Saturday news. (Watertown, S.D.) 19??-19??, 1915-04-01

Hoard Of aldermen ad mayor have the power 10 grant lhese franchises
without any part being taken by the voters; in other words under. the com
mission orm of government the voters say whether OF no. a franchise shall.
be granted any corporation, but under the council form. OF government the
mayor and alaefmc" 'H"Sei'eS "e ue "n "o ssh "S 't a. ran
chMes, and when a corporation asks for a franchise ~ is much easier for
pose than it is to run the gauntlet" of the vote of the people. If Mr.. Voter
thinks that he should have a hand in granting franchises, he should vote to
men me-. 10 t4 to ~n"" or no ~n 1pssmuch as the rannniSe Of the watarl
town Water company comes VI for consideration in a short time, this phase
Of the question should be very interesting to the voter.
Another Important feature of the commission form Of government is that
CT the recall. The mayor or commissioners are subject Ito the recall at any
anu anu Sn an nmo, n " ~ nanrtv voe o. ts electors Under ne DID, form ~ sv.
eminent IN alderman is enabled to hold his position whether he gives salts
faction or not; he is there for the term elected and cannot be "ousted"
Tho voAo rower os no mayor is another mnortan feature Under the
adernanic plan he has the right to veto any measure that does not meet with
n | "pmu n"sho mno n mpn natorun rta so t" ma+tas. " a. % n 14is - - =
thus cen that the mayor under the old plan is in a position to make things
run his way of thinking, which is impossible under the commission plan.
AS far as the expenses OF the city re concerned, there is n argument
The figures show that the city government the past yea a run at IN ex
p Nd" e,d do pS fom |s 81 arum We had. nerhans e : 100 or Or 1000 ~ neome
then; today u population is nearly 10000. When anyone kicks o n the e x.
penses being greater just SIX him if he can support a family of five with the
same amount of money that he used to spend for four people.
In the matter of progress, watertown has made more improvements
during the time the commission form of government has been in force than it
made altogether under the old council form. The commission has spent
$S19S2S for paving, curbs and cutters around the city hall, the postofhce and
Carnegie library, and $35576S was expended for installation OF conduits,
to be used a a moments notice when an improved lighting system may be
installed.
If you think the head Of a certain corporation, whose franchise soon
expires, should control the city government. you should vote for the proposed
change, but if you want the affairs of the city run by an unbiased commits
sion ready to make needed Improvements and look after your interests as
well a your neighbor' so to the polls next Tuesday between ) IND , o'clock
and vote TO retain the present commission form Of government by placing
your N) in the square at the left of the words; against City Organization
Under General Law" #85@# @
The election is very important and it is hoped that every voter In the
city will get out and register his vote. -
To sum the whole matter up is to discover that the commission form Of
government is a government Of for and by the people while under the old
council plan a board Of aldermen can govern the city in any manner they see
LIT whether the citizens like 1T or not. #
1t is now up to the voter to make his choice.
Very truly yours,
20. NJ. Lane,
waertown, S. D, March 80. 1915 City Auditor.
Mr.. Lanes Error.
Brother Lane refers to conditions respecting the right to grant
franchises as they existed under the old charter under which Wa
under whose provisions Watertown will be governed if the people
t4ote next Tuesday to make a change. In this respect his comparison
lis rather unfortunate, for it places him in the position of trying to
describe conditions which will not exist under the general law.
The WatertoWn Water company may be3all that Brother Lane
has pictured it to be for aught we know, and its head may be a Blue
beard or a Louis the XVI, or a Napoleon the VII, or a Nero, or a
1Haman, as cur city auditor would seem to have US believe.
But the records show that the franchise of the company mention
led will expire along in November, or December, or Whereabouts, in
1913. The records also show that If the city council, under the alder
should grant a franchise to any corporation, or enter into an agree
Iment or contract with it for any purpose, such contract or franchise
ishall not 60 into effect for twenty days after Its passage, and in the
meantime if five per eent-fye electors out of each one hundred
UNITE IN a petition to have such a contract or franchise, or proposed
agreement, or resolution, submitted to a vote of the people, at shall
Isuch3 franchise or contract, or whatever term may be used to deslg
mate it, shall become effective
If FIVE per cent Of the people fail to join in such a petition, it
would Indicate general satisfaction with the terms of the franchise
or contract, or agreement. or resolution-would it mott
Isn't that sufficiently protective Of the rights of the people to
satisfy even Brother Lanef
Or, has he lost faith in the ability of the people Of Watertown
flor selfgoyernmenta
LET THE PEOPLE GET HOLD OF THE FACTS.
III @ NM CAM1W 49, kIA-& -.a --a--1-&A Aa-&&#rJI %LN +~Sn4aA