Los Angeles daily herald., 1886-12-17
OAKLAND'S CHAR TER.
Synopsis of the Draft Prepared
by the sister City.

for corporations of the secOnd.class,
among which Los Angeles and Oakland
are to be classified, their populations eN'
ceeding 30 600 inhabitants. The read
ers of the HERALD will undoubtedly be
interested to know how Oakland pro-
poses to be ruled, rule which wouio
also apply to Los Angeles, in the event
that the charter proposed by the former
city should pass the Legislature. want
of space will permit only brief synop'
sis of it's principal features. From what
could be gathered from the committee
men appointed by the Council OF this
city, to draft a charter, they did not
think, after a hasty examination of the
Oakland draft, that there were very
material differences in the two, except
ing probably in the mode of remunerat.
ing the members of the Council and the
number to be elected.
The provision relating to the election
of offices says that such elections shall
take place on the second Monday of
each even numbered year, when there
shall be elected Mayor, Treasurer,
who shall be ex.officio Clerk of the City
Council, an Attorney, Superintendent
of Public Schools, Police Judge, two
Justices of the Peace and Street Su-
perintendent, who shall respectively
hold office for the term of two years,
and until their successors are elected
and quali6ed; eleven Councilmen, who
shall constitute board, to be known al
the 'City Council;" one Councilman
shall be elected from each ward, and
four Councilmen by the vote OF the city
at large.
The section relating to the salary of
officers is as follows: The compensation
to be paid the Mayor shall not exceed
three thou sand dollars; Mayors Clerk,
twelve hundred dollars; Treasurer and
City Clerk, three thous md dollars; Dep.
uty Treasurer and City Clerk, fifteen
hundred dollars; City Attorney, two
thousand dollars; Street Superintendent,
eighteen hundred dollars; Superinten-
dent of Public Schools, twenty. -four |
hundred dollars; Assistant to the Super
intendent of Public Schools, twelve |
hundred dollars; Chief of Police, two
thousand dollars; Policemen, twelve |
hundred dollars Chief of the Fire De. |
partment, fifteen hundred dollars; Po.
lice Judge, two thousand dollars; Health |
Officer, two thousand dollars; Fire War
teden and Superintendent of Fire and Po-
lice Telegraph, eighteen hundred dollars;
provided, that the compensation of any
officer shall not be increased or dimin-
ished during the term for which he is
elected or appointed.
Councilmen shall receive ten dollars
for each regular meeting of the City
Council at which they shall be in actual
attendance.
The City Council shall meet on the
second Monday after their election and
at such other time as they may by ordi-
nance appoint. Their meetings shall be
public. Their legislative power as
existing by the present charter
remains undisturbed. They shall
in the year 1890 and every tenth
year thereafter re.district the city
into seven wards. The wards shall be
made as nearly equal in population and
as geographically compact as possible,
and the division shall be made in such a
manner as to make the population in the
several wards as nearly equally divided
between the political partie, as possible,
provided that the city shall not be so re-
districted within ninety days of gener.
-<el election.
The City Council shall, between the
first and third Mondays of September
in each year, fix the rate of taxes to be
levied upon all property, both real and
personal, in said municipality, necessary
to raise sufficient revenue to carry on
the various departments of the muni,ip- |
al government for the then ensuing
year, not to exceed one dollar for each |
one hundred dollars upon the assess
ment roll. and to pay the bonded and
other indebtedness of said city. They |
shall net incur any Indebtedness or liza
bility exceeding in any year the income
and revenue provided for such year,
without the assent of two-thirds of the |
qualified electors thereof at an election
to be held for that purpose, nor unless
before, or at the time OF ncurring such |
Indebtedness, provision shall be made |
for the collection of an annual tax sufi-
cient to pay the interest On such in
debtedness as it falls due, and also to
constitute sinking fund for the pay
ment of the principal thereof within |
twenty years from the time of contract. |
lag the same. Any indebtedness or liza
bility, incurred contrary to this provis
ion, shall be void
There shall be four Police and Fire |
Commissioners appointed by the Mayor,
to be known as the Board of Police |
and Fire Commissioner. In making |
such appointments the Mayor shall not
appoint more than two Of the same po-
litical party. The term of office of said |
\ Comm 8 ssioners shall be four years. The |
} Mayor shall, ex-officio, be member of
and the presiding officer of the Board, |
and shall have the casting vote in all
cases where there shall be tie vote, but |
he shall have no vote in the appointment |
of any member of the Police and Fire
>-Departments. The Board shall appoint
the Police Department and the Fire De-
partment of the city, but no appoint
ments or removals shall be made tor po.
litical reasons; the Board shall prescribe
the qualifications and duties Of the Off
GERS, members and employees of the de.
psrtments; shall have the general man.
agement and control thereof, shall make
rules and regulations for their govera-
ment and discipline, and prescribe and
enforce penalties for their violation;
shall hear and summarily determine all
complaints of misconduct, inefficiency,
or violation of the rules, or other charge
against any officer, member or employee
Of the departments, and take such &C.
tion thereon as shall be most conducive
to the maintenance, discipline and
efficiency of the department.
The Police Department shall consist
of Captain of Police and as many
policemen, not exceeding thirty, as may
be deemed necessary; and the Fire De.
partment shall consist of Chief En-
eineer, and as many drivers, horsemen
and other employees, not exceeding
seventy, as the Board may determine to
be necessary. All officers and members
- .ha Police Department and Fire Da.