The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-02-07
These are Here Set Forth
In Full.
THE POLICE JUSTICE
The Board of Audit And Financ And
The Regulations With Regard
to Flat Salaries And No
Ennc
Fees.

CITY Attorney Walter l.. Watson has
furnished q synopsis of the provisions
81 the changes suggested in the city
charter of Raleigh, which he prefaces
,,ith the following:
Having been directed by the Board
. of Aldermen to prepare concise state
ment of the changes embraced in the
proposed amendment to the city char
ter. [ desire to state that the report
contained in your paper of the pro-
ceedings of the Board OF Aldermen,
which embraced the proposed changes
i'm the charter We're so carefully and
clearly presented that / do not feel
that / am able TO add much thereto;
however, il Will not do any harm to
reiterate what was set forth in the
report.
The principle changes are then
given by Mr.. Watson as follows:
The mayor, police justice. city
clerk and one alderman from each
election precinct are TO be elected by
the people The mayor holds his Of
flee for your years and is Ineligible
10 succeed himself rs mayor; the
police Justice, city clerk and alder
men are elected very two years. The
wards remain the same as now defined
with the same divisions. one alderman
is elected from each division and this
makes a board of eight aldermen in
stead of sixteen.
"The mayor has charge of every de-
partment of the city government. he
tries no cases He receives a salary
of 200 per annum In order that
he may have the power 10 properly
execute the duties imposed upon him,
ne is given the right and authority to
summariiy remove from office any Off
&c any officer or employe of the city
of Raleigh except aldermen: the Off
flee has the right of appeal to the
Board OF Aldermen who may reinstate
min upon u two-thirds vote.
THE police justice has 40 duties 10
perform except that of a trial court,
this will take about two hours each
day of the week, excluding Sunday,
and he receives a salary of $50 per
month. He has the same jurisdiction
as that of the present mayor and in
addition is given Jurisdiction TO try all
misdemeanors committed in Raleigh
or Raleigh township. 1t is believed
that this increased jurisdiction will ex-
pdite the trial of a great many petit
criminal offenses. will tend to lessen
the violation of law, and Will be a
great saving to the county in the
matter Of keeping out of Jail a lot of
insolVent prisoners who are committed
there awaiting trial at the Wake Su
perior court.
1.-THE Board of Aldermen is COM
posed Of eight members. each alder
man must be a resident of the precinct
from which he is elected and forfeits
mis- office when he moves from his
election precinct The aldermen can
try and remove from office any one
of their number, the mayor police
Justice, or any officer or employee of
the city upon charges preferred, in
Guiding members OF the Board of Audit
and Finance. The aldermen are given
additional power and authority in the
matter of prescribing the amount of
fine Or imprisonment for the violation
of ordinances The charter permits
them to impose q fine of not exceed
ing one hundred dollars or imprison-
ment not exceeding two months or
both in the discretion Of the police
justice. and they can also impose a
civil penalty or forfeiture not exceed
ing two hundred dollars. The power
of Recall is given TO the voters of
each election district: SO that when ali
alderman fails to represent i'll the
Board of Aldermen the citizens who
elected him an alderman. he can be
~e~aI,ed py petition of one-third OF
the qualified voters of his precinct.
Board of Aldermen for that purpose:
when this is done the board suspendS
the alderman and calls another cleo
tion. at such election the suspended
alderman can again run and be voted
for. This provision is given in ORDER
that the people may have the right TO
vote upon the retiring of their alder
man. and to do so if a majority of the
electors so vote; especially in cases
where an alderman mas been guilty of
no crime or neglect in office. and con-
SeQuently could rot be removed by the
Board. put nevertheless is not truly
representing the sentiment of those
who elected him.
"A Board of Audit and Finance IS
provided. consisting of a chairman
who receives five hpndred dollars per
year salary, two members who receive
one hundred dollars per annum each.
and n clerk who receives nine hundred
dollars per year: the chairman is ex-
ofiicio commissioner of the sinking
fund and receives no additional pay.
This board is to examine. audit and
allow all the claims or demands
against the city they have TO approve
all warrants drawn on the city; ana
nothing relating to the expenditure Of
the city funds can be done without
their approval. In order 10 remov6
them from any possible influence that
might be exerted upon them on the
part of the board of aldermen IL is
provided that after the election of the
first members OF the board the chair
man 10 be elected for six years. one
member for four and one for two
years. by the present board of alder
men. the Board of Audit and Finance