The daily sentinel., 1914-06-10
ORDINANCE IS
DELAYEDWEEK
BY CITY DADS
VOrbeCk and Rankin For M. 0.
Measure; Opposed by Other
Three GOunCiImen.
TINE first skirmish for the pas
sage OF the municipal ownership


sage OF the municipal ownership
ordinance at the city council
rooms yesterday afternoon resulted
in a deIeat for the advocates OF the
measure. The meeting was featured
by a characteristic attack by James
Winch Bucklin on his political enc
mics and particularly the local news
papers.
Commissioners Vorbeck and Ran
kin expressed themselves as favor
able and the other three unfavorable
to the ordinance. Mr.. Bueklin, who
ii will be remembered, was taking
no active interest in the movement,
made a Commute speech in his hap
piest mood He scolded the mayor
and Commissioners Holmburg and
Carson for saying that they were for
municipal ownership and opposing
this particular measure. He paid his
respects to The Sentinel and made a
few characteristic mis-statements in
respect to the attitude of this paper
| in the last campaign.
! MIR. Bucklin seemingly covered all
I phases of the question in his address.
/ II there were any points upon which
he did not inform the commissioners
! IL was an oversight; he began by ad-
D
who could speak with authority. He
probably intended to give short
course in public ownership and he
made fair start.
Sr, Norbeck opened The discussion
by stating that he proposed to vote
/ for the ordinance because 1t would
avoid an election, because It was. in
his opinion the duty OF the council
I to give an Intelligent expression on
such measures and lastly because he
thought the people of the city would
! be greatly influenced by the action
OF the commissioners. He expressed
his objection to the first section of
the ordinance which settles plan or
policy on the city
Mr.. Rankin was equally favorable.
stating that as he was an advocate of
municipal ownership he intended to
support the ordinance.
Too Important a Step.
Mayor Cherrington took the
ground that the step was too impor-
tant for the commissioners to take
on their own responsibility. and be-
cause of this fact he would not vote
for the ordinance. preferring to give
the people an opportunity to express
themselves on the subject. He, with
b. to the principles of public owner
ship and stated that he would vote
for 1t.
This proposition of settling a
rolicy on the city is beyond our
powers" said Commissioner Carson.
and in view of the peoples previous
expression on the subject. cannot
vote for the ordinance. 1t is for the
people. not |. to say
NJ. Rankin added to his previous
statement that his general observa-
tion led him to believe that the peo-
ple would reverse their vote on the
question, and in view of this opinion
of tho peoples desire and his own
toward the subject, he would
vote for the ordinance.
Criticizes Ordinance.
Commissioner Holmburg took oc-
casion to criticize the ordinance in
its present form in no uncertain
terms. He declared that it had been
drawn: that a preliminary
should be made first.
and then the program OF municipal
ownership outlined II that investiga-
tion led the people to believe that
there was any improvement to be ex-
pected from a city-owned plant. The
council, he declared. should have
been consulted and measure drawn
which would not have invited antag-
onism.
81 regret" said Mr.. Holmburg.
that cannot support the ordinance
in its present form"
Mr.. Holmburg expressed the opin-
ion that the ordinance should be
and resolution introduce
ed which would call for only the
Investigation. and he believed that
this would unanimously pass the
council
Mr.. Holmburg. later on. declared
that he was not on the council to
vote his own sentiments on these
matters II am a representative of
The people. and | hope to be re-
sponsiye to their wishes. For myself
am ready to vote this minute or
any other time in favor OF municipal
Continued on Page 81