The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1903-04-03
MAYOR APPOINTS
ALL The POLICE
This Is One of the important
Changes In COIumbia's Charter,
As Proposed In Senator Erwin's
Bill.

Following are the important points
IN the bill introduced in the Senate by
Senator Erwin, to change the charter
of the city of Columbia
The bill proposes to change the time
for holding the election for Mayor anc
Aldermen from November to the first
Thursday in December, the new board
to take charge on January 1, instead
of December 1. as heretofore.
The Mayor is to be elected Dy the
voters at large, as now, but the alder
men are to be elected by the voters OF
their respective wards.
A new clause is that the salaries OF
the Mayor, Aldermen, Recorder and
CITY Marshall shall be fixed by ordi-
nance, at least six months preceding
the term of office for which the salaries
are fixed, and said salaries shall not
be altered or changed during said term
of office said salaries to be paid out
OF the City Treasury upon warrant
drawn by the Recorder and counter.
signed by the Mayor. Each alderman
shall receive a salary not to exceed W. 5O
for each regular meeting actually at
tended. The Recorder shall receive no
salary, other than the perquisites OF
his office, which shall not exceed that
provided by law for like service except
as provided by this act. The Mayor
shall receive a salary of not more than
$500 per year and the perquisites OF
mis- office. The City Marshall shall
receive salary of not more than 5000
per year and no perquisites.
No city official whose salary has been
fixed by the Boar as hereIn provided
shalt receive, accept or be- paid,
directly or indirectly, or vote to i'm
self or associates out OF the city treas
ury any compensation whatever In
addition to the compensation provided
herein. Any violation of this pro-
vision makes the guilty official liable
for any and allsamounts so paid, dis
missed from office and declared inAllgi-
BILE to hold any Office in the city gov
erument for three years. 1t Is pro-
yided. however, that chairmen or
various committees may receive such
reasonable compensation for service
az may be recommended by the Mayor
and allowed by the board.
Section 16, compels all persons to
keep the SNOW, ice and dirt from side
walks in front of their premises, and If
unoccupied to compel the same to be
done by the owner or agent OF the
property.
Section 1, of article A, gives the
Mayo- tho power to appoint all the
city police, subject to the ratification
OF the board. Under the present char
ter thu board elects the police. The
idea of the new provision Is to take the
police out of politics; to keep men
from running for aldermanlc positions
in the interest of special candidates
for police positions.
Section 5 says that all taxes due to
the town upon real estate are hereby
declared lien thereon until pald, and
the lien may be enforced by advertis-
ing the property for sale, ana if no one
bids for same on day of SALE the
property shall be struck off to the
Mayor and Aldermen as the purchaser
thereof. Recorder shall hold the sales
certi fed to him by the City Marshall
until the next term of the Circuit
Court, unless redeemed before that
time (any person may redeem land so
sold by paying the full amount for
which the property sold, with six per
cent and penalty of one per cent per
month for the time upon the amount
of such sale) when the Recorder shall
certify to the Circuit Court Clerk on
the first day of said term full ana
list of all such sales, and the
same shall be proceeded with in tee
same manner rs provided by statute
for the sale and redemption OF lands
sold for collection of delinquent state
and county taxes.
The Mayor and Aldermen shall levy
and collect polluax for school pur-
poses, and shall levy and collect for
purposes, a privilege tax
on all privileges taxed by the
state, and shall not be limited
in its levy TO the amount
liked by the state. The Recorder shall
collect all licenses and taxes and place
same in the city treasury, and for each
license so issued he shall collect one
1ollar fee, fifty cents of which shall 60
TO the Mayor for countersigning and
keeping a record thereof. The Recor'
Ter shall receive such compensation tor
the collection of taxes, ETC., as the
Board of Aldermen may provide by
ordinance. He shall act as the city
treasurer, and his duties shall be the
same as under the old charter.
The Board of Mayor and Aldermen
shall have the power to anticipate the
annual revenue by borrowing money
TO meet the clty's expenses, provided,
that the amount borrowed shall not
exceed 40 per cent of the tax levy for
he year in which said money Is Dor
.owed provided the members OF the
Board of Mayor and Aldermen shall be
Individually liable for any sum Dor
.ouad In, axcaaa ~ that amOunt