The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-01-20

Suggested by VIZ. lredell Meares as Am
Amendment to Mr. Rountree's Bill

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Suggested by VIZ. lredeII Meares as An
Amendment to Mr. Rountree's Bill
Taking the provisions Of Mr.. Roun-
trees charter, and amending them In
conformity to the views of the citizens
meeting, as to primary elections, SO as
to enlarge their scope and provide for
nominations by the majority, instead Of
a plurality, which may involve a sec
ond primary at times, the writer would
suggest the following as comparatively
a complete primary system for the city.
Comparison of this with Mr.. Rountree's
bill will disclose wherein it is an
amendment Of that.
PRIMARY ELECTIONS.
Section IL. That whenever the execu-
tive committee of any political party
Of citizens in the city Of Wilmington
decide to take by primary election the
sense of the members Of the said party
as to the proper person or persons to
be presented on behalf of that party to
be appointed as members of the board
of audit and finance and as to the
RAoRCA W w OA NC"
half of that party to the voters of the
city at an election to be held in the
city, under the laws of this state, for
the election Of aldermen in the several
wards Of the city, and as to the proper
persons to be presented to the board
of aldermen as the candidates of that
party for the Offices of mayor, city
clerk and treasurer, chief of police,
chief ~? tho fire. Hano 1T M ont aifu offnr-
ney, and such other of the executive
offices as may be designated in the no
tice hereinafter required, and for the
selection Of the members of the city
executive committee of such party, the
said committee shall file a notice of the
primary, with such rules for it's conduct
as it may adopt, not inconsistent with
this act, with the city clerk and treas
nrer Of said city, at least fifteen days
before the time designated for the hold
ing of said primary. Such notice and
rules shall be signed by the chairman
or acting chairman and attested by the
secretary of said executive committee,
and by them certified under oath to be
true and correct copies of the originals
adopted by a majority of said commit
tee. Said notice shall state the places
"hCl0 Lie NOltIS DcIOuSluS 10 LudL OAR
ty are requested to cast their votes for
the candidates as herein stated; and
there shall be only one such place des-
ignated for each ward of the city; and
h day IN which such primary election
is to be held-not less than ten days be-
fore the city election and the hours
within which it is to be held and the
names OF the inspectors appointed to
hold such primary election and receive
the votes that may be case thereat and
make report and return thereof, and
the time, when such return and report
shall be made to the committee direct
ing such primary election to he held;
and, also, the date at which a second
primary shall be held, as hereinafter
provided, in cases where no one person
voted for shall have received a major
1ty vote of those cast at the first pri-
mary. On the filing Of the said notice,
and, If the said committee shall have
adopted rules for the conduct Of said
primary, upon the filing of said rules,
as provided, with the city clerk and
treasurer, the said officer shall immed-
lately cause the same to be copied in
a book to be kept and preserved in his
office for that purpose and the said no.
tice and rules to be published in three
issues each of at least two, or more in
his discretion, of the daily newspapers
published in said city, under his GER
tificate that the same were filed in his
office and the primary called pursuant
thereto.
Sec. II. That no person can vote
or take part in the proceedings of any
primary election who is not by the laws
of the state a lawful elector at the time
such primary election is held.
Sec. IL. That the executive commit
tee appointing the inspectors to hold
such primary election may declare the
terms and conditions on which legal
electors offering to vote at such cleo
ton shall be regarded and taken as
proper members of the party at whose
instance or in whose interest such pri-
mary election has been called or may
be held, and therefore entitled to vote
at such election as a member of that
party, and to provide rules and regula-
lions, not inconsistent with this act,
for the conduct of such primary. And
upon the filing and publication of said
rules and regulations, as hereinbefore
provided, any person who shall know
lngly and wulfully violate or attempt
TO violate the same shall be guilty of a
mlsdemeanor and upon conviction shall
he fined ir imprisoned in the discretion
or the court trying the same, provided, |
that the rule or regulation so violated |
or attempted to be violated be not in |
with the provisions of this
act OF the law of the state. And the
record of the said rules and regulations |
In the office of the city clerk and treas |
urer shall be received in any court of
this state as the evidence of the pri- /!
mary rules and regulations adopted by
said party.
Sec. IA. That any recognized men,
Der OF the party in whose interest such
election is held may challenge the right
I any person offering to vote at such
election and the inspectors there au-
tnorlzed to hold and holding such cleo
tlon shall determine on the evidence
then furnished whether the person so
Offering is entitled to vote at such cleo