The Charlotte Democrat., 1897-02-25
BILL TO REPEAL
CITY'S CHARTER.
Will be introduced i'm the
House Tomorrow.
POLICE COMMISSION CREATED.

Mayor and Aldermen and Vested
in Partisan Board-WaIter r. Hem
ry the Author of the Bill.
| Special to The News.
RALEIGH, Feb. 24.-The bill to
change the charter Of the city of
Charlotte will be introduced in the
House tomorrow by Represen tative
Williamson.
Walter R. Henry, the author of
the bill, was seen by the News cor
respondent and he stated that he was
opposed to the first police bill draft
ed by others for the city of Char
lotte, for the reason that he consid-
cred it entirely too sweeping. He
says he was opposed absolutely to any
interfering with the schools, the
cemeteries, the fire department or the
finances of the city of Charlotte.
The bill in all its sections has the
following provisions:
The bill is to amend the charter
of the city passed in 1866 and
amended in 1881.
THE BOARD OF THREE.
Sec. l. There is hereby created
Board to consist of three qualified
voters of the city of Charlotte in
the county of Mecklenburg and
State aforesaid, to be known as the
Police Board of the city of Char
lotte. The said Board shall consist
of member of each of the political
parties of the State, namely, the
Democratic, the Republican, and the
Populist or Peoples parties. That
each of said members shall be ap
pointed by the Governor of the State
of North Carolina, as soon after the
ratification of this Act as possible,
upon the recommendation of ma
Jorltyrof the Chairmen of the res
pective Executive Committees of the
political parties, provided that in
case there be tie in said recommen,
dation5 by reason of the death of
either of the Chairmen of said polit-
ical parties, or for any reason, then
the Governor shall appoint the mem
bers of said Police Board as nearly
in accordance with the spirit of this
Act as possible.
Sec. II. That the members of
the Police Board hereby created
shall receive for their services the
sum of one hundred and fifty dollars
per annum to be paid to them out
of the city treasury on the order of
Chairman of the said Police Board.
The office Of the board is to be in
the city hall, and it is authorized to
pay for all necessary expenses by or.
der on the city treasurer, signed by
the chairman of the board.
VACANCIES FILLED by GOVERNOR.
Sec. 3. In case of a vacancy by
death, resignation or otherwise in
the membership of the said Police
Board, the same shall be filled by
the Govern or in the same way as is
provided for the appointment of the
members Of the board in the first
instance.
Sec. 4. The terms of office shall
begin at the same time as the term
of the mayor in 1897 ''The mem
bers thus appointed shall continue
in office for the period of two years,
and until their successors are ap-
pointed. These appointments shall
be made by the Governor as 'afore-
said, every two years during the
month of April preceding the time
for the election of the Mayor and
Board of Aldermen of the said city
Of Charlotte
QUEER PROVISION FOR REMOVALS..
Any member Of said Board may
be removed by the Governor of
North Carolina upon the written
recommendation of majority of the
chairmen Of the executive commit
tees of the political parties as afore-
said, and said written recommends
ton shall constitute prima facie evil
dence of misconduct.
Sec. V provides that the chairman
shall cast the deciding vote in case
of tie.
ELECTION OF THE POLICE.
Sec. VI, after repeating section Is
of the charter provides: "The entire
police force of the city of Charlotte
not fewer in number than at present
shall hereafter be appointed by the
Police Board hereby created, or by a
majority thereof, provided, that the
police force shall be apportioned
equally among the three parties.
No man shall be eligible to ap-
pointment on said police force until
he shall have first filed with the
said Board, the affidavits of three
disinterested free holders of the
county of Mecklenburg satisfactory
to the Board owning land in said
county, stating that he is man Of
sufficient ability and worthy the
confidence of the citizens of Char
lotte. Provided, further, that the
Chief of Police shall be elected by
majority of the Police Board.
Sec. VIII. The Mayor and Board
of Aldermen of the city of Charlotte
shall have no power to remove any
of the officers, policemen, or en-
ployees elected or in any way ap-
pointed by the said Police Board.
Section * repeals the law regard
ing the police force.
Sec. X makes a verbal change in
section 27.
Section II provides for the ap-
pointment of attorney TO the police
board at salary Of $3.50 a year.
APPOINTMENT OF CITY LABoRERs
Section XI provides that the