Arizona republican., 1913-06-28
History of the Movement

History of the Movement
 onIy days elapsc before the voters .t this school district will decide whether the first step shall taken for the establishment of civic center in Phoenix In the intensity of the discus sion ,,c may have lost sight of the beginning and progress ol the movement to the present time and which has been steadily growing stronger It may he profitable to review history
 Tn civic center has been an idea many pub ua-zprited citizens for many wears. and there has been am expectation that time the Central school block would he devoted such a purpose I.t the present concrete movement grew out of the need of the county for more room at the court house It was proposed to expend $3o,ooo making additions to the building and otherwise improving it. This matter was brought the attention of the AIaricopa County Non-Partisan Taxpayers League at tho request of AIr. orme of the board of super lizor<. and meeting of the executive commit lee of tho league. the plans of improvement were considered.
 At d later meeting of the executive committee the matter was further discussed and another meet ing Was arranged and the members of the board ot supervisors were invited to be present. Here every phase of the proposed improvement was gone over and the executive committee was convinced that the proposed expenditure would be waste If money since the improvement could be only tenn porary
 Thereupou. the civic center suggested as the best solution the problem. inasmuch t would afford permanent relief of the needs of the county and the early needs the city. well as of tho very urgent and serious needs of the school district The additional great advantage to Phoenix such q solution a further reason why such q plan should be adopted.
 The co-operation Of the city invited at luncheon given by the executive committee of the league. at which the mayor and the members of the council present. At a later meeting of the executive committee attended by representatives of the county the city. the trustees of the school dis rict tho city and county attorneys and the super ntondent of the city schools. the plan further evolved.
 So urgent had become the needs of the school district that an election had been called by the question selling the Central school block at auction. for price not less than $2ooo90 This election order the direct result offer by private citizen to buy the block. Thc the request of the others present the meeting agreed withhold the election order and another meeting was called for the evening of May There were present d this meeting representa- tiNes of the schools, the county. the city and the executive committee O the Taxpayers League. Those the meeting, well absent members of the representative bodies, resolved into com mittcc promote the sale of the Central school block the city and county. site for civic center A subcommittee of five appointed formulate definite plan. The ub-committce May I3 and a plan agreed which, three days later. announced in report by Chairman Walter Bennett.
 May report was submitted the general committee, and after changes was unanimously adopted. It was, in substance, fol- lows: That the city and county make the school district an offer of S2500OO the property. the city purchase one-half and the county one-half; that joint city county building be erected, the premises of each on it's own ground in such a obtain architectural symmetry. All these proposals conditioned upon the approval of the the school district and the county and city a the various elections.
 This plan proposed at general meeting of the city hall the night of June I, where opposing plan of leasing presented, At adjourned meeting it decided submit both the proposition to sell the property to the city and county the leasing plan the voters of the school district and the trustees requested to caH election. Such election ordered to be held June go.
 We have this movement for civic center, to show the the public charac- ter of it and the careful consideration it every step by the leading business of the city In the entire movement there has appeared the slightest trace of seIfshness; only genuine, sin ccre purpose serve the school district the city and the county