The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-02-09

The ordinance prepared by the Nonparti-
san Commission for the Public Welfare.
proposing three important amendments TO
the city Charter. in order TO regulate meth
DDS OF legislation. to establish more equit-
able and less burdensome system for public
improvements, and TO afford a satisfactory
revenue for all municipal purposes, was
read for the first time yesterday In the City
Council and House of Delegates.
IL was submitted by Harvey u. Christie.
secretary of the Nonpartisan Commission
for The Public Welfare. and was accompa-
MED by n communication briefly presenting
the contents ard indicating the necessity of
giving 1t thorough consideration for the
purpose of allowing the people of st. Louis
10 vote on the proposed amendments In the
Aprii election. so that apparent defects In
the Charter may be amended and an era of
imrovenent be inaugurated., The communi-
cation also emphasized the fact that the
ordinance had been formulated by COM
mission that is strictly nonpartisan, and
with no other object than to benefit the
city.
amendment No / relates to action on
hiiis by the Municipal Assembly. 1t specifies
that no ordinance shall be passed except
by bin. and that no bill shall be amended
IN either house SO as TO change fits original
purpose. Bills must be read in each house
on three different days; they may be
amended or rejected in either house. Final
action cannot be taken by either body un-
til the bill shall have been reported by a
committee. No bill. except general appro-
priation bills. shall contain more than one
subject. which shall be expressed In the
title. Every bill shall be reported by a
committed in thirty days; in the event of
failure the body concerned shall take up
the matter. and consider and act upon 1t an
the committee OF the whole.
FIXES THE RATE OF
TAXATION IN THE CITY.
Amendment No. provides that the Mu-
nicipal Assembly shall, annually. by ordi-
nance. levy, assess and collect taxes on all
subjects and objects of taxation within the
city taxable by law for State purposes, for
the support and improvement of the city and
the payment Of the public debt: and estab-
fishes the rate as follows: Not more than
per cent for municipal purposes: for the
payment Of the public debt now existing or
which may be incurred hereafter. suf-
fcfent per centum to pay the interest as Ii
falls due, and to constitute a sinking fund
to pay the principal within twenty years
from the time Of contracting same, provid-
ing that the rates Of taxation for payment
Of the debt. existing on April Z. 1890. and
whatever Indebtedness may be incurred
hereafter, shall be separately established.
The rate of taxation for municipal pur-
poses may be Increased for the erection of
public buildings with the approval of two
thirds of the qualified voters of the city.
The rate of increase and the purpose must
be defined when the proposition is submit
ted to popular vote. Revenue for erecting
public buildings" shall be preserved as
separate fund The Municipal Assembly
shall be authorized to levy. aseess and col
lect all taxes authorized to be levied by
the municipality by the State. On or be-
fore the first Monday In May of each year
the Municipal Assembly shall send to the
President of the Board of Assessors n GER
titled ordinance designating the percentage
OF taxes for the current year. The former
schedule shall remain in effect II the Mu-
nicipaI Assembly shall fail to issue a new
one. The City Comptroller shall be author
lied to correct manifest errors in taxation
after hearing allegations.
Amendment No. concerns public i'm