Semi-weekly herald., 1911-06-29

/ --~N ~ ." sStsNS VI sfNNNhNog cOfitt iaii
minded, some heated, and some un
pleasantly personal. Alderman Han
no, who seemed to be the Gibraltar
for those not desiring to pass the or
dinance at the present time, gave n!
his reason that the condition of tn,
+ city finances did not warrant the nc
ton on the part Of the council. He
argued with only $4,000 in the emer-
goncy fund and the $1,000 supplies
needed for the fire department that
he opposed the city's mourning the
additional expense of the elections
necessary to inaugurate the charter
government before the levy is made in
November. He suggested that the
people who are SO anxious to have the
ordinance passed raise by subscription
the necessary money to defray the ex-
penses of the election. Risk their own
and not the city's money. Alderman
Wingate asked if the council We're
masters or servants of the people. The
people had by their vote said the elec-
ton should be held and a majority of
the board were violating the platform
pledges on which they were elected If
they failed to vote for the adoption Of
the ordinance. He sisted it was the
voice OF the people and should be
obeyed Those who accepted nomi-
nation ON the platform promised to
carry out the wishes of the people
and at that time offered no apology
for so doing. Immediately upon cleo
tion, they threw up their hands in holy
horror at the suggestion Of taking
steps toward forming charter gov
eminent because the expense of the
convention would be so great. When
siNty-five men offered their services
free of charge then they fell back
upon the lack of funds. Just another
excuse, he said, to avoid keeping their
pledges. He heaped no end of vim
dictive terms upon the heads of these
people.
Attorney Main said he was sur
prised that any member of the coun-
eli should violate the statutes of Colo
RADIO as they plainly say that when the
people declared by their votes they
wish a special election held the coun-
Gil shall pass such ordinance calling
for the election He stated it was a
question of "Will you obey the law,
or will you not, or will it be necessary
to mandamus you to compel you TO
obey the law The question of CON
sideration of finances was the only
reason given by the members of the
council who were in favor of action
deferred on the ordinance until the
November levy is made A member
OF the committee from the Board Of
Trade stated that it was being said
about town the reason for the delay
was because the opposing members
had their finger in the political pie
and desired TO keep it in. A member
of the council informed the gentleman
it was also being said that those
most urgent in pushing the commits
sion form of government did so be-
cause they hoped to have theirs in
when the city has the new govern
ment.
Mayor Hood called attention to the
fact that he had gone on record in
the beginning Of his administration
regarding commission government and
he still held to his position but he
did object to the reflection that mem
bers of the council were not acting
in good faith in the matter. City At
torney Moody was requested to advise
the council regarding the legal ne
ccssity of passing the ordinance. He
stated "the constitutional amendment
provides that the city council shall
pass the ordinance calling the char
ter convention. There is no discre-
ton left to the council in the matter.
As to the time when the ordinance
should be passed by the council, the
constitution makes no provision and
would probably require the passage of
such ordinance within reasonable
time"