Semi-weekly herald., 1911-11-23


"William Dagenhardt.
"P. ]. O'Donnell.
"F. A. Harmon.
Isaac Cherry.
"P. J. Airy.
John P. Bloom
"V. ]. Bloom.
81. W. Lackey."
Alderman Hanno and Messrs. Da-
genhardt, Graham and Reese (the lat
ter on request) spoke in favor of
granting the prayer of the petition
and Alderman Wingate and Mr..
iiaughey against so doing. Both the
Democrat and The Herald came in
for a roast" from Alderman Hanno
and Attorney Reese. The former ac-
cuscd them of supporting the pro-
posed government for pot-boiler rea-
sons-the printing its Inauguration
would require. He gave as his rea-
sons for his stand as being a de-
sire to exercise strict economy in
transacting city affairs under present
financial conditions. The elections
Lecessary to establish the commission
system, he argued, would greatly in
crease the tax levy. To substantiate
the statement he submitted state
ments OF probable cost of elections,
etc- HIS figures were apparently too
high, as on the other hand Alderman
Wingate's were an underestimate. AS
lar as violating or breaking party
pledges the alderman stated: II
promised to vacate my office as soon
as the ptfcers mder the commission,
government were elected-and | will.
My oath Of .ffice binds me to vote
Tor the best interests of the people.
IN deciding this | will use by own
good Judgme..e, not the dictates of
either people or papers as my guide"
f. X. Graham, William Dagenhardt
and W. A. Reese advised the call for
the charter convention be deferred.
The merit or Lack of merit of the
commission government was elimi- !
mated from their argument, the pres
ent financial depression being given
as their principal reason. The fact
1t would, of necessity, place the city
on warrant basis was the serious
objection Mr.. Graham had to offer.
MIR. Reese said he hesitated to address
the council regarding the matter be-
cause every man who disagreed with |
the papers, in this, placed himself as
target for their abuse. However,
he had occupied that position for
twenty years and fairly prospered, so
he believed he could stand it for twen- |
ty years more. BE went into the pos
sibie legal complications involved and
pointed out how some of the econo-
mics proposed by Alderman Wingate
would prove expensive
In behalf of commission govern
ment Alderman Wingate offered the
following preamble and resolution and
moved its adoption, to-wit:
"Mr. Mayor:
Whereas, petition has been pre-
scented to this council, the purpose of
which is to cause the will of the peo-
pie, expressed at the last municipal
election, to be disregarded, and the
establishment of the commission form |
OF government in the city of Durango
delayed or prevented; and,
Whereas, it is the duty of the |
members of this council to heed and
execute the will of the people when
expressed by majority vote; and,
Whereas, the number of names at
tached to said petition is but a very
small fraction of the 1,1O1 votes cast
at the said municipal election, when
1877 majority was recorded in favor
OF the commission form of govern
ment; and,
Whereas, the taxable valuation of
represented by said petition
ers represents but a comparatively
small minority of the S1,912,97O as
sessed valuation of the city of Du-
range; and,
Whereas, the majority of the men,
bers of this council we're elected upon
platform endorsing the commission
form OF government, and to which
platform they owe their election; and,
Whereas, the said members of the
council pledged themselves to stand
to and abide by the provisions of said
platform, endorsing the commission
form of government; therefore, be it
Resolved, that the said petition be
laid on the table. Signed,
JOHN W. WINGATE.
"Nov. 21, 1911"
The roll call resulted as follows:
Aldermen Jarvis, Hanno, Owen and
ODriscoll voting nay, and Aldermen