The record-union., 1892-03-17
THE CHARTER-THE WARDS AND
THE TRUSTEES.


1t now being clear that the adoption of
the new charter will not do away with
the Funded Debt Commission-th that the
people can by vote put it beyond ali
question so it will stand. and that be-
fore it even the charter shall give way,
we come to the document itself
The first article is unimportant until
we come to the division of the city into
wards. Nine of these subdivisions are
provided for, and they appear to be well
divided. In the course of ten or twelve
years the Eighth and Ninth Wards will
probably be found to be too large and
some readjustment will then be neces-
sary, and the charter provides for its be-
ing done every ten years.
Article second provides for one Trus-
tee to be elected from each ward, but
five of them first chosen will hold for
four years, and four two years; after that
the terms will be two years each, there
being thus four or five hold-overs in each
board, thus insuring some experience
constantly insthe legislative department.
These Trustees constitute the legislative
branch of the city government; thus they
will have no executive authority as under
our present system. The legislative and
executive, indeed, are as widely separated
as in the form of State Government. In
this respect wisdom has been manifest;
the scheme follows the National and
State method to that extent, and is in
harmony with the American idea
If there is a vacancy in this legislative
body the Mayor is to fill it by appoint
ment until the next date for municipal
election arrives. This would seem to be
discreet provision and to remove from
the board the likelihood of ring keeping
its number intact in case of vacancies
occurring.
This legislative body is to meet weekly,
six to be aquorum and five votes being
necessary to pass an ordinance or do
final business. One of the Trustees is to
be President of the board. The body is
to adopt rules for its procedure, and can
punish it's members, compel the attend
ance Of witnesses and require the pro-
duction of papers.
In the passing of ordinances the rule of
The State as to titles and what shall be
expressed in them is to obtain. All
ordinances are to be passed by bill, and
must receive the approval of the Mayor,
whose veto may be overridden by
vote of six of the Trustees. Herein
the State system is closely followed as to
approval, as to the ordinance taking
effect if the Mayor holds it over ten days,
and as to the taking of the vote on the
passage over the veto, by yeas and nays
and their entry upon the minutes
The new board is to classify the old or
dinances and have them printed in book
form, and every five years must classify
and preserve the ordinances in print, and
each year putsinto pamphlet form the or
dinances of the year. This, past ex-
perience has proved to be necessary,
and that the officers and people may
know precisely what is the form of the
local laws fromEime to time.
Contracts for supplies, printing, street
sprinkling, street repairs. street lighting,
etc., are not to be made for more than
year. For fuel, gas and electric lights, or
other Illumination, the city is to pay no
higher rate than is charged to any other
consumer. Any contract for payment of
more than 500 must be authorized by the
board and be approved by the Mayor.
If he withholds approval five days it be
comes valid. If he disapproves it the
veto may be overridden, as in the case of
an ordinance. Every city official is to re-
port the board in writing monthly under
oath a statement of all receipts and dis
bursements of money, and an account of
all official transactions by him.
And here we come to the expressed
powers of the board, which must be the
subject for the next article. Thus far we
see only that wise provision of fcheeks and
balances by distinct separation of the ex-
ecutive and legislative departments. that
obtains in all well-ordered States and that
experience has proved to be necessary in
economic municipal Government. They
obtain in nearly all the older cities of the
Union and no one. indeed, now objects to
them. Under our present charter we
move upon directly opposite principle.
We combine the executive and the legis-
lative. While it has not worked US any
apparent harm it has been the cause of
friction, the head of each department, be-
ing also legislator, has resented criti-
cism or legislation by the heads of other