Daily capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1896-1899, 1899-01-24
WHAT It SAYS
The New Salem City Charter Boiled
Down for Our Readers.
A Comprehensive Glance at the Piovis-
ions and Reforms Proposed
in the Document.


epitomized the document and It is
here presented giving brief ab.
stract of the PROVISIONS of our new
city constitution to be.
Section creates the city a body.
polite, and names IL.
Section defines the boundaries, as
they exist at present; and provides for
the absorption Of more territory, upon
the petition of maj )rity OF voters
and taxpayers desiring tc become a
part OF the corporate body.
Secoion gives the city the right to
hold property, real and personal, aud
to erect buildings in aud out OF the
city for specific purposes, to contract,
sue and be sued, and for a corporate
seal.
Section provides for general
election on the first Monday in De-
cember OF each year.
Section prescribes the Officers and
the manner OF their election, the
qualifications OF voters, etc.
Section defines the personnel of
the council, and confers upon It pow
ers In relation TO filing vacancies in
office, the keeping of records, It's meet
ings, procedure, general taxation,
hospitals, etc; confers express power
to Own, erect and operate water, gas
and electric plants, etc, upon a two
thirds majority vote OF the citizens
voting at an election therefor; TO
license all manner OF businesses,
trades aud vocations, for the purposes
OF city re7enue, when con-
sidered necessary by the council; TO
gambling establishments, and to pro-
vide for police and fire surveillance
at all times and places; to supervise
and control all streets, side and cross
walks, gutters, curbs, ETC.; to lmpound
sell, release or kill all animals running
at large: to provide fol the payment
Of all city expenses; for the appoint
me7t OF the city marshal. and pre-
scrlbing his duties ETC.; and providing
for al! the necessary elements OF num-
cipal control, heretofore exercised, In
regard TO vagrants, paupers, and
other persons coming within the op-
Grafton OF the general provisions OF
the city.
Section denies the Official status
Of the mayor.
Section fixes the status, salary at
not TO exceed 81 900 per annum, and
duties OF the city recorder, aud pro-
vides for the turning over OF theclty
treasury OF all fees earned by the re-
cOrder.
Section rovldes for the filling OF
the recordersnip, In the event of the
illoess OF the recorder.
Section 10 prescribes the duties and
powers OF the marshal, and fixes his
salary not to exceed 81 900 per annum.
aud stiDulates for the turning oyer OF
all his fees TO the city treasury,
Section II prescrlbes the duties Of
The treasurer.
Section ~ provides for official bonds,
and the terms OF officers.
Section 10 authorizes the mayor 10
veto claims against the city, etc.
Section IA debars councilmen from
participating in any contract made
by the city, and provides Il penalty
therefore.
Section l5 defines the qualifications
OF voters in the city.
Section 10 provides for working OF
city prisoners on the public streets
aLd buildings, etc.
Section II provides for the publica.
iou OF ordinances, etc.
Section IS provides as TO time OF ef-
feet OF ordinances, etc.
Section 10 provides as 10 enrolment
aud passage of ordinances, etc.
1Section 20 provides as 10 the record.
Ing OF ordinances, and kindred mat
ters.
Section 2l provides as TO the passage
OF ordinances over the mayor 3 veto,
etc.
Section 22 establishes the quorum
OF the council, publicity OF meetings,
penalty for nOn-attendance, etc
"Section 23-"The common council
shall not, Ia any manner, create any
debt or liability; provided at the end
OF each year, an estimate shall be
made Of the actual revenues 10 be de-
rived from all sources. From the
total Of that estimate the total Of
liked charges shall be deducted, and
the disbursements OF the city council
shall be restricted 20 the balance.
No debt shall be contracted
ia excess OF the estimated rev.
enue; except that 10 case OF
Gn emergency OF Unforeseen calamity.
the council may call an election to de-
termine whether the city shall incur
an Indebtedness TO meet such emer-
gency or calamity, and upon two
thirds OF the qualified voters voting
al such election being la favor OF au-
JhOriziug the council 10 Incur the
proposed Indebtedness, they may then
contract the same, but said indebted
ness shall not exceed the SUN Of $40,
900. IL the council shall vote 10 incur
Indebtedness in excess OF the amount
estimated, or authorized by the elee-
tiUn aforesaid, any member voting for