, 1875-02-28
THE GENERAL CITY CHARTER.


TIE GENERAL CITY CHARTER.
We have received copy Of the bill now
pending before the Legislature enacting
general incorporation law for cities. 1t does
not amend or repeal the Incorporation oct OF
1872, but creates new act; and any city, by
popular vote, may adopt the act of 1872, or
that Of 1875. As originally proposed, this
bill contained new system for the collection
Of taxes; but upon this point there was SO
much objection that all relating to that sub
iect has been stricken out, and the bill now
relates purely to reorganization Of the City
Government.
Upon the petition OF one-eighth Of the
voters Of any city, the Common Council
is required by resolution to submit to
the voters Of the city the question
Of Reorganization under the general
act Of 1876" or "Against" the same.
If majority shall vote "For" re-
organization, the new charter, upon the
declaration Of such vote, shall go into opera
ton. but all officers shall continue IN Office
until their SUCCESSORS shall be elected. The
record of the vote adopting the new charter
shall be recorded in the Office Of the Recorder
of Deeds If this law be passed, special
election on its adoption will be held next
August and the general election for Mayor
and other officers will tako place in Noven-
ber. 1876. The ward; Of the city remain as
no7r- with their number and boundaries un-
changed
Under the new charter the officers Of the
city will consist of Mayor, Comptroller,
Corporation Counsel, Attorney. Treasurer,
Clerk, Collector, Assessor, Tax Commissioner,
Engineer, Commissioner of Public Works,
Commissioner Of Police, OF Fire, Health, two
OF more Police Justices, two OF moro Police
Clerks, Inspectors of Fish, Steam Boilers,
Weigher, Sealer Of Weights and Measures,
Superintendent of House Of Correction, and
such other officers as the Common Council
may from time to time establish.
The Common Council is to consist Of two
Boards the Board of Councillors is to con-
s;st Of fifteen members, elected by the city at
large, who shall hold Office four years, seven
OF eight to be elected alternately every tgo
years the Board of Aldermen is to consist
Of tire Aldermen from each ward. to hold Of
fee two yeers. Every person elected Coun-
cilor or Alderman shall be q heeholder, and
the Aldermen shall be residents Of the ward
in which they are elected. Councillors and
Aldermen convicted Of corruption or misfea-
| sance to be punished by fine. Eoperson de-
faulter to the city or State to be eligible to
| either Board The bill contains new and
| rather arbitrary provision, that any per-
son elected IN Alderman or Councillor
| who, for ten days after notice, shall refuse to
| qualify according to law, shall be guilty of a
misdemeanor and be fined ST ,000- Physical
disability, legal ineligibility, or necessary ab:
sence from the city, will be legal excuses.
Such provision es this is hardly necessary
to enforce the acceptance Of these Offices by
those ordinarily elected; but it may be I'M.
portant in securing other men whom the peo-
pie may choose to elect.
The Afnyor, Comptroller, Corporation
Counsel, Commissioners Of Public Works,
Health, Fire, and Police, shall compose the
stMayors Cabinet" and shall hold regula1
meetings at least once week to consult and
advise concerning the affairs Of the city. AL
| proposals and bids for contracts shall b&
opened st these meetings, and all awards q
contracts made shall be approved BY major
| ity Of these officers; and all the duties Of el
the Offices Of, the Executive Department ahal
be performed subject to the authority OF TIL
Cabinet, which shall keep record otits busl
ness and proceedings.
The first election under the set, IN case j
is adopted by the people, shall be IN novem
ber, 1875, at which time shall be elected |
Mayor, Treasurer, Attorney, fifteen Council
ors, and three Aldermen from each ward
These officers ere to hold Office two years.
voting for Councillors and Aldermen, eacl
voter will have as many votes as there ar'
t persons to be elected, and may divide O
cunulate them at his pleasure. The t~'
Boards of the Common Council are to Inv
concurrent action in all legislation, eacl
Board to choose its own President and II
have negative on the action Of the other
the Mayor to have veto, which may be over
ruled by a two-thirds vote of esch Board
The Mayor, however, may veto any items il
an appropriation bill and approve the rest O
the ordinance.
The Common Council, by ordinance OF i,
the appropriation bill, may fix the salaries Q
| Ill officers, but no salary shall be increase
or reduced during the term Of an officer. Th
Mavor Is to be not less than 80 years Of aze