The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1911-02-24
PRINCIPAL SECTIONS IN
SHAPE FOR CONSIDERATION
City GoVeTansnt Divided Into
Three Departments, IN DlStTi-
button Of Authority

Drafts Of charter provisions desig-
mating the duties Of three city com
missimers ana providing for recall in
event of default are now Officially
before the board OF freehoders The
charter draft is not yet complete but
the principal sections are in shape
fos consideration. Their essential
features are here presented to the
public for the first time
There are to be three commission
ers, one to be paid $lS00 q year ana
two to be paid 81 800 year each.
The FIRST commissioner is to be mayor
and the term Of the first mayor is to
terminate on the second Monday in
April, 1917. One commissioner is to
serve until April, 1915 and one until
April 1913 The TWO commissioners
are to draw or otherwise settle on the
ength of their terms. Each two
years thereafter a commissioner shall
be elected for full term of six
years.
Has Recall Provision,
The recall provision prescribes that
the holder Of any elective office may
be removed at any time by the voters
qualified TO vote for a guccessor to
such official A petition TO be eff
fectiYe must contain sgners to at
least 50 per cent OF the number OF
qualified voters. The petition is 10
be filed with the city clerk, with a
general statement of the grounds and
charges on which removal is sought.
The clerk must verify the names
within ten days If insufficient, the
petition may be amended within ten
days from the time of report A sec
ond finding of insufficiency will not
prejudice further petitions to the
same effect ii the petition is found
sufficient the same shall be submit
ed to the commissioners who are to
order an election for a successor with
in forty days from The time Of report.
Any person sought to be removed
may be a candidate to succeed him
self and he viii be on the ballot un-
less he makes contrary request The
person sought to be removed will be
deemed acceptable if he receives a
majority: il not he is removed with
out further proceedings.
Recall proceedings are not to DO
filed against any officer until he
shall have served at least six months.
Island Park Annexed.
Boundaries Of the city are defined
in the draft. island Park is an
nexed for corporate purposes The
uame has been changed by the city
council to Mineral Wells park
The draft also takes up the matter
Of taxation, elections ard police pow
er.
The commissioners are required by
ordinance to set apart parks for
white people ana for negroes, eacn
park so designated to be maintained
for the uses of the respective races
designated
Payment of interest on deposits is
/ to be required The city treasurer
is TO exact not less than two per cent
on average daily or monthly balances
Distribution of Authority.
Ihe distribution of authority has
evidently received close attention
from the iheeholders. There are
three departments, as follows:
Department of public affairs, ac
counts and finances.
Department of public safety.
Department Of public utilities.
The division of work is in effect
as follows.
The mayor shall be president OF
the board OF commissioners, and shall
vote on all matters; he shall be the
chief executive. signing bonds, com
missions, documents, ordinances ant
appointments and city warrants pass
ed by the board He nall be super
intendent OF the department of pub
lie affairs and Judge of the police
court-haying tn police Judge pow
ers prescribed by the state. excep
as modified by the charter He shal
have under special charge the financ
es and accounts OF the city, and al
affairs not assigned to other commits
sioners. He shaA have charge of tni
/ enforcement OF tax and revenue law
and is specially directed to leeI
watch on all branches oil city finance
The mayor is TO appoint these Of
/ ficers City attorney city clerk, cit,
treasurer, city assessor and such Ott
ers as the board may designate.
Department of Public Safety.
One commissioner is to be desig
nataa as superintendent ol the depal
ment OF public safety and. as such
shall be chief of police of the city
and general supervisor OF matter
pertaining to electric and gas light
and power, streets and alleys an