The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1921-12-15
CHARTER AMENDMENTS.

In instructlng the city attorney to prepare
for submission to tho voters a proposal to pro-
vide for nonpartisan municipal olectiona. tho
city administration is fulfilling It's solemn
pledge to tho people. whether the citizenship
Of Tulsa really wants 10 conduct it's elections
along a nonpartIsan linc thus avoiding cm-
\ barrassinR and useless divisions in nolghbor-
hood and social circles, remains TO be seen. But
the belief has been somewhat general that
such is tho wish and certainly such is tho
pledge made by the present officials.
II should go without saying that The world
will very earnestly support such amend
ment to tho charter. The World has always
opposed partisanism in municipal affairs II
there Is any substantial reason for such dis
turblng element have never heard It set
forth. II has been our contention that the
only worth while feature OF the managerial
form OF government is It's nonpartisan feature,
that any other form OF local government pos
sesslng that quality would be Just as efficient.
and not carry the objectionable features Of tho
managerial form. Such Is our contention
today.
The proposed amendment, setting up an ex-
else board within and OF the city Itself, pos
sessea virtues which mus, commend It very serl-
ously to tho careful consideration OF the voters.
In view of the everlasting conflict between
county and city authoritles--the apparent In
. ability OF the county officials to work harmon
.jously with tho city otfotals--it would seem
10 be imperative that the municipality should
take over overy vestse OF authority since It
must In the last analysis, carry every vestigo
OF responsibility.
There be but one argument against the
city acting it's own excise board. And since
that argument carries with It the logical con-
rluslon that the people OF the city are incapable
( Of complete local autonomy. and that for some
reason not at all apparent. county official
elected from Jenks or Broken Arrow Is more
capable of having n voice In governing Tulsa
than a Tulsa citizen the argument will not get
very far. surely II the citizens OF Tulsa are 10
be trusted with the expenditure OF such money
as the existing excise board allows thon the
citizens of Tulsa should be permitted to say
how much money they will expend. The
World will favor the amendment with refer
once to tho excise board.
The proposed amendment, changing the
tenure OF office OF city officials fails to com
mand the enthusiastic support OF The World
1t approaches 80 closely that class Of iegisla-
tive reform which is especially rcpugnant to
us, and which ia a growing menace Of govern.
ment, that much argument and much testi
mony viii be required TO convince us that II I,
either wise or good.
az We frankly do not Ike the idea OF an un
broken administration in the conduct OF gov
ernment, There is merit In tho proposition
TO lengthen the term Of office from two {,
.y four years; very considerable merit. we think
But when there Is coupled with that sugges
tion the proposal to have only minority o
=. the city board so TO the people for renewa
OF their mandate. the whole thing loses virtue
The World believes with every authority OF
popular government, that the chief beauty o
the representative system Ia tho frequenc
with which political agents must report 10 tn
. people, and the consequent impossibility OF set
ting up an office holding class. Observation
has shown that a vast majority OF the mis-
takes occurring In administrative affairs her,
In America grows out OF the custom OF per
petuating the under officials OF one admins
trauon into another administration. However
confusing this doctrine may appear to those
who have thought they believed In perpetual.
ing offce-holding class and retaining In
the public service individuals skilled In its ad-
ministraton, we have no hesltancy whatever in
denominating that doctrine as highly mis-
chlevous in practice and directly opposed 10
the spirit OF popular government.
When the people vote for change In the ad-
ministration OF their affairs they should have
that change. not merely a gesture. And the
change should retire to private life every po
itical agent and bring to all offices new
blood fresh from the people and in complet'
harmony with the responsible heads OF the new
raRinaa If only n minority of Tho city boar,