Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-06-22
Council Must Submit Proposition
to Referendum Vote of People
Between Sept. and Dec.
COMMISSION is SUGGESTED
Proposition to Limit Powers of the
Bond Trustees Cause Of Pres
ent Political Warfare.

JACKSONVILLE, June 21.-With
the new administration in, city poll
tics is seething. The first big fight
will be on changing the city charter.
The last Legislature passed a law
which makes it obligatory upon the
Council to submit to the people the
draft of a new charter not sooner
than three months or later than six
months after taking office. This
means that the people will vote upon
this measure between September 20
and December 20.
The new Mayor and Councilmen
were elected upon a platform which
called for either the abolition of the
Board of Bond Trustees or the cur
tailment of their powers. In an
election held a year ago the people
took a straw vote upon the question
of a new charter and out of the 5000
voting, some 95 per cent were for a
change. This fact was the ground
given in the debate in the Legislature
for a change of charter.
Charter Bill Killed.
Representative St. Elmo Acosta in
troduced a bill in the Legislature
which provided for a new charter.
This measure provided that the
Bond Trustees should have no pow
ers save those of caring for the bonds
of the city, that shade trees be
planted along all streets, that public
comfort stations be placed at all the
street crossings in the business dis
trict, that all of the vehicles belong
ing to the city be painted red, that
band concerts be given in all the
parks and many other similar pro-
visions. The Legislature killed this
charter bill in the Senate
Following the introduction Of this
measure other members of the Duval
County delegation each introduced
be introduced was made a law. 1t
simply provides that the people must
be given a chance to vote upon a
new charter.
Trustees Power Cut.
The question now is, What kind of
q charter will be submitted? The
new Council will draw up the meas
ure and it is understood upon good
authority that the measure will have
the effect of taking the governing
powers from the Bond Trustees pro-
viding that they shall be elected by
the people and restoring all of the
powers of government TO the Mayor
and Council.
This will be the nature of the
Councils plan; but the draft Of an
other charter IS being prepared by
those interested in public affairs who
want to see a commission form of
government put in force. Several of
the Councilmen have already prom
ised to submit both measures to the
people. If this is done it is believed
that the commission government will
win out. The Board of Trade, an or
ganization of 1000 members, is in
favor of the latter plan and win take
an active part in the campaign as
soon as it is started.
The new Mayor, Van c. Swearin-
gen, has not announced which form
Of government he will favor, but his
friends declare he will take the stump
for the measure to be submitted by
the Council.
The whole fight has been made up
on the Bond Trustees. This city
owns its own water works and cleo
trio lighting plant The yearly net
revenues from the latter plant amount
to more than 100000. When the
Bond Trustees announced that this
big profit was being made every year
a fight was started to get lower rates
for the benefit of the consumers, The
result is that the City Council will
submit one or more charter bills ia
the people before the first of next
wear