Amarillo daily news. [volume] (Amarillo, Tex.) 19??-current, 1912-12-14
LITTLE HEADWAY
ON CITY CHARTER
MANY VIEWS DISCUSSED AT
CITIZENS MASS MEET.
ING LAST NIGHT.
SOME OPPOSE RECALL
PEOPLE AROUSED OVER NECEs-
SlTY OF NEW CHARTER DE-
TERMINED TO HAVE BEST
THAT CAN BE DEVISED.

Discussed from every angle and
with considerable earnestness the
proposed new charter for the city
was given consideration by the citiz-
enship at a mass meeting in the
county court room last night.
Aside from the bringing out OF d.
vergent views on various phases Of
the matter, little OF tangible worth
resulted from the meeting.
A motion was offered which pro-
vided that the Chamber OF Com
merce, Business Mems Association
and the city labor unions should
name a representative TO aid the cily
council in shaping the proposed
charter This was presented by
Judge Mark Logan, who spoke brief
iy and teresely In support Of his sug-
gestlon.
Considerable discussion followed.
The motion was finally put before
the meeting and was lost.
The question OF adoption OF the
commission form was brought up
again, and an avalanche OF conflict
ing opinion was precipitated.
Motion was offered by Judge c. A.
Wright that a charter be adopted.
providing for the commission form
on the expiration OF the terms OF
several OF the city councilmen In
April, 1914.
A substitute motion by J. NJ. Jones
to allow the people to express choice
between the aldermanic form and
the commission form by ballot, wat
put to vote. twenty standing for eth
er side. The substitute motion was
declared lost. Judge Wright's mo-
ton lacked a second, and a motion
for adoption ~ the commission spss.
in the charter which II Is proposed
to shape at an early date was Offer
ed by w. s. Roberts. Earnest dis
cussion resulted. AMI final motion
by Dr. NJ. w. Cunningham that the
motion be tabled until q later meet
ing was carried.
The argument from the varying
viewpoints was highly interesting
and vigorously waged. City Attorney
Miller made an earnest protest
against hasty action which would
entail heavier expense on the city,
calling attention TO the present drain
on the treasury. and expressing be-
lief that the commission form would
be too expensive an undertaking at
the present time.
Mayor Gee. upon whom the bur
den OF shaping the charter may fall,
made his own attitude in the matter
clear He expressed desire that the
citizenship give full expression OF
their wishes In the matter. He stated
that the task OF shaping the charter
might be assigned TO some one else,
and that he ip no sense sought the
responsibility. He strted that II was
his desire. as II was that OF the
councilmen. TO reflect the will OF the
people in the document. and would
welcome. II deemed desirable. any
committee which might be named tJ
aid them in the work.
The situation al conclusion OF the
meeting Tuesday night. The burden
OF delivery rests upon the council.
fpu tn1 20
Mayor Gee shape the charter.
The question OF the commission
form threatens 10 become the bone
OF contention. Many favored the
progressive plan OF city government.
but some would not vote for II until
they saw a real charter with the fea-
lures incorporated therein. Others
wanted the recall. and some didn'..
w. s. Roberts and John s. Har-
per. a member OF the council. voiced
the true city-building spirity near the
close OF the discussion. Both stated
that II would be necessary for those
with conflicting Ideas 10 get to-
rether, make mutual compromises.
and arrive at an agreement on the
best charter which II might be pos
sible 10 shape under existing condi-
tions.
Ont of all this discussion II is be-
lieved that something tangible and
worth while will result. No state
ment 10 that effect was made lass
nirht. but II is probable that an
other meeting will be called soon
for further consideration The peo-
pie are aroused 10 the importance OF
new charter and seem determined
10 have tho best that nay be desvls-
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