The Detroit times., 1910-08-02


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to secure a new charter. elected a
commission TO draft II on which Buck
lin vas the only lawyer. The other
members were business men, preach
ar or so, and many workingmen.
And Bucklin's dream OF freedom
6ndS eXpression In that charter. Tne
salient features OF his program are:
A commission form OF government
with q separate vote on each commits
sioner who runs for a specific com
missionership.
The preferential system OF voting,
by which a majority OF voters must
assent before a man can assume Of
| fee
An easy method for public owner
ship OF any utility or any industry
which the people elect TO control
The easy use OF the initiative, re-
ferendum and the recall.
An absolute prohibition against the
! leyying OF any special tax OF fee on
any business or industry.
I'VE have aimed to make 1t easy
| for the citizens to express their will
and when that will is expressed, it
! becomes the law. Moreover, we have
aimed death blow at the ancient
/ tricks of privilege to divide the hon
est and the good intentioned, by our
preferential system. or all the weap-
ons we have obtained for real
democracy, this is the greatest" says
the man who led the battle and who.
after its victory takes pride in the
fact that he enjoys only the privileges
that every other citizen has.
aH r,t1n Of hn
majority through the preferential sys-
ceeds to safeguard the people from
exploitation and to provide easy
means OF letting the citizens as
body do anything they wish.
II guards against little privileges,
as we'll as big ones, and a specific
provision is raised against any sys-
TEN of fees or license tax No
huckster can be held up. No ped
der, who is a citizen is placed at a
disadvantage with his neighbor who
owns a store. No monopoly can be
created by protective tax which will
drive the man with small resources
out of business.
How Initiative Is To Be Used.
Here are few OF the powers given
to the citizens to be exercised Under
the initiative
All franchises must be granted by a
vote OF the electors.
No franchises shall include any abso-
lutte charges, but the power TO regu-
late rates shall be forever reserved to
the people at all times.
Any ambiguous terms shall be void
No stock shall be issued by any COR
poration based on the value OF It's fran
chise.
The people shall have the power TO
| g.
quire roads 10 elevate or lower tracks
when public safety demands.
No franchise shall be leased or as
signed without consent OF the people.
No exclusive franchise shalt he
granted.
The city may at all times force the
use OF it's tracks. it's wires. gas mains
or other property, by competitors,
under a reasonable rental
The city may condemn and purchase
any public utility at any time upon
basis OF its actual cost. including only
interest en- investment during time of
construction and prior to operation. in
Having made these provisions for
the future, the charter provides for
the present by declaring that before
any extension OF any franchise, now
In operation, is granted, the holders
must agree in writing to all of the
provisions here outlined, to apply to
its entire plant.
And Grand Junction is growing
rapidly. The present holders need
extensions.
lin concluding article tomorrow
on the Grand Junction plan. Mr.. Cur
ley will describe In detail the prefer
entail" system, which Is the distinctive
feature OF this new and promising
type of city charter)