Pueblo chieftain., 1921-05-08

The proposed amendments to the
charter are set forth in full on another
page Of the Chieftain. The report OF
the COMMITTEES of which C. ". Power
was chairman, is given below.
ITO the People of tho City of Pueblo:
Blaine, Aaron Sonneborn, Henry Rob
inson. Alva 3. Adams. Warren Deps-
more. Robt. Breckenridge W. II.
Young, r. r. Kinds. Fl. NJ. Andrew.
John Il. Cross, f. Il. Howard. Thos.
a. Duke. VIM. w. Suckney, E. D. Spru-
III. G. *. McHars. A. A Herman. 7. II.
Devine and C. n. Power, on tho revi-
sion of the city charter, appointed at
a mass meeting at which Mr.. Thos. L.
Reed of the University of California
brought hero for tho purpose of ex-
planning the managerial form of Nun
icipal government, was the principal
speaker, begs to report that 1t has
endeavored to amend the present char
ter, not TO draft "a new one. 1t has
attempted to amend only those parts
which affect tho city manager plan:
not to euro any defects that it might
consider now exist in the present char
ter. 1t has followed, as far as pos
sible the recommendations of Mr.
Reed, and the model charter issued and
recommended by the National Muni-
cipal league.
In so doing it has not departed from
the general points of the recommendn-
tons and tho model charter but mas
endeavored to shape the amendment So
as to adapt II to this community 1t
hqs attempted to formulate an amend
inent that will place machinery in the
hands of the people that will enable
them TO economically administer the
affairs of tho city thru a council of
their own choosing, in every way rep-
rcsentativc. to make OF that council
Legislative body only. which shall
serve without compensation. to pro-
vide IL with ample power to hire aud
discharge n city manager who shaIt
be the general administrative head OF
tho city: to provide adequate civi:
service facilities: to protect the city
omployc against any injusicc of his
superiors in Office. and tho city man-
aGer against the promiscuous orders
and Influences OF the members OF tho
council rs wcll as individual. The
committee has provided for "A city plan
ming commission whose duty 1t shall
be to have charge OF the moro syrnmet-
rical laying out of the city streets.
bridges, buildings. parks. etc. 1t ha1
also provided the proposed council
with tho power OF appointing com
missioner of Industrial research, vhos~
duty IL shall be 10 develop local natural
resources.
Your committee was confronted with
many pcrplcSins problems. some of
the most difficult being tho districtinS
of the city and the selecting and pre-
AentinE 10 the people list of names
composing tho first ticket. This could
not have been dono otherwise how
ever. without en,aiIing tho time anil
expense OF two elections. The COM
mittec Was also confronted with tho
question OF obtaining tho consent of
the persons composing the ticket. Az
ter much deliheration It decided to
place them on the ticket without their
knowledge or consent and appeal to
their patriotic duty to serve Tho
charter makes ample prorision for
resignation aud substitution after cleo
ton. The districts arc not Just as tho
committ" would have liked to have had
.hem but they had TO he arranged in
accordance with voting precincts Tho
proposed council has tho power to
change these districts at any time.
I'm support of thr movement wo
wish to say that IL Is tho opinion OF
your committee that the present com
mission form of government Is an
Improvement over the aldermauic
form: that tho managerial form is an
improvement over the commission
form in that Il relieves tho councilmeu
of the details OF government. for which
they are not ordinarily ftted. ani
places the responsibility on one man
chosen because of his exeprienco and
ability, who is kept in office during tho
successful administration of his duties.
''1t is significant fact that IN rc-
sponso TO letters OF inquiry from edi-
tors, business men and individual cit
liens where the city manager plan OF
government is in operation there r. un-
animous expression in favor of the city
manager plan.
Three and one-half million citizens
of the United States are now living in
towns and cities tnat have adopted tho
commission-manager plan of govern
mcnt. \ number of the cities that bet.
tered themselves several years ago.
as Pueblo did. by the adoption of tho
commission plan of government, have
modified their charters so that the most
efficient government. the city manager
plan could operate. That is exactly
what is being attempted here in Fu-
tblo at this tims.
"A Group of public spirited and rer-
rcscntativc men who are interested in
the welfare of Pueblo. her citizens. and
tho future development of the city and
her resources has beer working during
tho past several months as f, commit
tee in the revision of our present
charter that Pueblo might have tho
best form of government that is to 10
had.
"rhere Is nothing wildly theoretical