The record-union., 1896-11-30
THE CHARTER AMENDMENTS.
What the Committees Agree to Report to
the Trustees.
Tue Changes Are Few, and Intended
Chiefly to Clear Away
Doubts.

Friday night last the committees hav-
ing under consideration proposed
amendments to the city charter COM
die.
The minutes Of the committees were
not in such shape as to enable reporters
to copy out amendments correctly
earlier. They are now given in full.
Two of them are alternate probosi-
tions, either one may be adopted If sub
mitted to the people, or both may be
rejected and things left as they are.
One makes the Mayor the Executive
Officer of the city, and puts all executive
duty upon him, and defines clearly the
scope of his powers. The other is the re-
verse of that proposition, and makes
the Mayor the executive officer of the
Board of Trustees, and puts all respon-
sibility of direction upon the board, it
to provide how purchases are to be made
and work performed, etc.
Another proposition adds two Trus-
tees to the board, the two to be elected
at large and to serve two years. This
was proposed in the belief that enlarge
ment of the board to that extent by
two at large is in line with experience
in other cities which are served by
larger legislative bodies. 1t is held that
it will add to the Importance Of the
board and dignity it more, and augment
its usefulness. There was strong conten-
ton in the committee to make the body
still larger but by concession the num-
Der of eleven was agreed to.
1t Is provided that the School Direc-
tors shall be elected at large, as the city
is but one school district, and State
educational officers hold that a school
district receiving State aid should not
be subdivided, but that all the electors
should be privileged to vote for all those
who are to administer the fund to
which the State contributes. 1t is
understood that the amendment is in
line with the recommendation of the
Board of Education also.
The proposition relative to the Fourth
OF July is in response say the committee
to the almost unanimous wish of the
people. The proposition relative to the
increase of salaries of the Trustees
came from the citizens subcommittee
acting with the Trustees committee, and
is held by them to be right and proper
and is intended in justice to Trustees
something near enough to meet the loss
due to proper performance of duty
There was strong desire to make the
sum $50 instead of $40 The increase
cannot affect the Trustees now in office
The other propositions are elf-explan-
atory, and relate to publicity Of ordi-
nances, revocation of licenses and to
Mayor pro tempore, etc. The additional
payment advised to the President of the
Board Of Trustees is, say the committee
because he is also President of the Board
of Health, and because greater responsi-
bility is imposed upon the President OF
the legislative body
The committees rejected more PROPOSE
tions than they agreed to by far; they
say that they kept in mind the desire to
have as few amendments as possible and
20 make those agreed to as brief as they
can be and be legal. For that reason
some half numbers are given to new
sections to avoid publishing in full sec
tions they amend and which would ne
cessitate much greater length.
The committees have been in service