Semi-weekly herald., 1912-07-01
SYNOPSIS
OF THFNFW
CHARTER
Contains Provisions fOr
Three Departments
Politics Eliminated

Last night the delegates of the char
ter convention We're in session anl
the special committee appointed to
prepare form Of cnarter to b. sub
mitted t. the convention, made its re-
port. 1t will now be the duty of the
convention TO go over the plan sub
mitted and approve or reject each
particular sec ton. From all the in
formation we can get we are convinced
that the deIegates are working IN
dustriously and conscientiously for a
commission iofm of government for
Durango and we have faith i'll them
To secure good charter.
TIE following is synopsis Of the
proposed cha rter:
The charter provides for purely To-
cal government, with all the pow
ers, privileges and functions which are
granted by the constitution or laws
of the state to any city of its class,
The powers of the city are vested
in three commissioners, elected at
large, for terms of six years Except
as to first electionj, and subject to
recall.
The legislative powers of the ri!y
are vested in the council, composed of
the three elective commissioners, eN-
cept as reserved to the people by the
initiative and referendum.
The executive and administrative
powers, authorities and duties are dis
tributed among three departments,
viz:
Depark of public affairs.
De- of records and seal.
,eaN 'ith-ater and sewers.
ne co''iiiiSsrD y anamaketo be elected
~, De aor sach depyithnent; the com
anssioner of public affairs being eX-
officio mayor.
Partisan and machine interference
and control has been inhibited, and by
the adoption of the best features of
the Des Moines system of nomination
and election. provision has been made
for an accurate expression of the pub
lie will at tht polls.
The valuable features of the laws
of the State have been preserved and
new methods or measures which have
been introduced have been adopted, as
far as possible, from what was deem
ed the best provisions of other char
ters, which have already been test
ed with apparently satisfactory re
suits.
The rights of the city, in the matter
of franchises, are carefully guarded
in the provisions requiring all new
franchises, as well as all extensions or
enlargements of those already exist
ing to be submitted to the people, with
the fullest opportunity of knowledge
as to the exact terms proposed; and
permitting the purchase of public util-
tiles by the city, on terms which must
be set forth in the franchise, and must
be approved by the people before the
grant is made.
Mere legislation has been avoided
as far as possible, and under proper
safeguards, provision is made for
such elasticity and freedom of action
by the council (subject to the i.rec'
control of the people by the initiative
referendum and recalD as wi, enablt
to adjust the city and its governmeni
to the new system, with the least pos
- la, &c f,.intinf "a
results.
Power is given the council by un
animous vote to redistribute the mi
nor powers, functions and duties
among the commissioners, if the dis
tribution made by the charter il
found in practice to be onerous or un
desirable.
Under the constitutional and stat
utory provisions, amendment of th'
charter is very easy, and can be mad
at any time, if, in practice it is foun'
such amendment is desirable.
The contents of the charter are ar
ranged as follows:
Article l: Name, boundaries, pow
ers and liabilities;
Article 2: Elective officers;
Article3: The council;
Article A: Executive and admins
trative departments;
Article 5: Officers, employees an
salaries;
Article 6: Elections;
Article 7: Recall of elective Off
Gers;
Article 8: The initiative;
Article 8: The referendum;
Article 10: Franchises;
Article IL: General and miscellar
eous provisions.
Baltimore has sold Pitcher Bo
Grant tn the Allentown Tri- Stat