Mexico weekly ledger., 1877-11-01
THE NEW CHARTER.

\ P11 6Lh ny b1A0 Ivy SSAAN oso
NIT the new charter provided by the
last legislature of this State, for fourth
class cities viz: cities of more than
one thousand and less than five thous-
and inhabitants, to the people of this
city for adoption or rejection.
This enactment of the Legislature
was done in pursuance of the prohi-
bition on it in the new constitution,
preventing the enactment of any local
or special law, and comforting upon
the General Assembly. the duty of
enacting a general law for the organi-
cation and classification of cities and
towns. The substance of the clause
in the constitution of 1875, placing
this restriction on the General Assem-
bly, is, that it shall, by general law,
classify all the cities of the State into
no less than four classes; and the
powers of each class shall be defined
by general laws, SO that all municipal
corporations of the same class shall
have the same powers and be subject
to the same restrictions.
The object of this article is to pre-
sent to our readers in the absence of
la publication of the charter in full, a
short sketch so far as practicable, of
the plan of government to be adopt
ed OIL rejected by the people of this
tcity on the 18th of November and the
main differences of the new plan of
government and that now, under
which the present city government is
conducted.
The Legislative part of the govern
ment is changed in name from that of
city council to Board of Aldermen
and it will be their duty to reward
the city and divide it into no less
than two wards. At the first genera
election after the adoption of the pro-
posed charter, there will be elected
two aldermen from each ward, the
one getting the highest number of
votes, holding his office for two years
and the one getting the next highest,
for one year, and each ward after the
first election shall annually elect one
alderman, who shall hold his office
for two years. Thereby having the
Board of Aldermen for each year,
consisting of half who were members
of the board the previous y a and
the other half new memb rs.
The qualification of tie members
of the Board of Alderman, is that
they each, shall be twenty-one years
of age, q citizen of the United States,
a citizen of the city for one year next
preceding his election. shall be a
free-holder within the city limits, and
at the time of his election shall not be
in arrears to the city for any tax,
fine, forfeiture or d~efalcation il of
fee.
The powers conferred upon the
Board of Aldermen in this Legislative
capacity, are with but few exceptions,
the SAME as those exercised by the
city council under the present char
ter.
At present the city council have
authority in relation to streets, to Or
der owners thereon, to build and
keep in repair, sidewalks, and in fail
ing to do so, to have the same done
at the expense of the city and then
levy "A special tax against the owner
I for such expense and declare the same
a lien against his property. But in
the new charter the power is given
| the Board of Aldermen, by ordinance,
to levy and collect a special tax off
the owner of the property on said
street where the work is to be done
for the purpose, not only of putting
down and repairing sidewalks, but
for the purpose of grading, paving,
curbing and repairing streets, alleys
and n and to declare such spe-
cial tax a lien on the property.
No special authority is given the
Board of Aldermen to make laws pro-
hibiting the running at large of ami
mails within the corporate limits,
! as is at present exercised by the city
. government but if such power is ex.
ercised 1T must be done under the
, general power granted to prevent and
, remove nuisances.
In the Mayor is vested, both tht
, head executive and judiciary depart
ments of the government, as well as
the same or about the same power.
as are at present conferred upon him
, He being at the same time the pre-
siding officer in the meetings in th,
Board of Aldermen, with power t.
approve or veto any ordinance pass
ed by that body. 1t is his duty to b.
active and vigilant in seeing that al
the laws and ordinances of the cit,
:. are enforced, and also has power t.
remit fines and forfeitures and t.
grant r~epreives and pardons for often
SEES against the ordinances of the city
= He is q conservator of the peace
is the only judicial officer of tn
q town, the same powers being CONFER
i, ed upon him in that capacity as al
,, at present exercised by The Recorde
, of the city.
The Mayor and the Marshal, eA
r cept members of the Board of Alder
!; men. are the only officers of the cit