The herald., 1894-05-21
CHARTER CHANGES SUGGESTED.
The City Attorneys Office
Speaks From Experience.
Consultations of Certain Offices and
Ward Changes Proposed.
A Paper That VIII Be Presented Today
The City Attorney Goes Oare-
fally Over the En-
tire Ground.

today:
To the Committee OF the City Council on Re-
vision of the City Charter.
GENTLEMEN AS it seems to be the
proper thing for anyone to suggest
changes to be made in our charter,
concluded that would give you my
ideas Of ouch changes which have been
suggested to me during the five years
experience under its workings. The
fret change would suggest would be
the creation OF two new wards out OF the
Second, Third and Fourth. Taking the
last presidential vote, we find that the
Second ward polled about 1000 votes,
the Third 1900 and the Fourth ward
1900. l believe that the portion of the
Second and Third wards lying west of
the hills should constitute separate
wards for many reasons, and in order to
eqralize the vote OF the Fourth, | have
moved the line of the Third ward from
Seventh to Ninth street and have then
created new ward out of that portion
OF the Third ward lying west of Olive
and between First and Ninth streets,
this ard to be numbered Ten. l have
alec created two wards out Of the Sec
ond ward, the new ward to be mum bered
Eleven, and to be all of the present Sec
ond ward lying west of Pearl and Fig
ueroa streets. By this method l think
that each locality is given the represen-
tstion to which it is entitled, and the
| reduction in the size of the wards is
something to be desired.
believe that the suggestions made
by Mr.. Medill, as to giving the mayor
more power and holding him response
bic for the conduct of the police, fire
and health and park departments are
good ones, and l have therefore pro-
vided that the commissioners of police,
fire, health and parks shall ell be APP
pointed by the mayor instead of by the
council, and without being subject to its
approval.
l do not believe that the contracting
power should be placed in the hands Of
any one man and consequently have let
the provisions of the charter stand In
this regard.
By having the council vote upon all
contracts and then giving the mayor the
power OF veto l think the city's inter
ests will be fully protected.
believe that the council Cor commit
tee,) should personally inspect the
ground where any work is proposed to
be performed and should also personally
examine every account or demand pre-
sented, and l have therefore provided
that committee shall be appointed by
the council to be known as the commit
tee of public works. who shall personally
inspect all such work or proposed work,
and also finance committee who shall
personally examine all demands pre-
scented. AS | have changed the COM
pensation of councilmen from monthly
salary to a per diem. | have provided
| that each member OF such commluJuo
shall receive the same pay while acting
upon such committee as if in session OF
the council.
The council having eleven members !
have changed the number OF votes ne
cessary for quorum and passage OF
ordinances and contracts.
| have consolidated the duties OF tax
and license collector with those of the
treasurer, and as the law relating to
the issue of street improvement bonds
provides that all matters in relation to the
the issuing and collecting OF licenses shall
be in the hand of the city treasurer. have
provided that the duties OF these two
officers shall be performed by an officer
to be called the treasurer.
l have consolidated the offices OF city
clerk and auditor, the duties to be per-
formed by the city clerk.
Ihave abolished the Office Of sealer of
weights and measures. In case the
services of such all officer are require
the council has the power to'make such
appointment.
The provisions in regard to the city
money having been declared unconsti'
tutional, | have eliminated them from
the charter.
The supreme court having decided
that all OF the provisions OF the charter
in regard to change OF grades, improve
ment of streets, and also condem nation
of property, are all subject to the gen.
eral laws, which laws are very complete
upon the subjects; and there having
been constant clash upon these sub.
jects, have eliminated these provisions
from the charter.
The most important change which
suggest is in the system OF assessing and
collecting taxes. | have abolished the
Office of city assessor and provided fol
the assessing and collecting of city taxes
by the county officers. There is now 9
provision of the general law that the
county assessment may be taken as the
basis for the city assessment. but dc
not think that that system would save
much expense or avoid the evil OF nav
ing to pay taxea four times a year.
have therefore provided that in October
OF each year (the same time when the
supervisors fix the county levy the city
council shall Tx the rate of the levy fol
the coming year, which rate shall
then be certified by the city CLERK
TO the county auditor who shall include
such city levy with the levy for stae and
county taxes and extend the total OF all
the levies upon the assessment book
The City's taxes will thus be collected al
the same time and in the same mannel
as are the state and county, and monthly
state m 7nts and settlements will be made
at winch the city treasurer receives the
city, portion of the money which has
been collected. | have provided thai
the county tax collector shall retain a.
compensation for such collection the
sum of one-6fth OF l per cent upon
each dollar collected, which will amount
to about $1,000 per year. Where prop
erty Is sold for taxes or redeemed the
city receives its proportion at the same
time and In the same manner as does
the county. This system OF collecting
city taxes has long been adopted in
many of the eastern states and found tc
be both economical and satisfactory. In
order to carry out this arrangement il
Will be necessary to have statute
passed providing for the performance Of
these extra duties by the county officers
and | have drawn such a bill which
enclose herewith for your inspection.
For tear that the Legislature