Evening star., 1894-01-12
HYATTSVILLE'S CHARTER
Several Changes Proposed by the Town
Commissioners Adopted.
The Citizens Meeting a Lively One
Sharp Discussions Between the Sim
gle and Anti-Single Takers.

ers, met last night at Wells Hall for the
purpose of agreeing upon the proposed new
town charter before submitting it to the leg
islature for action. The new charter with
the exception of sections 13, 16. 20 and "a
and few changes in section Is. is practical
ly the same as the old one and was based
upon the Oakland, Nd, charter. The meet
ing was one of the most exciting that has
occurred in the history of this town. Mr..
F. H. Smith, chairman of the citizens
committee, raped to order at T:45
O'Clock, and DIR. ). r. Owens was made
chairman and Mr.. Geo. NJ Smith secretary.
At the request of Mr.. Ralston the call for
the meeting was then read, which was as
follows THE property holders and voters OF
the town of Hyattsville will meet at Wells
Hall on Thursday evening, January IL, 1894,
at 1:3O O'Clock, for consultation in respect to
certain changes which are desirable in our
town charter. A full attendance is earnestly
requested, as matters involved are of gen.
erai Importance to the welfare of the town.
IF. II. SMITH,
President Board of Town Commissioners. -
Preparing for Action.
After making a few remarks upon the
town charter Mr.. F. II. Smith asked that
it be read. Mr.. Moran suggested that it be
read and accepted by sections. DR.. Wells
moved that debate upon the charter be
limited to five minutes for each man. and
that no one be allowed to speak twice on
the same subject and that the meeting ad-
journ at 1880 O'Clock. This motion was
Violently opposed by Mr.. Ralston, who
stated that very few people knew the OBJ
ject of the meeting. and that the idea of
limiting a debate to hve minutes for each
person was outrageous and preposterous.
He also criticised certain consultation
meeting that was held at the residence of
DR.. Wells. Mr.. Geo. M. Smith then rose
to point of order, which was sustained by
the chairman. Mr. Ralston then offered as
a substitute to DR.. Wells motion that a
committee of ten be appointed by the chair
ferred, and that the committee print the
same and cause 1t to be circulated within
three days, so that the people might know
what they were voting on. Considerable
debate followed the offering of this sub
stitute. The question of what persons had
a right to vote at the meeting was raised,
and 1t was decided that the call had settled
that point. After considerable debate DR..
ston's substitute defeated. The secretary
then read the charter, and after several
conflicting motions and good deal Of lively
debate Mr.. H. o. Emmons moved to take
up the amendments by sections Mr.. F. H.
Smith said that there were only four new
amendments to vote upon, and that they
comprised sections 13, 10. 20 and "a, and
moved that the 18th section be read and
cussion and protest against being cut on
from full debate. prevailed.
The New Section Thirteen.
Section 13 was read. it being as follows:
BE it enacted. That the commissioners
may provide by ordinance for the good gov
ernment of he town. for the preservation
Of peace and order therein, and for securing
to the residents Of said town all the rights
of person and property to which they are
by law entitled: for the surveying. grading.
paving. repairing, drainage, laying out, ex-
tending, widening. opening. closing. straight
ening or relocating any street, sidewalk or
alley in said town, and may condemn or
purchase the right of way for any street
or alley which they may determine should
be opened for the public good, the process
of condemnation CT property for roadways
by the commissioners Of Prince Georges
county as authorized by law; for the re-
moval of nuisances; for the removal of OBJ
structions from streets, lanes and alleys:
for the establishment of building lines and
of building regulations; for prohibiting the
carrying Of concealed weapons; for pro-
hibiting the discharge Of firearms, fire.
crackers, torpedoes and other explosives:
for preventing swine, cattle, dogs and 9TH
er animals from running at large in the
streets; for licensing theatrical other
amusements; for the suppression of gam
bling, vice and immortality; for apprehend-
ing and Furnishing all tramps and vagrants:
they may pass all ordinances necessary
from time to time to carry out and en-
force the foregoing provisions. and to give
full force and effect to the powers and au-
thority conferred on said corporation, and
may enforce such ordinances by reasonable
fines and penalties, not exceeding s25 in
any one case. as may appear to them right:
they may recover said fine or penalty by
action of debt, and. in addition thereto,
may imprison the offender for a period not
exceeding thirty days. or until the fine be
paid, such Imprisonment to be in the town
lookup, II one be provided, or in the county
Jail, and the sheriff of Prince Georges
county shall receive and confine any person
so committed"
Mr.. Moran was of the opinion that this
section gave the Commissioners wonderful
power, and moved to amend it by striking
out the word widening.
DR.. Wells said that it did not give the
commissioners any m IRE power than the
county commissioners had.
Messrs. Campbell and Emmons made
speeches, in which they said that If the
commissioners had the power to open
streets through a mans property it would
lessen its value. Mr.. Moran's amendment
was lost Mr.. Campbell offered an amend
ment that the part giving commissioners
Amendment lost. Mr.. Emmons offered an
amendment to the effect that fowls be pro-
hibited to run at large well as animals.
Amendment carried. Mr.. Burchard remark
ed that a perfect charter could not then
be adopted. as the citizens must go care
fully about such a matter.
The Rate Of Assessment.
Section 16 was then read, which gives the
commissioners power to levy and collect
taxes at a rate not to exceed 40 cents on
the 800. Mr.. Ralston then took the floor
and said that at a certain conference meet
ing a certain gentleman had made the
statement that the land in the town of Hy-
attsville was assessed at a figure one-third
too high, and that he would not vote for a
person an assessor who would not agree
to go against that assessment. DIR. Wells
replied that he had made the statement
and was responsible for it, as he was not in
the habit of saying one thing and meaning
another. Mr.. Ralston spoke at some
length, chiefly from a single tax stand
point, he having been granted an extension
of time He argued that the poor property
holders would bear the burden of taxation
and made a statement upon the assessment
question in regard to Mr.. Wine, which pro-
voked a stinging reply from that gentle
man. DIR. Buck, who owns a house and
lot valued at about $1,000, said he was in
favor of increasing the rate of taxes to 60
ton 10 was adopted as read.
Power to Make improvements.
Section 20 was then read, which gives the
commissioners power to construct side
walks, not less than four feet wide, of such
material as they may direct; to levy an as
sessment of two-thirds of the costs of such
improvements against the abutting prop
erty owners, and to place a lien upon such
abutting property, which may be recovered