Denver labor bulletin., 1915-08-14
MAYOR PLAN AGAIN
BEING ADVOCATED
Commi sSion Form May End
Thru Special Election
Trades Assembly Debates Question at
Sundays Meeting, But Postpones
Action Pending Further Investigation

- Dissatisfaction with the commission
Norm of government, inaugurated, by
large majority vote of Denver citizens
less than three years ago, is being man
ifested in many quarters. Perhaps the
Officers elected to fill the five COM
missionerships, thru playing petty poll
tics and neglecting their pledges is the
real fault. Any way the people of Den
Yer, like their temperamental and mer-
curial brothers and sisters of the South
American republics, are getting results
and another charter election and recall
OF all five commissioners in November
Is imminent.
November is set as the date, because
Commissioners Greenlee and Sharpley,
who took office in June will not have
served six months and thereby be sub
ject to recall under present charter pro-
vision, until some time that month.
No petitions are yet in circulation,
but il is understood that proposed char
ter amendments are now being prepared.
At least four large organizations have
appointed committees to consider what
charter changes are needed and to draw
proposed amendments.
Propositions Being Considered
The following are among the PROPOSE
tions now being considered with n view
of submission to the voters in Novem-
ber:
Recall of the five city commissioners
A charter amendment abolishing com
mission government and providing for a
modified manager form of government.
A call for charter convention to
bring about a complete reframing of
the city charter and the adoption OF
such amendments as appear to b. most
needed
Dissatisfaction with commission gov
eminent appears to have grown more
rapidly in the past two months than at
any time since 1t was inaugurated in
Denver IN 1913. While there is much
difference OF opinion among the vari-
Gus organizations interested a. TO what
charter changes should be made. all are
agreed that commission government has
been a failure in Denver and that IL Is
useless TO experiment with il longer.
Oppose Blue Law Enforcement.
The patriotic societies have been giving
the subject Of charter amendment much
consideration for a month and are about
ready to take definite action. Most of
them at this time appear to favor a
charter amendment rather than char
ter convention.
One organization fsyoring n charter
amendment providing for return to
the mayor form of government is said
10 have raised already sufficient money
TO pay all expenses of submitting the
amendment 70 the voters.
The crusade of Safer Nisbct and Chief
of Police Dufficld to place Denver in
~the front rank Of reform cities thru en-
Y forcement OF all the dust covered blue
laws" has added TO the demand for a
change Then the continued fight be-
H.. nd sha Inat
troll OF the City hall crowd Is another
ly in the ointment that is sought TO be
removed II seems impossible TO elect
commissioners with sufficient spine to
stand up for the people and not be
dictated to by Champa or Weiton street
papers.
Trades Assembly Noses In.
AZ last Sundays meeting of the Den
vcr Trades and Labor Assembly. Dele
gate Charles Hornburg of the Cigarmak.
crs' Union introduced n resolution con-
demning the commission form of gov
crnmen,. and that IL be- replaced by a
mayor and council. After considerable
debate the matter was referred to the
Legislative Committee for further inves-
tieation and report Hornburg's rcso-
luton was as follows;
Whereas, II is plainly evident that
Denver is Inefficient: that there is no
head to our government; that it ap-
pears utterly impossible TO elect or Sc
cure five commissioners who will act as
- unit; that there is no prospect of our
city returning to a normal business state
of reasonable prosperity until We estab-
lish responsible government TO conduct
the business and social affairs of the
city; now, therefore. be it
Resolved, That We, the Trades and
Labor Assembly in session assembled,
hereby recommend that the present COM
mission form OF government be abolished
and mayor and legislative council form
OF government be established; that as
the demand is urgent, IL the change is
TO be made. that IL be made promptly
in order that the administrative and bus
mess affairs of the city may return to
n business state on a normal basis, we
indorse and recommend that the change
he made by charter amendment
NEuy npI D