The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-01-29
Mr.. DRtWRf'S VIEWS
HE SAYS THE BOARD OF ALDER.
MEN INVITE SUGGESTIONS.
PROVISIONS EXCLAIMED by OPPONENTS
They Complain Of the Plan to Establish a Police
Justice. Enlarge The Powers of the
Mayor, and Other Propositions
in the Amendment.

in the Amendment.
There is much discussion over the
proposed amendments to the city charter
Some weeks ago, at the request If the
Board of Aldermen, Mr.. Armistedd
Jones, city and county Democratic
chairman, and Mr. Perrin Busbee, city
attorney, drew bill to amend the char
ter. That bill was approved by the board
and most of the city officials and has
been introduced in the House by Mr..
Boushall, but at the request of Mr.. Jno.
c. Drewry, chairman of the caucus of
the Democratic aldermen, the bill has
been held up to give full time for 4 dis
cussion of the provisions.
THE CHARTER EXPLAINED BY
BUSINESS MEN.
At a meeting of bushes men, held last
week to ask the Legislature to repeal the
Merchants Purchase Tax, a committee
on the city charter was appointed.
They have prepared the following synop-
sis of the bill with their objections there
to:
Some of the changes iii the city char
ter provided for by the bill recently in
troduced in the Legislature are very
far-reaching in their results, and de-
mand careful thoughts on the part Of
the citizens of Raleigh. There are
many changes that need to be called
to the attention of the public but for
the present the following are noted as
the most radical in their nature.
LET Tho oSfbl; cb1nauf Of tha affica
of police justice at salary of $50 per
month and fees. The police justice is
given exclusive jurisdiction of Ill v.o-
lations of city ordinances and charter,
and is also given jurisdiction of civil
causes and criminal causes arising
within the corporate limits of the city.
or within one mile thereof, and no
criminal cause can be removed from
him to any other justice of the peace
or other officer for any cause what
ever. This officer seems to be provided
for in order to give the mayor nothing
to do with hearing and determining Of
fences against the city ordinances, etc.
'.2nd The power is given the police
committee, composed of three perso rs,
Ito make rules and regulations for the
government of the police force This
committee has the right to hear and
determine charges against the police of
the city, and their action is final, except
where they attempt to deprive of office,
and with the consent of the board of
aldermen they shall establish, furnish,
provide a station house." etc. These
powers have heretofore been lodged in
the board of aldermen, and the police
committee has been creature of the
board, but the new charter proposes to
put the committee beyond the jurisdiction
and control of the board in certain
matters.
'.3rd The mayor is given unusual
powers, and control of employees and
officers of the city. He is gwen the
power to demand the assistance + the
militia of the State within the city,
and may order in writing services TO
be rendered by any brigade, regiment or
company, and the commanding officer
is required to obey such order. lie
is required to examine assessments of
property made by county assessors, ETC,
and is given general custody, direc-
ton, supervision and control of all the
public employees, work and works, i'm
provements, grounds, ETC., of the city,
not specially provided for by the char
until the next meeting of the board Of
aldermen "any officer or employe of
the city, not otherwise provided for
by the charter who is charged with
direliction of duty, etc. He is also iiven
the full powers and jurisdiction of a
justice of the peace. He is also given
the authority to direct the street ct m
missioner to perform, undefinad Cuties,
and obey underlined orders about rowing.
curbing, grading and macadami i y, etc.
the streets, with power to nfof e such
orders by fines. He is also given l1any
other supervisory powers. The mayors
salary is fixed at 500 per month.
18th. The office of city Surveyor is
established at a salary of $1,000 per
year. The duties Of this officer have been
heretofore performed by the street COM
missioner in connection with his other
duties
18th. The street committee is made an
independent body beyond the jurisdic lion
and control of the board If ll1e.m3n,
and in conjunction with the mayor they
"shall from time to time prescribe and
establish such regulations, md adopt
such measures as they may deem expe'
dent for grading, curbing, paving, ma
cadamizing, repairing, cleaning and
keeping in proper order and condition
all the streets, lanes and alleys of Tho
city," This committee is also given alb
solute control of the sidewalks witt
power to 'order and direct the manner
of building, altering and repairing ih'
same and to order and determine thu
grade, elevation and width of the same
and of what materials the walks shall
be composed" etc, etc
18th. Certain license taxes nave beer
changed. Hotels, restaurants and eat
ing houses have been relieved of an.
tax and the tax increased On hacks
drays, etc. The surface privy tax ha
been increased from $1.00 per year, I'm
der the ordinance, to $500 rer year il
the charter Each householder in tn
city is also subject to be taxed $500 &c