Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-07-03

lature of the state of New York to enact
| for the city of Buffalo charter in SUBJ
| stance similar 10 the charter proposed
| by the Referendum Lacquer
The vote was $500 yes, and 2.523 no;
| total, II 40. The charter as drafted con-
tanned provision that it should be sub
mitted to the electors Of the city of
Buffalo after it's enactment by the legisla-
ture. and should not go into effect unless
| majority of the voters cast their bal
lots I'm approval
This draft was submitted to the legis-
lature during the session of 1909, and a
delegation representing all branches of
industry. commerce and society, as re-
spectacle and influential a delegation as
could be selected in any city in the land.
without one professional politician in the
number, went to Albany and made an
appeal for its adoption before the COM
mittees of the two houses. But neither
one of them would even report it. The
local republican machine in Buffalo ask
ed the committees to sit on 1t and it was
sat on. No amount of persuasion was
effective enough to get the bill out of the
pigeon holes of the committee.
A the elections of 1909 an offspring
of the Referendum League, first called
the Des Moines Plan Charter Association.
and afterward the Commission Govern
ment Association, nominated candidates
for the legislature in every district who
We're in favor of the proposition. They
elected one senator. George b. Bird.
democratic lawyer of broad views and
progressive tendencies. and one assembly
man. Oliver G. Lareau, a real estate
agent. and a democrat, also of progress
sive tendencies. Both these democrats
were elected in districts which usually
cast an overwhelming republican major
ity. but there was no other issue than the
commission form of government. Ma
tional politics was not alluded to in the
campaign.
The Held Up in Legislature.
I'm the meantime we revised our char
ter, after having sent committees to Des
Moines and other places where the COM
mission plan was In operation to report
upon its defects and advantages. We
brought experienced men from several of
those cities to address public meetings in
Buffalo. and conducted a campaign of
education in every ward The result was
a revision of the charter originally sub
mitted and certain notifications to meet
the views Of several conservatives. The
revised draft was introduced In both
houses of the legislature last February,
and a series Of hearings were given by
the joint committees having jurisdiction
over such matters. A delegation of $50
Of the first citizens of Buffalo. represent
ing every class and nationality, from or
binary la borers to multi-millionaires. went
TO Albany OF Il Special tram anu present.
ed the arguments in favor Of the charter
and our reasons for asking Its adoption.
Daniel j. kennefck. formerly justice of
the supreme court, and now attorney for
the Standard Oil Company and several
railways, was heard at length In oppOsi-
ton. and submitted draft Of charter
of his own which he asked the commit
tee to adopt as substitute for ours.
Both committees reported our charter
without recommendation. and it was sent
n Democratic
which makes out the legislative program
and decides the policy of the session. It
ordered our charter reported adversely
in both houses, but made it a special or
der so that we might have a chance to
debate It.
The republican minority Is against us,
although it has taken no formal action.
Barnes. chairman of the republican state
committee. has declared against 1t. Muir
ply. the Tammany boss, has given 1t the
double cross, as the boys say. Gov. Dix
is favorable to the theory and has given
us moral encouragement. but hasn't
shown his hand. We are confident that
he would promptly approve the bill If the
legislature would pass it."
What in brief. are the features of the
Buffalo charter" l asked.
1T contains the double election plan
direct nominations at primaries and reg
ular elections" replied Mr.. Stockton
Candidates before the primaries are
nominated by petitions of at least 800
registered voters: the two candidates
receiving the highest votes at the pri-
maries are to he voted for at the gen
eral election. The executive and legis-
lative authority is intrusted to a mayor
with salary Of $1,000, and four COM
missfoners with salaries of $4,000 each.
The mayor. by the advice and consent OF
the commission? appoints all the heads
of departments; subordinate positions
are filled by competitive examinations
and promotions made on the merit sys-
TEN: no epploye to be discharged with
out cause. The mayor and commission
ers have autocratic authority in making
laws and enforcing them, but 20 per cent
OF the registered voters participating In
the election Immediately previous may
initiate a law; 20 per cent may demand
that the action of the mayor and COM
mission shall be submitted to the APP
prevail of the people, and 30 per cent
may demand recall vote on the mayor
or either of the commissioners.