El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-10-03
PHOENIX TALKING
OF A COMMISSION
WIN Hold an Election to Adopt a New
Method of GOvernment-New Char-
ter Has Been Drawn.

ter Has Been Drawn.
Phoenix Ariz., Oct 3.-Within a few
days. on November g. TO be exact, the
people Of Phoenix will vote to deter
min whether or not new charter pro-
viding for a commission form Of gov
the present cumbersome and some say
wasteful form of government by ward
representation shall be retained
The advocates of the new charter and
the commission believe the change will
be sanctioned by the people
At present the city is divided into
four wards. each of which is repre-
scented in the city council by one alder
man In addition to the members OF
the council there are elected by the
people a mayor. city treasurer, city
tion to these. there are a number of
appointive officers. At the present the
mayor and aldermen serve without pay
but that is not deemed as economical
as il looks upon its face
The commission form Of government
| is not altogether a new idea in Ari-
IONA, though it has never been tried
out in practice as yet The new con-
stitution provides for it for cities of
the first and second classes If the cities
see fit TO try out the theory.
In accordance with that provision in
! the constitution the people Of Phoenix
held an election on June last and Sc
lected G. F AinSWorth, ]. L 3. Alex
ander, ]. F. Cleaveland, L W. Coggins.
l.
Godfrey, jr.. John L Irwin, J. J. koi-
berg W B. Lount. A L Moore, John G.
O'Maley. c. NJ Sturges and Frank p
Trott. as a board to prepare and pro-
pose a charter That charter has been
prepared, the people are now studying
it and will soon vote to accept or re-
ject it
of a mayor, whose salary is fixed al
$500 a year. and two commissioners al
salaries of $4,000 per year each ana 81
least one city magistrate regarding the
salary Of whom the charter is silent.
The initiative, referendum and the
recall are made prominent features OF
the new charter and, while the com
powers it is believed that the initia-
tive referendum and recall will be
check sufficient to prevent any ex-
cesses
For the purpose Of simplifying and
conveniently conducting the govern
ment Of the city. the business affairs
Of the city would be divided into three
A division of public safety; a division
OF public finance, and division OF pup
lie works. all of which shall be under
the supervision and control OF the com
The mayor shall have charge Of the
division of public safety and he shall
designate the commissioner to have
charge of the division of public finance
and the commissioner to have charge
of the division of public works.
In the division of public safety shall
be included the police department the
fire department and the health depart
rnent, together with the equipment ap-
paratus and paraphernalia pertaining
to each Of said departments and neees-
sary to operate the same
In the division of public finance shall
be included the tax department, the IL
cenSe department. the accounts depart
ment and libraries, together with the
equipment, apparatus and parapherna-
il SAID
ments and necessary to operate the
same.
In the division of public works shall
be included the street department, the
water department including the citys
irrigation system. the sewer depart
ment. the building department public
buildings and parks, together with the
equipment, apparatus and parapherna-
liza pertaining to each OF SAID Depart
ments and necessary to operate the
The chief officials of the city shall
be a city clerk, city assessor. clty
treasurer. city collector, city attorney
city engineer, chief Of police, fire cnieI,
street superintendent, and such other
heads of departments as may hereafter
be created or designated by the com
mission
pointment of a civic art commission,
park commission and q public play
ground commission. the commissioners
of each TO serve without pay ana also
provides for the acquisition by the city
of any or all public utilities where the
people deem it for the best interests OF
the city to do so. An annual audit OF
the city's books IS also proNloeo IoC
and the commissioners are enJoined 10
establish a system OF bookkeeping so
thorough and so simple that state
ment of the city's financial condition
know in the shortest possible time
after the inquiry is made.