The Progress., 1894-02-03
TO THE CITY CHARTER.


The amendments proposed are all
IN the line of reform and should
meet with the Endorsement Of our
people. Politics was not considered
in the matter at all, but each Nom
Der thought only of the city's welfare
and acted, suggested and voted to
the best interests Of the town gener-
ally, as he understood it.
The first amendment suggests
an incaease in the number Of repre-
sentatives to the city council to ff-
teen, instead Of the present number,
eight.
This increase was made for two
main reasons.
Firs,-As our city would soon be-
gin to grow and assume much larger
proportions, while the matter was I'M
der discussion, it was proper to pro,
vide for such a contingency right
now.
Secondly As the town began to
grow, enterprise would seek fran
chises from the city and it was the
unanimous opinion that the clty's in
terests would be better looked after
by fifteen men than eight. An as
collateral reason. in case some mem
bers of the council were inclined to
surrender their better Judgment tC
the many persuasive Influences
which seductive corporation can
bring forward, it would be more
difficult undertaking to handle thus
ly fifteen men, than eight.
The second amendment defines
how these fifteen trustees are to be
secured It provides for the choos.
ing of one additional member IL
wards three, four, five and six
giving these, two each, the same as
wards ore and two have, and having
the remaining three elected from the
city at large. The last three, repre-
scnting no particular constituency
from any one ward, would even the
balances of right and justice witt
those members inclined to favo
specially certain ward.
The third amendment is divided
into three clauses, because all three
have to do with section nine of tn,
charter
The first, deEominated A, makes i
unlawful for call meetings to hav
any effect unless they have been ad
vertised in one of the papers at leas
three days in advance of the holding
thereof, and makes it imperative tina
the call shall state specifically tn
nature of the business to be transact
ed. This amendment was suggeste
because there have been times ~he
such meetings have been held, an.
business transacted, when the publ
knew nothing on earth of the matte
until the proceedings were bein
promulgated to complete the las
requisite to make them law.
Under the present charter it is po
sible, were they so inclined, for tiv
councilmen or four and the myaor
pass any ordinance they saw. prope
while the remaining three or fol-
and the public, would be in absolut
ignorance of such a meeting or ord
, nance. But with a law compelliI
all call meetings to be advertise
three days before time, stating I'll
; object thereof, this will be imposs
, BILE.
b Division B gives the mayor pow
! 10 exercise his veto to any legislati
= which he thinks contrary to t
8 public veal. By this power vest
:. in him it makes him respcnsll
= party to all vicious Legislation, OF til
which is of injury, or of no bepe
h to the city, unless his veto is rendt
: ed nullby two-thirds of the membe
\ of the council voting adversely to
- disapproyal For instance, when t
- council voted to strike from the bu
q get, the amount appropriated
. public school needs, the mayor col
- have annulled the act by his We
y and then he would have had son
: thing more convincing than M
! sage, to show that he favored pub
80 schools. On having failed to ez
else this veto, he could not have