The Delta independent., 1912-06-07
CITY GOVERNMENT.
Special Charter Versus Statutory
Charter.

depends upon the size of the city
particular city. However, l do not
consider it advisable for the city
of Delta to adopt a special charter.
In cities the size of Delta, the
expense will be much greater. Out
side of the expense of $1,500 to
$4,000 necessarily incurred in
changing from our Irese mt form of
government to a special charter, what
viii we accomplish? l have thor
oughly examined the special char
ters of Grad Junction and Colo
fado Springs, and | find nothing in
these charters different in form and
practice than what can be had un-
der our statute except the recall of
elective Offices S and the mayor may
he Judge of pCl.ce court. These eX-
ccptons | do not consider of suffi-
citat Importance to justify the ex-
pense of changing to special
charter ahd a more expensive form
If government. A special charter
is supposed to grant to the voters
more power. This can hardly be
said III view of the fact that under
the authority granted by a recent
to the constitution of
this state, the city council some
zen mCnths ago adopted an ordin-
ance whereby the Palliative and
Referendum of all ordinances may
be had in this city. Any ordin-
lnce may ioe referred on petition of
ten per cent of the voters, or the
people may flitiate an ordinance on
petition of fifteen per cent of the
voters.
We are badly in need of a more
economical administi alton of affairs
of the city. No one appreciates this
fact more than the members of the
city council. A special charter will
not accomplish this object nor rem
edy the needs unless followed by
ordinances sufficiently definite to
accomplish the aim.
vi ~ Il AilOhNll NOu CA
pect your mayor to devote all his
time to city affairs, and yet we need
his eltire time and should pay him
81, 500 or $4,000. Neither can the
alderman devote all their time for
S4 a month each.
This change can be made without
a special charter or an expense to
exceed 500. Let the citizens get
together and draft an ordinance
which will meet this requirement
and all other features found in
a special charter. except as to recall
and mayor for police magistrate.
which are beyond our power, and
submit this draft to the city coulcil.
and | feel sure that such ordinance
prepared by the business men will
be passed by the council without
question. The city council is olly
900 anxious to do all in its power
for the betterment of affairs.
For the last three years | have
been studying special charters and
comparing them to the needs of the
city of Delta. A year ago last
spring | prepared an ordinance on
the above plsn, except not as ccm-
plete as it should have been, and
submitted 1t to the coUdcil 1t met
with an adverse vote. | never asked
why. / never will be satisfied
with the affairs of the city until
there is a change from the practice
standing for thirty years so that
the officers will have full and com
plete mastery of the citys finances.
If the people want to elect the man,
it can be done by ordinance. If the
people want the council to appoint
the man, that can be done by or
dinance.
We have a graver proposition
facing us than a special charter,
and that is the water question. We
must, in the near future, If not this
year, lay 12-inch pipe from one
end of our pressure line to the other
and in addition thereto, lay a pipe
to Dirty George creek from the end
of our pipe line. and before our
water system. will be efficient and
we must, in addition to
the above improvements. install me-
ters in the city. Owing to the rap
i'd growth of our city these improve
ments are necessary and every citi-
zen should help solve this problem.
believe our people are willing and
anxious to pay for these improve
ments when they are shown the
necessity and are assured that our
water system is complete. and the