The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1874-01-31
GOSSIP ABOUT THE CHARTER.

of the Present and Contemplated Sys-
tems-The Bill introduced by Senator
Bovee TODAY.
The proposed charter published in
the CHIEF of Saturday last has excited
much discussion among the towns
people and residents of Port Barrow,
and though we have not had oppOr-
tunity of becoming as familiar as we
desire to be with the popular senti-
ment, still we have learned the opin-
ions of sufficient number of persons
to indicate the general drift thereof.
As nearly as we can judge, the prin-
cipal opposition to the new bill is
among a class of politicians of doubt
full standing with the masses of the
party to which they profess allegiance,
and another class interested in NUM-
cipaI "pap" or securities ofquestion-
able legality who do not wish the
present order of things interfered
with for fear their pecuniary interests
will suffer BY the change. There are
also a few who honestly doubt the
wisdom of the new measure because
they believe it will bemore expensive
than the old system, and it is only
these whose opinions are worthy of
serious consideration and to whom we
address ourselves in adducing argu
ment in favor of the new charter.
From personal observation and the
assurances of others we feel satisfied
that decided majority of the resi-
dents of the proposed City of Donald
son favor the inauguration of the new
system of municipal government, and
among this majority are classed those
who have given the subject the most
attention and are familiar with the
workings and expenses of the present
system.
Our Senator and Representatives
held another consultation over the
charter this week and several amend
ments and additions were made to the
bill published in last Saturdays CHIEF,
1 among which were the following: The
Mayor is made er oficio Justice of the
Peace, with exclusive jurisdiction in
all criminal matters originating with
in the city limits the administrator
of Improvement and Commerce is re-
lquired to act as Secretary of the Coun-
Gil and his salary is fixed at five
hundred dollars per annum; the sal
airy of the City Attorney is limited te
five hundred dollars proviso to Sec
ton twenty flour says that no either
of the city shall be considered dis.
qualified from serving as member o
the Police Jury the act will not tax.
effect until the first Monday of MAY
next, and the Governor can not ap
point the new officers until the sec
ond Monday of that month, thus leav
ing the present officers in undisturbet
possession of their positions until thu
, expiration of their terms of servic,
under the existing charter.
Although the salary of the Mayo
is increased by the new charter, it i
quite probable that the fines collected
) from offenders and the fees allowed
by law for performing the duties o
Justice of the Peace, under the ex
elusive jssisdiction clause will largel.
exceed the increase of his salary an,
result advantageously to the city Fl
nances while at the same time .abol
: ishing great nuisance from GU
midst.
The powers and duties of the pres
ent Collector and Treasurer are con
ferred upon the Administrator of Fl
nance and the assessment of propert,
will be attended with no expens,
whatever, excepting the purchase 0
necessary books and stationery, so nj
increase of expense in this depart
ment of the government win be in
CURED and the efficiency rather i'm
proved than impaired.
1t is our opinion that under the new
charter it win be great advantag,
to the city to allow the Administra
tor of Improvements to have contro
of the market and wharf instead O
farming them out, in which case it il
natural to suppose the profit now re
allied by lessees will more than re-
imburse tile city for the increase of sal