The age-herald., 1899-01-25
THE NEW CITY CHARTER WAS RATIFIED
BY THE MAYOR AND BOARD OF ALDERMEl
THE NEW CHARTER
 IN BRIEF FORTY

The charter begins by giving the boundary limits. which are not changed.
 The city is divided into nine wards on the old plan, without reference to the four new wards that may be added under the Great CT Birmingham bill." now before the legis- lature.
 The outline of city government is given as in the old charter, excepting that the date of municipal elections is changed from December to the first Monday in May
 One of the new provisions set forth in the duties of the mayor is that in remit ting any fine he shall report the same at the next meeting of the board, with the reasons therefor in writing.
 Section A, as reported by the committee, provided the convicts could be leased for hard labor anywhere within six miles of the corporate limits, as amended, the sec- tion provides that convicts can be confined anywhere within six miles of the city, but cannot be leased for hard labor.
 Section @ gives the city government power to regulate and control all health officers and sanitary matters.
 The clause regulating the price and quail ity of water and lights (gas and electricity) furnished private consumers in full is as follows:
 Eighth: To erect, repair and regulate pub lie wells and cisterns, to establish fire plugs and public hydrants and to make all need- ful provision by contract or otherwise the supply of the city and the citizens thel e. of with water; and the board of mayor and aldermen shall have full power and author ity to regulate and prescribe the quality of water to be furnished and rates to be charged therefor to the city and to private consumers within the city limits and to pass all such bylaws, resolutions or ordi- nances as may be necessary or expedient to this end. Ninth: And to provide by con- tract or otherwise for the lighting of the city by gas, electricity or other system for public and private use, and to regulate and prescribe the quality and the rates to be charged therefor to the city and to private consumers. and to pass all bylaws, resolu- tions or ordinances as may be necessary to this end.
 The following section regulating fresh meats is new and is given in full:
 Section -. Be it further enacted, That the said board of mayor and aldermen shall have the power to establish and control and regulate slaughter houses and pens and to said quorum was not present. A messen- ger was sent for the aldermen in the cor riders.
 The reading proceeded for some time, when Alderman J. L. Parker again in ,er- rupted. He said the reading of the char ter was very unsatisfactory and he wanted every alderman to have copy before him. He renewed his motion to adjourn. but was voted down. He was then provided with copy of the charter
 Alderman Kerr was relieved by City Clerk Camp in the reading of the charter. The reading proceeded for a few minutes when Alderman J. l.. Parker arose and walked towards Alderman Altman, who was in reclining position, with his feet on chair in front with him with his eyes closed
 q move that the reading be stopped; one of the aldermen is asleep" he said.
 of you mention your candidacy (for mayor) won't be asleep retorted Alder man Altman.
 The reading then proceeded without inter- ruption until the end, and then the objec- tions were taken up one by one and dis cussed.
 Collections Taken Up
 Alderman Lynagh objected to the six mile limits in section 24, regarding the working of prisoners. He said 1t meant that city convicts would be worked in mines to com pete with free labor. There was plenty of work for them to do in the corporate lim- its
 Alderman J. l.. Parker was opposed to the six mile limit clause. The convicts would interfere with free labor and it was not right to place man who had perhaps never committed a crime higher than that of be- ing drunk with felon.
 City Attorney Lowe said he wrote this clause in the interest of humanity. In the summer time, especially, it was impossible to conf1ne the prisoners in jail A place to confne and work them might be erected over Red mountain or some where else. The city should not be restricted. It should have the power to establish a place for confining the prisoners outside the city limits. It was a crying necessity. In any event the convicts could not be leased with out special ordinance.
 Alderman J. L. Parker said the convicts
  Mayor Evans asked the alderman where he proposed to house and feed them. No man was ever leased to the mines during | the present administration who was not | guilty of more than misdemeanor. Some | thing has to be done. How are you going | to punish these prisoners. The city jail | will not hold over seventy prisoners hu- | namely.
 | Alderman Altman offered amendment | to the section providing that city misde- meanor convicts cannot be leased to others l for hard labor. The amendment was car ried, after an exception was made in re- gard to the prisoners who refused to work. l Term of the Mayor Alderman Kerr moved that the present | term of office of the mayor remain at two | years.
 The section regulating the health depart