Arizona republican., 1912-04-10
Long Forward Step Taken In Acquiring Magnificent Building to House Muni- cipal and County Of ficers.
ENABLING ACT
 ORDERED DRAWN
Council and Supervisors Hold Enthusiastic Meet ing to Discuss Centraliza- tion Plan.

At meeting of the city council and the county board of supervisors held late yesterday afternoon it was unan- imously ordered that the county and city attorneys prepare a bill for pre- sentation to the legislature authoriZ- ing the county of Maricopa and the city of Phoenix to sell the sites at present occupied by court house and city hall, and join forces for the pur- pose of building combination city hall and court house, subject to ref erendum to the people.
 "The most important progressive step taken in this community in many years was the verdict of a member of the city council following the meet ing.
 Every member of each of the city and county governing bodies were present when the mayor rapped for order, and turned the chair over to Chairman Mouer. of the board of su- pervisors.
 City Attorney Prescott outlined the proposition to sell the two sites and combine for the erection of a magnifi- cent building. which will meet the re- quirements of city and county for many years to come. He pointed to the fact that centraliZation was the watchword throughout the country and that many places were taking the same step.
 ua in, dicprISSiun the matter with large property owners and with citizens generally he had found almost no opposition to the plan. while on the contrary it had been accepted with enthusiasm on every side.
 The speaker pointed to the fact that the court house is wholly inadequate for the demands upon it and that the city hall is utterly unfitted for the use to which it is put: that both buildings are old and decrepit. and that the city and county should do their share in achieving the destiny which is ours. "Co-operate,' he urged, with the board of trade and with the business men and the people of the valley who are working olrly and late to make this a great city, and a re- sourceful county"
 MT Prescott estimated that the two properties will bring s7O0,0o0- That q desirable site may be secured for $150,000 and a building which will long be credit to the city and county and exceed in beauty and utility any simi- lar structure in the west can be erect ed for s350,000. thus leaving large sum which may be applied in devel- oping public parks in convenient lOca- tions, at the same time giving the the city and county the benefit of the improvement without cost to the tax payer.
 Mayor Christy spoke briefly ex- pressing his entire sympathy with the movement which he believes for the best interests of the city. The mayor said that he had found but one man who objected to the plan and that on the ground that it would take a couple of parks from the center of town. The city attorney refused to dignify the green spots a few feet square by the names of park" and Councilman Me Elroy called attention to the plan mentioned by Prescott for the making of some real parks with the surplus funds.
 Councilmen Warren and Cisney re- cognize the merit of the proposition and would put the entire question up to the people. McElroy spoke at con siderable length in favor of the sale.
 Supervisors Mouer and Luke placed themselves definitely on record as fl- voring the sale and combination. Su- pervisor Lin Orme said that he rather favored bond issue and keeping he places: but later Orme seconded the motion instructing the preparation of the enabling act
 Three citizens were heard. Dr. R. F. Lightburne endorsed the project without reservation. w H. Ream did not want to move the city" to an outlying precinct He favors the ac- quiring of the Central school site for the new building.
 W. B. Lount opposed the whole bus mess. MT. Lount has interests in the eastern end of the city and he thinks the people would miss the city hall plaza like everything. Neither could he see what truck the city had with the county. couldn't understand why the city hall was not good enough" said it looked to him as though the press had been inspired" and wound up by demanding to know what the the sweat is all about anyhow?"
 Following the discussion Mayor Christy suggested that the people be given a chance to express themselves upon the project This was amended
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