The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-12-16

amending the bill for the revision of
the city charter com pleted thor work
yesterday, and are now ready to receive
signatures to the proposed memorial
which they have drawn up. The paper
reads as follows:
The undersigned citizens and free
holders of the city OF Roanoke, impelled
by strong sense OF duty and the con.
viction that certain OF the provisions of
the bill TO amend tho charter of the
city of Roanoke, now pending before
your honorable body, are expedieut and
unwlse, and fraught with danger to the
cause OF good government, and the eff
cient and economical administration of
the law in said municipality, and must
respectfully memorabilia your honor
able body that said bill be amended in
the following particulars, to.wit:
First In section SO thereof, relating
to the vote requisite to pass an ordin-
ance over the mayors veto, by striking
out the words three fifths and inserting
four hfths in place thereof
Second. In section So by striking ont
the whole of said section.
Third. In section SO, relating to the
salary OF the mayor, by striking out the
works not to exceed $500.
Fourth. In section 1O3 thereof by
striking out the whole of said section
and inserting in lieu thereof The fol.
lowing:
Section 1903. All contracts for the
erection OF construction of public i'm
provements shall be let 10 tho lowest
responsible bidder, and notice Shall be
given at least thirty days before the
work is finally let, by advertisement in
one or moro newspapers, published in
inc SAID city, and the party 10 whom the
said contract shall be lot, Shall give
such bond as the Council NAV reouiro:
but, in no ovent, shall any contract be
let 10 any member OF the Council, nor
shall any member have any in
terest in such contract; provided,
however, that the Council NAV
have such work done and public i'm
provements made under its Immediate
direction in any case involving ex-
penditure of sums not exceeding 5000,
and may employ such superintendents,
mechanics, laborers and teams, and
purchase such material as may beneces-
sary therefor; ana provided further,
that any case involving the ex penditure
of sums over $500, the Council may re.
Ject any and all bids, and order such
"Oth oohOt u TO Dc 10 BQ0,
under its immediate supervision, in the
same manner as hereinbefore provided
for in the case of work done, or i'm
proVements made, costing not more
than 5000.
The Proposed Amendments
In the above memorial only fou-
different sections of the bill sent 10 the
general assembly by Council praying
for revision of tho city charter are
affected. Section SO, as suggested bv
Council, reads as follows:
Every ordinance or resolution partakint, of
inc nature or an ordinance, which shall have
been passed by Council, shall, before il become
law, be presented to the mayor; II he approve he
snail sign II and return the same to the city
clerk. In case OF his disapproval he shall return
the same to Council with his reasons therefor in
writing and the Council shall have the rght IN
pass such ordinance resolution over his veto
oy vote OF thrce.ilfth. Of the members or the
council. In case the mayor fails either 10 M.
prove or disapproye an ordinance or resolution
or to return che same to the clerk within ten
DAYS after II has been presented to him II shall
become a law"
Is is desired by the petitioners, as
expressed in the above memorial. to
retain tho provision of the present
charter, which necessitates a four
hfths vote to pass an ordinance over
tho mayors veto.
Section 5S, which is stricken out by
the above memorial is as follows:
''For any misconduct, mnlfeasance or mlsfcas-
ance IN Office the mayor may he removed by tho
council In such case articles OF impeachment
may DC introduced by any member OF Council or
committee thereof, and the Council shall proceed
10 investigate the same, after having gircn the
mayor due notice OF the action about to he taken
The Council shall SIT as in committee of the
whole during such investigation, and II three
fourths vote OF the entire Council shall I've neccs-
sary TO impeach the mayor
In section 80, as printed in THE
TINES as a true copy furnished by Clerk
Of Council w. E. Thomas, no mention OF
what limit shall be placed upon the
mayors salary is made. The section
read as follows:
The mayor shall receive such salary as shat
be liked by the Council from time to time, and he
shail receive no other compensation or emolu-
mcnts whatever"
Section 1903. for which the above is to
be substituted, is as follows:
when Council shall award contracts for the
erection or construction OF pubic improyemc
the work is finally let by advertise emf in one or
more newspapers published in said CITY, and the |
[erson or persons 10 whom said contract shall! be
let shall give such bond ~ the Council NAV re- |
dure. hut in no event shall any contract be lei |
10 any member or Council, nor shall nm member
thereof have any interest In such contract The |
Council may, however, have work done and pub
lie improvements made under its immediate di. |
rectiC II, and may employ supcrintendclts nc
chanics, iaborers and teams and purchase ma
tcrial for such purpose"
Female Pension Fraud Sentenced.
NORFOLK, Va, Dec. l5.-In tho United |
States court here to-day Laura Ann
liuggins, colored, of Norfolk, conyictt d |
OF pension frauds, was sentenced to five |
years at hard labor in tho ALBANY peni- |
and to paw n fine of 50 ono