Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1905-12-13
THE CHARTER COMMISSION.
HOLD A MEETING IN THE CITY
COUNCIL CHAMBER.
Organization Effected Last Night
And The Various Com
mittees Are APP
pointed.

The first meeting of the New Char
ter Commission took place last night
at the City Council Chamber, all but
four of the seventeen members being
present. An organization was accom-
plished aud an informal talk over the
main features Of the new proposed leg
islation resulted in clearing the way
tospractical unanimity of action along
some of the most important lines
where changes in municipal govern
ment are desirable.
An organization was effected by
the election of Mayor John Dep. Douw
rs chairman of the commission and
Mr. Ridgely p Melvin as secretary
The latter will receive such oompen-
sation for his services as the City
Council shall pass on the recommended
tion of the Commission The members
of the Commission will serve without
pay. Mayor Douw stated previous to
the election that he weuld prefer to
have some other person as chairman
unanimous wish of the other mem
bers that be should act
1t was then decided that the work
of the Commission should be divided
and placed under three general heads
and that a committee should be an
pointed for each line of work. After
some discussion and amendment OF
the original motion the committees
were constituted as follows On form
of government and boundaries on mu.
nioipal powers aud on Police aud fire
department. The first two commit
tees would cover the whole ground
but owing to the Importance of the
police and fire departments il was
thought better to form special com
,nittee for the consideration of those
subjects.
Other committees for the consider
alton Of subjects under the general
purview of the second committee such
as regulation of the liquor traffic may
also be formed later ii found neces-
sary. The subject OF the increase of
the territorial limits of Annapolis
was then discussed informally There
was general agreement tEat Annapo.
lis should be extended in a westerly
direction but that it was not adyis-
able to make an effort TO annex East
port and West Annapolis. 1t was
thought that the water (Spa and Col
lege creeks) formed the naturally
boundaries of Annapolis and that
neither Eastport or Annapolis would
taxation to make annexation desirable
Thus one subject upon which there
might have been great contention was
settled.
There was also substantial agreement
upon the general form of city govern
ment to be proposed. ItgWas general
ly thought that neither the Mayor CT
Counsellor should be voting members
of the Council but that the Mayor
should have a veto on legislation and
be charged with the appointment Of
all municipal officials subject 30 con-
firmation by the Council. It was
also thought that the Counsellor would
be more strictly within his functions
as legal adviser if he did not sit as
a member of the Council. The major
ity of the Council appeared to favor
the selection of that officer by the
Council but others thought the elec.
ton by the people the better method.
If the new territory is brought into
the limits of Ithe city there will be
another ward formed There will
then be two aldermen from each ward
and it is proposed to constitute the
Office of president of the Council who
will be elected at-larRe. This will
provide nine members of the Council.
An important subject which was
touched upon was the question of ad-
ditional sources Of rsyenue for the
city government. Several members
had plans which will be considered
later in a more formal manner.
The Commission gave every indica
| tion of getting down to work in 2
business like way and of getting toe
| proposed new charter in shape fol
presentation to the Legislature shortly
/ after it conyenes