Arizona republican., 1915-04-02
The Municipal Ballot

The Municipal Ballot
 We do not suppose that voter in twenty will read which will appear on the ballot to be the municipal election. The ballot is about eighteen inches long and a htle more than twelve inches wide. The matter, beside the names 0 the candidates who have been nominated for commissioners is the same that has been printed in the daily papers for several days It will appear on the ballot, however, in much smaller and almost unreadable' type
 On the ballot the various propositions-referred ordinances and proposed amendments to the char ter twenty-seven in all--are separated by line containing squares marked Yes and No
 The arrangement of the referred ordinances is reverse and therefore, awkward. After describing the character of each ordinance it is asked whether it shall be repealed, when, obviously, the ordinance has been effective at all. The tendency of the voter under such an arrangement will be tc vote contrary to his wishes He should therefore, be informed that if he wants the ordinance to into effect he should No" If he disapproves of the ordinance, he should vote Yes"
 The first proposed amendment to tine charter gives 0 the commission power to combine any of fees except those of city manager and the city. attorney. Such power to exercise, in the interest of economy already exists in the city manager. who
  moi friendly the city manager could exercise il his great embarrassment This amendment No l. should be defeated.
 The second proposed amendment to the charter would leave the city manager removable at the whim of three members of the commission. Nos. ,, f. , and likewise give the commission srangle-hold upon all the other appointve officers.
 No. proposes amendment to the section making clear the power of the city to enforce connec- tons with the sewer system. No merely changes the proportion of the commission necessary to pass an emergency franchise measure from -fourths to fifths.
 No effectually ties the hands of the city manager. making his general supervision and ad nnisrative operation subject to the control of the commission" Nos. 10 and minor errors.
 No F adds a ridiculous detail to the powers of commission. It gives that body authority to fix up a for the city magistrate that i'm lorant task having hitherto devolved upon the city manager Another amendment giving the commis- sion original exclusive jurisdiction in the mat ter of designating the places where pegs should be put in the city corral for the purpose of holding the harness of the horses would be equally important
 No 13 proposes: "The salaries of city manager.
 
 magistrate whose compensation may be fixed by the commission may be changed, increased modified by ordinance of the commission it may deem proper and necessary" Under such amendment tie members of the commission mgh. increase their own salaries which fixed by the charter.
 Nos. IA b. 1G IT, IS, 19 and 20 propose changes. probably for the better in the chapter elections They intended be clarifying rather than changing.
 Nos. 21. '22. g and A provide for changes in methods of preparing the annual budget, in the matter of claims against the city, in the making of reports by the city manager to the commission. in the advertising for bids for public work and for awarding advertising contracts There is merit in the Natter two proposed changes. they will somewhat lower the cost of advertising
 The only sweeping changes. have said those calculated to transfer to the commission inc authority of the city manager, leaving the sponsbility for failure upon his shoulders They included in Nos l. g. 8, 4, ,. 6, 9, F and 13 under the head of Proposed Amendments to the with emphatic NO"
 The other amendments, while of them not without merit, absolutely essential they tend in degree, to confuse the voters the more vital, proposed amendments, and voters who may suffer such confusion should No" all the amendments. We would however. note cepton in favor of No. : and Nos. 2s and A. the two latter being calculated reduce the citys expense for advertising.
 As to the referred ordinances, occupying the first three places tse ballot, The Republican has