Daily capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1896-1899, 1899-01-19
NEW CHARTER
Adjourned Session of the Council
Refuses TO Ratifv Bond Clause.
The New City Charter Read iSection by
Section snd Approved Re-
ingrossed and submitted.

uOlOuf0eQ session 10 consider JUe new
city charter soon to be submitted To
the legislature for adoption. After
some preliminary, discussion Recor.
der N. j. Judah called the meeting
to order and the council roll showed
that seyeu members we're In attedance.
Alderman Lee McGrew being de-
tained at his home by reason Of sick
meas In the family.
The council took up the discussion
OF the charter section by section. and
with several amendments the docu-
menu was approved.
The new charter was drafted by a
committee Of citizens, all Of them
we'll versed IN the requirments Of the
city government and the defectlons
OF the old charter as well as its good
qualities, and the document which is
the result of their labors is a bulky
roll of thirty six type written pages
containing seventy six sections, the
majority of which are similar 10 effect
TO those OF the present charter. SeY-
eral important amendments have
been made in the new draft, which
are meant to improve the working
mechanism of the city government.
BY the old.charter the city marshal
ship, is one OF the elective offices Of
the city but the new charter makes
this office appOintiYe by the city
council. This section, which is the
fifth one In the charter, was strongly
objected TO by Graham and Legg on
the grounds that the appointment Of
that officer would give the council too
much power In the management OF
city affairs. After good deal OF dis
cusslon the section was adopted,
Buren,, Riggs, and Gesner voting aye;
Graham voting and Legg voting no.
Alderman Burrows stated that he
was In favor of the election OF the
marshal but had failed TO vote
through a misunderstanding, so the
section was adopted. II the new
charter IS now adopted by the legls-
lature as approved by the council the
CITY marshal's Office will be ap-
pointlve, as the policemen and fire
department officers are at present,
Another important amendment was
made to Section 6, paragraph IA, re-
lative TO the purchase OF supplies by
the council AS the amendment reads
the council is empowered TO buy sup
plies not TO exceed the value OF S25,
all purchases above that amount must
be let by contract to the lowest bid
der. This gives the council no
option ia the matter OF large pur-
chases aud trsures economy at the
same time precludng any iobbery on
the part ola member OF the council
! by which high priced but low grade
goods could be bought In unlimited
quantities for the benefit Of interested
parties,
Section "a. Relative TO the punish
meuU of begging from the streets and
public houses was amended TO include
private houses as well, another im'
proyement over the old charter.
Paragraph Al. Providing for the
enforcement OF sewer connections Gu
all property adjacent to sewers was
amended so that the city has power 70
compel the property owners TO make
such connections, and in the event oi
their failure. the city is authorized u
make said connections itself and en-
force the payment OF the sane by
lien upon the property providing th'
lieu is duly entered 10 the lien docket
Of the city.
Section 8. Fixing the salary an'
duties OF the recorder provoked SOM
discussion. Gesner wanted the le
system abolished aud in order 10 az
this wished the council 70 deprive I'M
recorder OF bis powers as an eX-Ot
tclo justice OF the peace. THIS actlo'
would divert the state business no
\ done by the recorder into the office o
] the justice Of Salem district where !
belonged. AS 10 was the practice va
n simply a graft on the county TO tn
4 extent OF over $1,000 year. The leg
islature had proposition now 0eior
Y IL TO place the Salem justice on a pee
V flied salary and abolish the fee system
U now 10 vogue and he thought the c I.
n charter should so conform after othe
n discussion pro and con Ghe sectloI
N was approved, retaining the fee sys
" ten aud the ex OtiiciO office.
U Section 0, in fixing the duties OF IN
VI mayor stated that he should nav
n power To appoint a temporary recorde
10 the absence OF that oticer, aud
was shown that iD the case OF u