The diamond drill., 1918-02-23

Il
TO issue bonds OF the city when the
proposition is approved by three-ffths
OF electors voting thereon, but limits
the indebtedness of the city TO six per
cent OF the assessed value OF the real
and personal property OF the city; 1.
creates a board OF review representa-
tive OF the entire city, consisting OF
mayor, city assessor, and supervisors;
IL gives the commission the power TO
compel railway companies to maintain
at grade, street crossings, provide
fiagmen at such crossings as the com
mission may deem necessary, and reg
ulate the speed Of trains within the
city; II gives the commission super
vision over public utility corporations,
such as telephone companies, etc, and
power TO eSact from them at all times
reasonable service and rates and pre-
scribe the conditions under which
they may occupy the public streets; il
prevents discrimination among the
users of water and light within the
city, and prohibits the selling Of light
and water outside of the city in such
a way as to discriminate against the
users thereof within the city and in
no case shall an amount in excess OF
twenty-five per cent OF that furnished
within the city be sold outside the
city; il provides for the publication OF
all ordinances and resolutions of the
commission and for the Initiative and
Referendum. By petition the elect
ors Of the city may submit any pro-
posed ordinance affecting the city 10
a vote Of the electors and II a major
ity vote in favor thereof IL shall be-
come law. In the same manner all
ordinances passed by the commission
may be repealed; IL provides that a
diagram and plat, to be accessible a.
all times to the public, be made and
kept of the city's sewer system, AMI
gives the city power to establish sew
er districts, and provide for special
assessments based on benefits to prop
erty within the district; it provides
that all private plats before recording
shall be approved by the commission,
giving the commission power to main
tain uniformity and continuity in the
streets dedicated on said plats to the
public; ii prevents public streets, al
leys and grounds from being acquired
adversely against the city.
These are some OF the main and inn
portant features OF the charter, and
believe will give the electors fair
idea OF its proposed provision. AS
drafted 1t represents the very best
thought and experience OF other cit
les revising their charters. and Is a
credit to the painstaking care OF the
commission drafting 1t.
2. Under what authority Is the
charter reyisedl Under the Homo
Rule Act OF 1909. This act was pass
ed in response 10 public sentiment
throughout the state demanding for
cities and villages within the state the
right to govern themselves without
legislative interference. The abuses
OF the legislature in putting on the
statute books Legislation of a purely
local character against the wishes
and more often without the knowledge
OF the people affected are too well
known and examples too close home
to need comment here. The local act
creating and establishing the boundar-
les of the city without any regard for
the city's welfare Is only one OF the
many examples where the peoples
rights were disregarded and invaded.
Such legislation, with few exception
was conceived in individual selfish
ness and brought about by political
trickery and pull The abuses were
SO ilagrant and the results so opposed
to tho interests OF the various cities
and villages in the state that the press
and the public demanded the legisla-
ture surrender it's right to pass laws
affecting villages and cities i'm the
state in the management and conduct
Of their local affairs and restore to
the people the right 10 manage and
govern themselves. This sentiment
finally in 1909 forced the Legislature
J to pass the so-called Home Rule Act,
which, to my mind, is charter OF lib
erty for every village and city in the
state.
Until such time, however, the people
Of the various cities and villages re-
wise their charters specifically under
this act no advantage will come TO
them from this charter OF liberty. In
"a A..