Pueblo chieftain., 1921-11-04
Pueblo S Ceremonial President

The present promoters of the City Manager plan
for Pueblo who salvaged the amendment from the flood
debris after the original committee declined to
further responsibility for the pesky thing part
of their program of economy and efficiency offer to the
people of Pueblo brand-new officer.
The duties of this officer thus described by the
amendments Each council at its first regular meeting
and thereafter when a vacancy in the Offices occur
e. offices occur' is the way it is prnted) shall elect
from among the electors of the city of Pueblo not
bers of the council but qualified for election thereto
Person be President of the Council He shall
for term of two years. During such he shall be
member of the Council with the same right to speak
and vote therein any other member He shall preside
at the meetings of the Council He shall be recognized
as the Official Head of the City for all Ceremonial Pu
poses, by the Courts for the purpose of serving civil
process lis it possible that this for the purpose
of being served with civil process y and by the Gov
for Military purposes. In of his absence
disability his duties shall be performed by president
protempore chosen by the council from among
members few letters have been set in capitals in
the preceding sentence but otherwise outside of the
parentheses it is as printed.
Mr.. C. N. Power, who chairman of the original
committee and who is still active in support of the
amendment, thus explains the purpose of the Ceremonial
President ''It seemed to the committee which pre-
pared this amendment that this method of selecting the
president of the council mayor of the wise
provisions of the plan because it will enable the council
to select the best in town to preside their
meetings and offciate mayor. The kind of who
can best fill this position probably could not be per-
shaded to enter into election contest but any good
citizen would appreciate the honor of being selected in
j.
responsibility without good reason"
1t appears, therefore, that the purpose of this
ton is to give the city Mayor under another name,
not could not, be elected by the people in open
election.
The duties and powers of the Ceremonial President,
Mayor. not exactly limited in the amendment.
He is to be member of the Council atho the amend
ment says that the elective officers shall be the
hers of the council all of whom shall be nominated and
elected by the electors of the city, and further that the
Council shall consist of ten members to be designated
representatives.
Mr.. Power says that member of the Council
the president shall without compensation, and
Mr. Power ought to know. But the amendment says
that the members of the council all of whom shall be
elected by the electors of the city shall withou.
tiona member, the president, who in addition to his
duties member of the council is directed to perform
certain duties including the serving of civil process
and later the amendment says that the Council shall
have power except otherwise provided in this chapter
to fix the salaries and prescribe the powers and duties
Of all officers and employees.
It is not unreasonable to suppose that the Council
in its desire obtain the Best Man in the City for its
Ceremonial President might, possibly, offer him mod
compensation for his other than those per-
formed a member of the council.
If the amendment intended that the Ceremonial
President should serve without pay, why did the
amendment say so7
There is no ambiguity in the matter of the repre-
sentative members of the council, who required to
attend council meetings every Monday and to perform
important duties that will require much time and
involve great responsibility without pay.
! There is doubt about the Civil Service Commits
sioners, who required without paw, altho
they must perform important duties that necessary
to the successful working of the city government
The proposed amendment establishes City Council
elected representatives of ten districts 1t provides
for President Mayor, not elected by the people and
not subject to the recall. 1T DESTROYS THE COM
MISSION FORM. OF GOVERNMENT II throws the
door wide open to the establishment of political machine
or gang rule in Pueblo.
nnECTT0NC AND AN