Albuquerque evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1911-1914, 1912-03-16
So CITIES MAY GET
WHAT They WANT
Charter Measure Drafted by
Albuquerque City Council
Gives Municipalities Wide
Latitude.

FfNNA"h"N NhN WNNN VIII HANt n WtNN
latitude IN their choice OF methods Of
self government ~ the legislature
passes the bin drafted for submission
10 that body hy special committee
Of the city council. This proposed
measure allows each city to adopt n
charter suited 20 ~ own needs and
attorneys and others who have exam
ined IT'S provisions ere emphatic in
their approval.
''The bill IN my opinion u n spien-
ala one" said Attorney A. Il. Me-
Millen of this city yesterday. a
commission form Of government bill,
after 4 gets through the legislature.
IL apt 20 be considerably modified
and the resulting statute might be
~ adapted 10 the needs OF this or
that community with special condi-
tl0ns 90 take into consideration. This
bill will allow each city TO adopt the
kind Of n charter its people want and
frame a system Of city government
accordingly"
The proposed act Is as follows:
An act 10 authorize fun self governs
ment IN cities having O population
Of over five thousand.
BE II enacted by the legislature OF
the state OF New Mexico;
Section I. Any city containing not
less than 5000 Inhabitants IL hereby
authorized to adopt a charter for it's
government IN the place Of all existing
provisions OF law for the government
Of cities. subject only 10 the provision
that no such charter shall authorize
the expenditure OF public funds for
other than public purposes. and said
charter shall not conflict with the
constitution Of the state.
Section 2. An election for the
adoption Of a charter under the pro-
visions of this act may be called at
any time by the chief executive officer
upon order Of the legislative author
ity OF any such city. and such election
shall be called by the chief executive
officer OF such city within ten days
after there shall have been filed with
him a petition demanding the same,
signed by number OF qualified cleo
tors residing within such city equal
TO twenty-five per centum of she total
number OF votes cast at the last pre-
ceding general municipal election, and
such election shall be held not later
than thirty days after the call there
for.
Section s. At said election a board
OF three fTeeholders who are qualified
electors of such city shall be elected,
and there shall also be submitted at
such election the question of the adj
visibility OF adopting n charter under
the terms Of this act by a separate
ballot: and II a majority OF the votes
Is for the adoption of charter, then
Il shall be the duty Of the board %
freeholders so elected, within ninety
days after such election. 20 prepare
and propose a charter for such city
which shall be signed In duplicate by
the members OF said board or a ma
iorlty thereof. and one copy thereof
shall be delivered 10 the chief execu~
tive officer OF such city. and one copy
thereof filed for safekeeping with the
county clerk of the county In which
said city IS located.
Section 4. Such proposed charter
shall thereupon be published in some
newspaper. printed and published In
such city, for al least once o week for
two consecutive weeks. together with
proclamation calling an election to
vote on the adoption or rejection
thereof; said election 20 be held not
less than fifteen nor more than
twenty days after the date Of the first
publication thereof; and ~ majority
Of the qualified electors voting there
on shall ratify the same, Il shall
thereupon become the organic law OF
said city and shall supersede all laws
for the government OF said city. ex-
cepting only the provision Of this act
that public funds shall not be ex-
pended for other than public purposes
and that said charter shall in no way
conflict with the constitution OF the
state OF New Mexico.
Section 8. A copy Of such chatter
certified By the chief executive officer
and authenticated by tie seal Of such
city, setting forth the submission OF
such charter to the electors and us
ratification by them, shall be made
IN duplicate and deposited; one In THE
office OF the secretary OF state, ana
the other after being recorded, In tho
office Of the county clerk of the coun-
~ In which said city IL located, shall
be spread az length upon the recor
Of said city and thereafter all courts
shall take judicial. notice of said
charter.
Section G. The charter so ratified
may be amended by proposals there
for submitted by the legislative au-
thorsty of the city 10 the qualified
electors thereof, OF by petition as
hereinbefore provided. at a general OF
special election. and ratified by q
majority Of the qualified electors vot'
ing thereon, In the same manner as u
hereinbefore provided for the approx
al OF the charter.