Semi-weekly herald., 1912-07-04
IMPORTANT
PROVISIONS
In Charter Adopted by
Delegates to be Voted
on in 50 Days

e synopsis of the charter adopted by
tie char er delegates in convention
There We're but three dissenting
vote. rhe only objection made /,
the charter by the three dissenting
members was because of the fact thai
the executive and legislative func.
tions We're not separated
The charter reads The elective of.
ficers of the city shall be three com.
missioners, who shall be elected at
large by the qualified electors; one
such commissioner shall be elected
..pcommissioner Of public affairs, one
as commissioner of records and seal
and one as commissioner of water and
sewers"
The charter provides that of the
commissioners first elected under the
charter the term of the commission
er of public affairs shall be for two
years; the commissioner of records
for four years and the commissioner
of water and sewers shall be for six
years.
1t further provides that the commits
sioners shall devote all their time dur
ing business hours to the city and
shall not hold any other public office,
except notary public.
In order to be qualified to hold the
office of commissioner one must
have been a citizen of Durango for
five years and must have paid city
taxes for two years.
The commissioner of public affairs
shall be ex officio mayor who shall
have the right to vote but no power
of veto. He shall be the head of the
police and fire department and shall
have supervision of the streets ant
public improvements.
The commissioner of public records
kll be ex officio city clerk and the
Purchasing agent for the city, and its
public magistrate.
The commissioner of water and
sewers shall have charge of the water
and sewer systems of the city and
shall take direct control of the same.
The mayor shall receive a salary of
$500 a year. The other two COM
missioners shall receive 81 800 a year
each. The salaries of all other en-
ployes of the city shall be provided
by ordinance.
A city treasurer, city attorney and
city engineer shall be appointed by
the council.
A municipal election shall be held
in the city on the first Tuesday r
April of every second year therea1-
ter.
The three commissioners shall COM
pose the city council.
1t is provided that nominations shall
be made only by petition and that
the name of candidate shall be
printed on the ballot when he has
secured not less than 25 petitioners.
In the primary elections if any one
candidate has received a majority
of all votes he shall be declared ell
ected Should no one receive a ma
jority at the first or primary election
then the two receiving the highest
number of votes shall be voted for
at second election.
No candidate is permitted to use
or allow to be USED more than one
vehicle on election day for getting out
the voters.
A PROVISION is made for the recall of
any officer by vote if he does not
resign within five days Of the filing
of proper petition for his recall, but
no recall petition shall be filed against
any officer until he has held mis- office
for at least six months.
Eight hours shall constitute days
work for the city and the minimum
wage rate shall be $3.50 for all day
laborers, unless otherwise provided
by council.
The above are some of the more
imortant provisions contained in the
charter adopted by the convention The
provisions of the charter are embraced
in 81 typewriter pages and certain
ly cover about everything to be con-
sidered in connection with the gov
ernment of city.
We have gone over the charter and
believe as whole it to be the very
best offered to the people of any city
for adoption. We notice that the OBJ
jectionable features of the charters
adopted by other cities have been left
out.
In few details we might not bs
able to agree with the delegates, but
those details are of minor Importance
and should not be considered by any
one.
The delegates have given to the
people of Durango a charter stronger
than they had expected and those whc
have been in favor of strictly com
mission form have just what the,
want and there is no question abou
Continued on Page Four.