The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1921-12-14
PROPOSE CHANGE
IN CITY CHARTER
Administration Prepares
to Make Good It's
Promises
TO ELIMINATE POLITICS
County Excise Board Is to
Be Divorced From tho
City's Affairs

City Attorney Frank E Duncan
was Instructed by tho mayor and
commissioners Tuesday 10 immedi-
ateIy prepare Amendments 10 the
city charter providing for numerous
changes which are considered nccea-
hAry for moro efficient municipal
government. Duncan said Tuesday
afternoon his office will start prep
aration OF the proposed amendments
as soon m the commission and he
can meet and discuss thoroughly tho
sections that are to he revised and
the Amendments that are TO replace
them.
The motion 10 instruct the city at
forncy To proceed with the prcpnrR-
tion OF these ninendmentH was aug-
gested by Mayor r. u. Evans. who
explained that changing the charter
10 provide for nonpartlsan elections
is the final pledge In the prosont ad
ministration's platform that romRins
unfuifilied. one OF the firs pledges
made at n time when the first Spav-
inaw election wns In doubt. was that
tho bond Issue should bs rosubmit-
ted IN event the supreme court de-
oided adversely on Il.
Noupartisan Elections.
According 10 the city attorney, n
has been definitely decided 60 provide
for nonpartisah eloctions. Such an
amendment was passed 20 govern tho
water commission and r. now In
force. II the proposal In voted by
the people, party lines In municipal
elections win be eliminated, and the
names OF candidates or nominees will
appear In the same column on tho
ballot without political designation,
The next change In relative i'm
portance as tentatively proposed by
the mayor and commissioners and
the city attorney In the complete d.
voroemsnt OF tho city from the ju-
riadiction of the county excise board.
Such n change would give tho city
officials entire supervision over the
levy aud apportionment OF the tax
levy Tor city government. without
restrictions by tho county board that
are virtually always considered in
oonslatent by the city government,
which is IN closer touch with munie-
ipai needs and demands than county
officials.
Considerable friction between city
and county officials is caused at the
beginning OF each fiscai year when
the city budget In prepared and sub
mftted to the county board for itn
approval or disapprovai. as the city
is seldom allowed all that IL asked.
Fnyors -Four Year Term.
Duncan favors four-year term
for commissioners, two to DO eloolsd
at the end Of each two-year period
This would leave two "old heads" on
the commission at ali times 20 give
the benefit OF their experiences 10
those newly elected. No change
would be made by Duncan In tn"
present section governing tho election
af MAYOR, who ia elAetea fog . t~e-
year term,
Among the other proposed amend
ments Ia one providing for improved
civic service In the police and fire
departments. by which promotions
wo;is; 10 made on merit and families
OF officers and firemen would be
protected by pensions IL tho bread
winners should he killed OF seriously
injured willis on duty, Provision
would also be made for old age PEN
Hlona for thoss who spend tho best
part OF their lives In tho service.
while no date has been set for an
election on these amendments. the
city attorney said yesterday 1t should
be held In January,