The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-02-24
THE CITY CHARTER
A COMPROMISE BILL AGREED
UPON
Board of Audit and Finance
missioners to be Elected by the Next
Board of Aldermen Other officers to
he Chosen at a

Board of Aldermen Other Officers to
be Chosen at a Primary
The following is taken from The Mes
senger's Raleigh correspondence under
date of yesterday:
Zone of the first bills introduced in
the legislature was the Wilmington city
government bill, known as the police
bill. There were differences of views as
between the w members from New
Hanover. Last night these members
and Iredell Meares, Esq, met and ar
ranged what may be termed a compro-
mise bill. The selection of the police
commission is left to the next board of
aldermen. There is a provision that a
primary shall settle matters, but by a
majority instead of a plurality vote.
The board Of audit and finance will
continue as at present, save that II viii
nave no republican member and that
his place will be taken by some demo-
crat not decided on. The primary will
also designate the mayor and other Of
~ficers."
THE BOARD OF AUDIT AND FL
NANCE.
Last night our correspondent further
t~elgraphed The Messenger from Raj
eigh as follows:
1.-THE bill names the following as the
board of audit and inance: Jesse Will
der. G. w. Yates, S. p. McNair, H. C..
Mcqueen and w. A. Riach. The police
board is to be named as in the original
bill. At the primaries the mayor, city
clerk and treasurer n the chief of
police are to be voted for, and a ma
jority instead of a plurality is to elect.
If no n gets a majority at the first
nlnctinn there iG m he q. second nrima-
ry. This bill was favorably reported at
today's session"
THE ROUNTREE BILL.
The present bill is the bill introduced
by Representative Rountree, January
5th, but changed as to the features men,
toned. AS to the election of the police
commissioners, the following sections
from Mr.. Rountree's bill show how
they are to be chosen and gives other
features of the bill as it will be passed,
toWit: .
THE POLICE COMMISSION.
Section 8-That the board of aldermen
shall on the first Monday in April, A.
D., 1899, or as 500 thereafter as prac-
ticable. elect three discreet and proper
persons from among the qualified cleo
tors of the city, who shall constitute,
and be known as the board of police
and fire commissioners, one of whom
shall be elected for the term Of wv
years, another for the term of four
years and another for the term of six
years, but biennially thereafter on the
first Monday in April the board of al
dermen shall elect one member Of the
said board of police and fire commits
sioners for the full term of six years
to succeed the commissioner whose
term is about to expire. The members
of the board Of police and fire COM
missioners shall forthwith qualify by
18Th go OpN rnpcn1
authorized by ..aW to administer an
oath that they will honestly, faith
fully and to the best of their ability
discharge the duties of their of zee. Any
vacancy occur ing among the members
of said board during their term of Of
fee shall be filled by the remaining
members, and If the vacancy shall not
be filled by the remaining members
within a week from the time such va
cancy occurs, then it shall be filled by
the board of aldermen.
Sec. 9IThe member of the board Of
police and fire commissioners having
the longest term to serve shall be eX-
oficio chairman, and the said board
shall have the power and authority,
and it shall be it's duty to prescribe the
term of office, ages and qualifications,
mental, moral and physical, of, and to
appoint, all policemen and firemen, in
GLIDING the chief, captain, lieutenant
and sergeants of the police department,
and the chief, assistant chief, foremen
and engineers of the fire department,
and from time to time to adopt rules
and regulations for the good govern
ment of the police and fire departments
Of the city. And the said board shall
meet at least once q month, and oftener
if necessary, for the transaction of
business. The clerk of the board of
audit and finance shall be the clerk Of
the board Of police and fire commits
sioners and shall receive as compensa-
tion q salary of three hundred dollars.