The weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Craig County, Okla.) 1905-1913, 1911-09-08
From wsanesday-s Oany

der the state constitution Tor calling
an election On tie commission form
after the fling u q petition asking
FOR such election was fled expired
yesferday. Last night mayor starr
eubmltted blg refusal ~ call tie cleo
ton. BE says that the petition Was
insufficient There were Zls Dames
on the petitions Of these not more
than twelve were not qualified voters
according ~ one n the city election
officers. who compared the names Tlth
the registration books. The mayo
says there we're only l7l qualified Yot-
ers on the petition. ~ what authority
the names of others we're stricken Is
not known. II ls known that the
mayor circulated or caused 70 be cir
culated petition among certain sign
ers Of the first petition asking that
their names be dropped. But where
is the authority for thus cutting down
q petition already fled? There is a
movement on foot To start custer pro-
ceedings against the mayor for failure
70 perform HIS duties az prescribed In
the initiative and referendum pro-
visions of the state constitution.
Nothing VIII be done along this line
until Governor Cruces return from
the east.
There ig also two other plans for
compelling the mayor to call the cleo
tion under consideration by the cam
paign committee Of the commission
form advocates
The following are the mayors rea-
sons for not calling the election.
CITY OF VlhlTA.
Executive Department.
In the matter Of the petition for an
election Of board Of freeholders Of
the city Of Vinita, 10 prepare and
propose a charter for said City and
for taking vote upon the question
Of whether or not further proceed
inge towards charter shall be had
in pursuance 70 the call for such cleo
tion.
Decision
There was on August 25th, 1911,
nled with the chief Executive Onicer
Of the City Of Vinita, the Mayor q
petition purporting 70 have been sign
ed by a number Of the qualified cleo.
tors Of said city demanding that the
Mayor Of the city Of Vinlta, Oklahoma,
within ten days after the filing Of said
petition, call an election. for the pur-
pose Of electing board Of freehold.
ere, composed of two men from each
ward Of said city, who shall be qualih-
ed electors of said City, to prepare and
propose charter for said City Of
Vinita, within ninety days after such
election, and also demanding that at
such election vote should be taken
upon the question Of whether or not
further proceedings towards a charter
shall be had in pursuance to the call
for such election
Upon an examination of the petition.
tho election records. and the constItu-
ilon and laws Of the State Of okla
homa, the Mayor finds that 1t Is noe
essary, In order TO warrant him, In
calling such an election and imposing
upon the tax payers of the City of
Vinita an additional burden of taxes
to meet the expenses of such election,
that such a petition should be signed
by a number of qualified electors re.
siding within the City of Vnita, equal
TO twenty-five per centum of the total
number of votes cast at the next pre-.
cedng general municipal election and
the Mayor further finds after an in
vesuRation of the records that at the
last general municipal election held
in the City OF Vinia IN April, 1911,
That there were cast at least total
OF seven hundred and thirtynine votes
and that a petition for the call OF an
election such MS is prayed for in the
petition filed on August path t9lt
should contain the names of twenty.
Ave per centum of seven hundred and
thirtynne or a total of at least one
hundred aud eightynye names os duly
qualified electors who are now resid
ing In the limits of the City of Vinita
The Mayor further finds that the
petitions hled, ON this day contain the
names of one hundred and seventy
four qualified electors residing in the
City OF Vinlta which is less than
twenty-five per centum OF the total
number of votes cast at the next pre-.
cedlng general municipal election held
IN the City OF Vmita The petition also
fails 70 contain the names of twenty.
five per centum OF the qualified cleo
tors residing in the respective voting
precincts IN the City of Vinita, Okla
homa.