only few hours to arrive at the con.
clusion that Tulsas charter complied
with The constitution and laws of the
state and he recommended its ap-
proval.
Six months after Governor Haskell
.eceiped his copy OF tie charter he
put his official approval on it and ii
became the basic system OF law OF
the city of Tulsa. The first election
az officials under the new charter
was held February lG last and the
gang made It's last stand in an at.
tempt to cary this election and still
hold control OF the city's purse strings
The police force was called ont for
service at the polls and by show
oi police strength, by colonizing yot-
ers and by other methods the gang
succeeded in carrying the First ward,
she Second ward gave a majority in
part to the gang. but the Third and
ruurth wards went overwhelmingly
for the independent ticket and the
commission form OF government was
Put into effect by It's friends, the in
dependent element OF both political
parties.
The New Order At Work
The new officers were sworn in
ana The commission form OF gnveln-
ment was intucted on February "a,
1909. The city was heavily in debt
ana its credit was endangered What
records the old administration had LETT
behind were either incomplete or so
unsatisfactory. that they could not be
utilized in placing the affairs OF the
city on d business basis. From that
day until this the new government
has been busy righiing wrongs, re-
dressing grievances and otherwise
strengthening out entanglements The
results reached in the ten months In
which the commission form OF gov.
erninent has been in effect have
shown that Tulsa made no mistake
when il changed the form of govern
ment.
The new caartee pr1yaes for but
elective officers, mayo, four commits
s;oners and the city auditor. All 9th
er officers are appointed with a ma
jority OF the commissioners concur
ring and can be removed by MAORI
iy vote of the commission except the
police Judge and city attorney. who
cannot be removed except by I'M
peachment The greatest care was
exercised in the selection of appoint
i've Offices. In every department OF
the cily's business the civil service
was instituted and men were select
cd with 4 view to their fitness for
tie place and without regard TO poll
tical affiliation.
The first thing the commission did
was to re-establish the citys credit.
The indebtedness incurred in the run
ming expenses of the city by the old
regime was taken care Of and the old
system OF paying city claims in war
rants. which could only be cashed
al a heavy discount and loss TO the
recipient. was abolished and the cash
system instituted. On pay days now
employees OF The city get their sal
aries. Likewise all claims against
tie city are paid in cash whenever
presented. Municipal bonds of thll
city are eagerly sought and they al.
Ways command a good premium on
the open market.
Every department has now made
good Taking up first the depart
ment OF finance and revenue. the city
is now paying its way and this is no
small item. since the running ex-
peEses Of the city amount TO $4,000
q month. II was evident the moment
the new government became effec-
tive that various sources OF reyene.
had been slighted by the old regime
and that the city had heen cheated
out of grea, deal OF It's rightfu
tithos. one of the first things done
was TO impose an occupation tax,
from which the city has derived It-
cnue IN excess of $4,000 in nine
months of commission government
and is still getting fsom this source