Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1904-01-02
NEW CHARTER UNDER WAY
The City Council Approves Plan
And Assignment of
Commission.

The plan for new city charter for
| Annapolis took a good step forward
| on Thursday evening by receiving the
approval of the City Council of An
napolis, kthe governing body of the
| municipality, securing the organiza-
| ton of the commission selected to
/ frame the instrument and outlining
a plan for the effective working of
| that body.
The Council met in special session
| at 8 O'clock and upon motion of Coun-
selor Riley committee was appointed
| to draft suitable resolution express
ing the feeling of cooperation with
| the Business Mems Association. This
I committee consisted of the Mayor,
| Counselor and Alderman Martin. The
resolution which it presented ex
pressed the interest of the Council in
| the object before it, endorsed the per-
| sonnel of the commission as named by
| the Association, rendered the use
| of the City Council Chamber to the
commission and appropriated $50
| for its clerical expenses. This reso-
| luton was carried by a vote of to 2.
Alderman 7. A. Thompson, (col-
| ored) offered an amendment TO the
| resolution designed to change the
membership of the commission The
/ board. as proposed by him, contained
most of those as suggested but also in
cluded such prominent Republicans
as DIR. Washington q. Tuck, w. Hal
lam Claude, DR.. Charles B. Henkel
and Louis t. Baer 1t also included
| Mr.. John W. Martin, the Democratic
| alderman, who has been acting with
/ the Republicans. Alderman Thomp
son argued that the commission as
| proposed originally was partisanly
| democartic. The amendment, how
ever, received only the vote of its
mover and Alderman Baer. Mayor
| Jones stated that the original COM
mission was proposed by the Business
| Mems Association, of which he was
member, and he did not consider
that it was partisan in its composition.
After the adjournment of the Coun-
Gil the commission met and organized
| by the election of Mayor Samuel
| Jones as chairman and John de p.
| Douw as secretary. Mr.. Winston O..
Gott, young attorney of the city,
was elected clerk to the commission.
There was lively debate over the
question of the plan of procedure of
the commission. Mr.. Frank H.
Stockett and Mr.. Hugh r. Riley took
the general ground that the different
parts of the proposed new charter
should be primarily entrusted to in
diyiduals or small committees in order
TO facilitate the work. The other
members, however, led by Robert
Moss. advocated the consideration of
the proposed charter section by sec
ton, and that the conclusions of the
whole commission could then be
| referred to committees to be properly
framed This view prevailed and the
plan will be followed for the present.
The commission then adjourned to
meet ON Monday evening at $50
O'Clock.
1t is generally recognized that if
the commission is to complete its work
in time to present the measure which
results to the Legislature with any
chance for its passage, the hardest
kind Of work must be done. Many
of the proposed changes will involve
questions upon which there is grave
difference of opinions in fact, it is
now very evident that these differ
ences extend to the membership Of the
commission. Upon some points there
is sure to be wide divergence OF
opinion. An agreement is not likely
to be reached readily upon the plan
for the extension of the corporate
limits. Mr.. Robert Moss has the most
ambitious ideas upon this subject and
advocates the extension of the city to
a line drawn from Weem's creek
bridge to a point on Back creek.
Others advocate only that Eastport
and West street extended be received
into the corporate limits, while some
object even to Eastport on the ground
that the city will then be charged
with the maintenance of Spa creek
bridge.
There is no question that if any
territory is added there must be @
suitable adjustment of taxation SO that
property in unimproved sections shall
not bear an equal burden to that hav.
ing all the city advantages. The
question of who shall possess the right
Of suffrage in municipal elections will
give rise to controversy. There il
some advocacy of the plan to extend
the suffrage to members of either
sex who are taxpayers and with hold
ing it from those who are not and who
cannot read.
1t is not believed, however, that the
majority of the commission favor
women voting under any circum
stances. These two questions vii
probably be the most difficult to set
tie of any which will arise, but sthos'
concerning the regulation of the po
lice force and the granting of liquor
licenses will necessitate the harmo
nlzing of many diverse views. Or
the whole the commission has large
and delicate task before it.