Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1895-08-29
THE NEW CHARTER.
Alderman Harroun Views II From Another
Standpoint.

Standpoint.
VOTERS AND TAX PAYERS OF THE
CITY OF BELDING: | would respect
fully call your attention to the article
in last weeks paper regarding the
new charter which we are asked to
vote down previous to December lst
The writer says: ''In my opinion
the following sections are Objectionable
for the following reasons" and then
states that it requires the concurrent
vote Of the entire council to pass an
ordinance. If you will get copy Of
the charter you will find it says, at
shall require the concurrent vote of q
majority of all the aldermen elected to
pass an ordinance" that section of the
charter being an exact duplicate word
for word of our present charter.
He says further that sections seven,
eight and nine give the council too
much power. To be sure if we elect
men to the council who will abuse the
powers granted them we should be in
a very bad way If we were to come
under that charter; and so we would
under our present charter which pro-
v1saes that when petition is presented
to have street graded and graveled,
the council may have the work done
and assess the cost to the property
abutting upon said street providing
the cost shall not exceed twenty-five
percent of the assessed valuation of
said property, so you see the council
has "a chance to abuse its authority
under our present charter.
Again he says that the eleventh
section is very Objectionable for the
reason that it does not give the council
or board of public works the right to
reject any or all bids as has always
been the custom. The charter says in
amounting TO over $500, the
b ard OF public works shall advertise
for bids giving therefor such notice as
the council shall direct, and that the
contract shall be let to the lowest bid
der deemed competent, etc, subject to
the approval of the council. How any
one can construe that to mean that we
have not the right to reject any or all
bids is past my comprehension.
In regard to sections ten and thirteen
which require two-thirds vote
to authorize the council to issue bonds |
does appear disadvantageous in
where the majority is supposed |
to rule, but while / am heartily in
favor of the city having a system of
water works, / do not believe it would |
be advisable to make an investment of
that kind unless at least two thirds of |
the people approved of the same, so for
myself can not see any serious objection
to the charter on that account.
One item of Importance which the |
writer of the article overlooked is this; |
the new charter provides that the city |
may issue bonds in the sum of five per |
cent. of assessed valuation for the pur-
pose of purchasing or constructing an
electric or other lighting station for
street or other lighting, provided two
thirds OF the electors shall vote there
for. Also that we may issue bonds for
i've per cent of valuation for water
works instead Of only three per cent.
rs in our present charter.
In conclusion, | would say fellow
inform yourselves thoroughly
)n this subject and be very sure that
he present charter is best suited to
.he needs of the city before you sign
petition to call special election at an
expense of nearly $3.50 to vote down a
charter which is nearly copy Of our
present charter, and which also con-
aims several points of superiority, one
,f which is that so far as have studied
t, have failed to find a place where
n it mentioned assessing, collecting or
to collect a Poll tao.
Again asking you to study this mat
er thoroughly, am very respectfully,
Another Servant and Fellow Tax
Payer, CHAs. Harbour.
DeWitt's Collie and Cholera Cure
never disappoints, never fails to give
Immediate ra1iaf anpac fuof N Guro