The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1874-02-21
THE NEW CHARTER AGAIN.

tition Asked For, and What it is Likely
to Get.
After lengthy conversation rela-
tive to the charter question with a
number of leading citizens of Donald
sonville, whom he met On the cars a
few days since, Senator Bovee came
to the conclusion that additional
amendments might be made to his
bill, which would make it az nearly
acceptable TO the wishes of the per-.
sons opposed to it as can be done
without altering the general nature
of the measure, and, consulting with
Representative Landry and others
who take an interest in the new char
ter, he prepared substitute for the
bill as referred to the Committee on
Corporations and Parochial Affairs.
Familiarity with the sentiments of the
Senators composing that committee
leaves no doubt in our mind that the
substitute will be reported favorably,
and its passage win then follow al
most as q matter of course.
The amendments to the bill are, as
nearly as our memory serves us, as
follows: The Mayors salary reduced
from six to FIVE hundred dollars per
annum the salary of the Administra-
tor of Finance likewise; the sal
airy of the Administrator of Improve
ments and Commerce from five to
four hundred, and that officer required
in addition to his other duties to act
as clerk of the Mayors court; the
pay of Councilmen reduced from five
to three dollars for each meeting; the
Council to divide the city into three
wards, each ward to elect one Coun-
Gilman, the Mayor and Administrators
to be chosen by general ticket; the
long rigmarole relative to the collec-
ton of taxes stricken out and the Adj
ministrator.. of Finance. required to
make the collection in the same man.
ner and under the same pains and
penalties prescribed for the collection
! of t....oe due tho State The issuance
of a warrant upon the municipal treas
ury ualess there is money therein suf-
ficient to pay the same is declared to
be misdemeanor. There are one or
two other minor changes, perhaps,
but those enumerated are the chief
alterations.
We have seen and read the petition
against the new charter bill, to which
We referred in last issue, and the est.
mate which we had formed of the
document was nearly correct. 1t is
signed by thirty-three persons, about
twenty-seven of whom are property
holders, and sets forth that the pc
titioners have carefully examined the
bill prepared by Senator Bovee, and
consider the system of government
too complicated and too expensive,
therefore pray it shall not pass; all
the amendment the petitioners de-
J.
sired to the existing charter was re-
lease from the payment of parish tax
on town property.
The statement that the system pro-
posed in Mr.. Bovee's biIls is |" too
complicated " is frivolous and unde-
serving serious consideration. 1t has
been the unanimous opinion of all
intelligent men with whom we have
conversed, and who have given Sena-
tor Bovee's charter the consideration
which these petitioners claim to have
done, that no more simple yet admit
rable. method of municipal govern
ment could be devised.
The very unreasonable request of
petitioners that the present charter
should only be amended SO as to re-
lieVe town property from parish tax
alton, without making any provision
for the payment by the town of an
equitable pro rata of the expenses of
the parish government, will have no
weight whatever either with the Com
mittee on Parochial Affairs or with
the General Assembly. 1t appears to
be the disposition of a majority of the
Assembly to oppose any bill which
provides for an entire exemption of a
town from the burdens of the parish
and were it not for the fact that Sem
ator Bovee's measure contains nro-
visions for the payment by the CITY
NJ lx.p,s- III