The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-01-29
The CHARTER AMENDMENTS
Abutting Property Will No Longer
Be Held
LIABLE FOR COST OF STREET PAVING
The Provision Giving Contractors
Right to Sue Owners Of Property
In killed-Other Changes.

The city council in executive session
concluded its work yesterday OF passing
! upon the proposed charter amendments and
| In order that the amendments may be got
ten before the legislature as speedily 81
possible it was decided to hold a special
meeting Of the council on Saturday TO re-
| ceive the report OF the committee OF the
whole and get the result OF their work
before the public through the medium OF
an open door session.
The most important action taken by the
committee yesterday was the elimination OF
section az OF the proposed new charter
which attempted to re-enact the provisions
OF the charter Of 1898 which, In providing
TOR street Improvement. made the cost Of
same a lien on abbutting property. giving
contractors the right 10 sue owners OF such
property for the cost of the improvement
and recover by foreclosure
In lieu OF this it is proposed TO do the
work by general taxation through the me-
dlum OF special bond issue as provided
for in section Al. as follows
Section Al. The city council shall have
me power and authority to issue during
80 fNa' 4o'' TO lIt amount Nl N-HNs
VpU. which shall not be sold for less than
par, the proceeds of the sale OF which shall
ne devoted 10 the paving Of streets, con-
structins sewers. building bridges and
erecting school buildings and fire houses,
and for the year 1898 shall have authority
10 issue like amount of bonds. the pro-
ceeds of the sale OF which shall be de-
voted to the same purposes and the city
council shall also have the power and au-
thoritv to issue bonds for the purpose q
FUNDING bonds of the city Of a previous is
sue. and may also by a vote OF two thirds
OF al the aldermen elected, borrow money
on the credit of the city for other purposes
to an amount not to exceed 500 900 IN any
year. and may issue bonds OF the city
therefor.
To create a debt during any one year
exceeding 100000, exclusive of refnnding
bonds and Of bonds for the purpose OF
~ wing streets. constructing sewers, build
Ing bridges and constructing school build
ings and lire houses. provided to be issued
Tor the years 1897 ana lS9S. as above au-
thorized. the question must be submittod
to the taXpaying voters OF the city. and II
two-thlrds OF the votes polled shall be
in favor OF creating such debt it ghall te
lawful for the city council to authorize
the issuance Of bonds Tor the amount named
in the resolution ramed in the ordinance
or resolution submitting the question to ihe
voters.
No bonds shall be issued drawing more
than per cent per AMMAN interest. and
they shall be invalid II sold for less than
par. and all bonds shall express upon their
face the purpose for which they are is
sued.
The ordinance authorizing any bonds to
be issued shall provide fund to pay the
interest and create sinking fund sufn-
Client to pay the bonds at maturity, and
said sinking fund shall be invested in
bonds OF the State OF Texas. OF counties in
the State OF Texas, or In bonds of the
United States, or may be used for the pur-
chase of bonds OF the city which are not
yet due. and neither interest nor sinking
fund shall be devoted to any other pur-
pose whatever.
Other changes OF the charter agreed upon
provide for the placing Of the fire depart
mcnt under civil service rule; giving the
city in a general way fuller authority TO
regulate street and other railways; author
ity to inspect meat. milk and bread and
to establish slaughter pens and inspect beef
on the hoof; the right to regulate the price
of bread sold in the city; to regulate the
of buildings.
The new charter also provides thai no
officer Of tho city shall be pecuniarily In
terested in any contract with tho city
In regulating the assessment and col
lection of taxes it provides that descrip-
ton OF property may be SHOWN by evidence
other than the tax rolls. That lien may
be enforced tho same as lien under
judgment. That statements made from the
rolls OF the assessor and collector shall be
regarded "a prma facia evidcnc". That
the statements made by The assessor and
collector from 1880 to 1894 shall be prinG
facic evidence. In case of a foreclosure,
order of sale shall have the force OF A
writ of possession. Different pieces Of prop
crty assessed by the same person may bc
sold under foreclosure for taxes IN less
tracts than the whole. A sheriff's deed in
sale for taxes shall vest perfect title in
the purchaser fixing penalty OF 10 PER
cent as attorney fees The time for the
payment OF taxes shall not be extended, IN
cases where the State brings suit the city
may intervene.
The enacting clause in as follows:
Section A Whereas, there are no ade-
Quatc laws in force providing for the paw
ing improving and repairing of the streets
and sidewalks OF the city Of Houston, there
exists an imperative public necessity for
susponding the constitutional rule renuir-
ing bills to be read on three several days,
and an emergency exists which requires
this act to take effect from and after its
passage. and it is so enacted,
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