The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-02-13
CHARTER ENDORSED,
NO POPULAR VOTE,
TO LEGISLATURE
CONTINUED From First PaRe.I

while he believed personally in the ref
erendum he believed the proposed new
charter was far superior to the present
one, and for that reason he intended
to work for it.
Mr.. Mooney offered an explanation of
his opposition to the measure, if with
out the referendum. He said that he
was not bound by pledge to support
the measure whether or no, as he had
only promised to sustain the campaign
OF the citizens committee to improve
the municipal affairs of Memphis to
the extent Of backing the then plan to
run five men for the commission.
r. r. Ellis, chairman of the COM
mittee of IL, replied to Mr., Mooney
and conceded that Mr.. Mooney had
made himself clear on this point. But
this fact did not alter the further fact,
he insisted in the most vigorous terms,
that the committee of 100, of which
Mr.. Mooney was a member, had, fol-
lowing its failure to find five men 1t
could put In the race for commissioner,
directed the executive committee to
frame a charter providing for the city
manager plan Of government. In sub
hitting the measure before the COM
mittee, Mr., Ellis said, the committee
| of IL had only faithfully discharged the
orders delivered by the larger COM
mittee.
Mooney for Referendum.
ut does look to me-" said Mr..
Mooney, that the attempt to pass the
charter without referring 1t to the peo-
pie, would be a departure from the
spirit Of the times and Of Memphis, and
would not be the right thing. ! could
not vote Nfor its adoption without a
referendum"
Or. Hatton here interviewed to explain
that he, like virtually all the men who
had spoken, personally favored the ref
erendum n had originally advised
that 1t be made a part of the bill; but
that the danger that the measure might
be invalidated and estopped through at
lacks upon it's constitutionality, If the
referendum were included, had beer
too great to chance. He showed that
there was no recognized precedent tC
show that the constitutionality Of al
amendment to the Memphis charter
could be successfully defended upor
technical grounds with the referendum
and declared that II the referendum
were included, it was certain to be at.
tackled by factional and self-seekins
enemies Of the city manager plan. Sucl
an attack, he said, would preclude thu
institution of the new form of govern.
ment at the expiration of the terms o
the incumbent commissioners, an
would probably deter the proper char
acter of men desired for the first coun
Gil OF IL from standing for office. TIL
measure could not be attacked by 1t
political ill-wishers, DIR. Hatton said
until candidates began to file nom
mating petitions, which would be som
time in August, and that litigation be
gun could not possibly be conclude
until after the fall elections, A can
didate for commissioner would thus b
placed in the position, he said, of no
knowing whether his office would b
abolished by judicial procedure unit
long after the period of his campaign
If the opponents of the bill should sus
tain their point, he said, it might re
suit in the present administration hold
ing over for at least two years longe1
Those Present.
Mr., Ellis occupied the chair at tn
Wednesday night meetings. The {
present were as follows:
l.. X. Salisbury, NJ, NJ. BoswoTth, Ais
ton Boyd, r. r. Ellis, NJ H. Hun
Cliff Blackburn, Sam j. House, Jr
$. ~ Mcdonald, W, w, Fischer, S. /
Anderson, Robert l.. Jordan, Chas,
Haase, A, L, Parker, w, A. Helm,
Thos. f. Gailor, James F. McSweyl
James Alexander, W. II, Russo, Wake
l.. Wexford, j, T. Wexford, Geo.
Phillips, Bayless G.. Lee, Henry We
ter, B, l. Mallory, $. y. Ragland, .
w, Mcclure, c. P. ], Mooney, W,
King, FRED GOluSflltn, henry 4. LOe
!. T. A. Robinson, Il. O. Bailey, w.
Graves, w. ], Prescott, d, S. Weave
E, w. Porter. J. NJ. Golf, J. NJ. Wake
! June II. Rudisill, NJ, II. Rosenthal,
w. Gates, Chas. Keller, NJ, G. Bale
T, j.. Turley, Chas, Apostolos, Geors
Y Morris, Arch Schwab, c. w. Merke
]. Cohen, S. A. Waddell, O, l.. Bigg
9 w. T.. Miller, j, r. Paine, w. w Ma
! lorv, II, A.. Ramsey, Dossey II. Whit
and Frank N, Fisher.
3 Robert l.. Jordan presented the rec
{ concentrations Of the executive con
mittee that the new charter be adoptt
I without provisions for referendum upC
itself,