The record-union., 1896-09-24
AMENDING THE CITY CHARTER.

AMENDING THE CITY CHARTER.
| 1t is conceded on all sides that amend
ments to the city charter are absolutely
necessary. If amendments are agreed
| to for submission they must be voted
upon in time to be submitted to the ses-
sion of the Legislature to be held in
January and February. 1t is therefore
essential that the matter be taken up al
once.
The Board Of Trustees has appointed
a committee Of it's body to formulate the
necessary amendments. That commlttee
has of course preconceived ideas upon
the subject, in fact, atleast majority OF
the committee has expressed Itself as II
favor Of certain amendments concern
ing the wisdom of which there is a di-
versity of opinion. Now a munlclpa
charter is in the nature of a Constitu-
ton. 1t springs from the original source
of power, the people; it is the beginning
of municipal government. 1t follows
therefore, that the people should nave
the broadest possible opportunity to pre-
sent their views to the committee.
More than that, the committee Is to
sit, not as a jury to determine abso-
lutely, but to prepare and submit what
the great mass of the electors OF the city
desire and wisdom dictates. Where
there is very nearly equal DIVISION OF
sentiment alternative propositions WILL
of course, be submitted, just as was
done by the Board of Freeholders In the
first instance.
It is therefore absolutely necessary,
and their duty imposes 1t upon
them, that Messrs. Devine, Tozer and
Kent should, as the committee of hear
ing and formulation, divest themselves
Of their prejudices for or against any
policies and hear the people as judges
would hear the presentation OF issues.
The committeeman are not, of course,
called upon to throw out OF consldera-
ton their own views and the results OF
their experience as local legislators.
These are to be advanced and considered
precisely as are other ideas, and the
committeeman should make them public
that they may be discussed fully before
that body forms it's judgment
| The committee therefore should holo
open door sessions and invite all cltl-
zens to submit proposed amendments
in writing, and give them all full oppor-
tunity and reasonable time consistent
with the whole time allotted to argue
the reasons in support of their views
and listen also to objections to them.
| The Chamber Of Commerce ought to be
heard; the Young Mems Club of C1Vlcs
should be heard, for it has been discuss
ing many amendments to the charter
for some months. The original Board OF
Freeholders should be invited, nay
urged, to meet and formulate amend
ments and submit them to the commit
tee. and advance reasons in their sup
port.
Assuming that the committee Is in
spired by public spirit and is soiciuous
TO do the will Of the people and to act
as their agents, it is taken for granted
that some such procedure as has been
here suggested will be had. In TINS
matter 1t Is, of course the desire or the
committee and Of all the people, to have
formulated such amendments as VIII
meet the views of the great majority
and as are in consonance with the best
experiences in municipal government III
| this and other States.
It should be the understanding, also
that where there is distinct and very
| considerable divergence of opinion al
formative propositions will be submitted
that the people may have the very freest
of opportunities to declare what shall
he the character Of the fundamental law
what the organic act under which mu-
nicipal affairs are to be administered
with a view to three great essentials
economy with effective government;
ease of administration with distinct pre-
seryation and complete separation Of the
legislative. judicial and executive
branches of government; thirdly, the re-
moval of the friction and inconsistencies
developed under the charter as 1t is.
Can all this be done in time to submit
the proposed amended charter to the
Legislature of 1897? The Constitution
governs in this matter. 1t provides that
the proposals must emanate from the
Trustees. that they must be submitted
to the electors of the city after twenty
days publication of the propositions;
that they must then receive the afiirma-
ton of the votes Of three-fifths of the
electors voting at that election: that
the amendments adopted must then be
submitted to the Legislature for ap-
proval by concurrent resolution; that in
| submitting the propositions to the elec-
tors any alternative proposition may be
presented along with the primal one fol
choice by the voters.
/ If now the committee will begin to
| hold it's sessions so that hearings COM
mence October 1st, thirty days can well
be devoted to the hearings, which will
bring US to the 1st of November. AL
lowing thirty days thereafter for the
committee to prepare its report, will
bring US to December 1st. Allowing the
same length Of time for the Board OF
Trustees to pass upon the report, will
round out the year.
Thus the propositions agreed upon car
be submitted about the 10th of January
voted upon by the 1st Of February, and
sent to the Legislature. giving It thirty
days time to approve or reject the same
without power to alter or amend II