The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-02-05
Police Justice, Board Of
Audit and Finance.
INCREASE SALARIES
This Made Last Night For Dispenser,
Force and Mr.. B. Grimes CoWper
Elected as Dispensary Com
missioner. Charter Meeting
Wednesday Night.

The Aldermanic congregation of
Raleigh assembled in due form last
night and wrestled nightly with va
rious affairs.
The recommendations of the
Charter Committee were read and
commented on, but the matter being
80 important a one, and one which
the people of this city should know,
action on the changes suggested was
postponed till Wednesday night. In
the meantime the gist of the changes
which the Legislature will be asked
TO make in Raleigh's charter are to
be published, this either tomorrow or
Tuesday morning.
The Board agreed, by a vote of
thirteen to two to increase the salary
of the men in charge at the Dispen-
sslry IN ilaieigh. AS q successor to
MIR. w. n. Jones, of the Dispensary
Commissioners, who resigned last
month the Board elected Mr.. b.
Grimes Cowper, of this city.
This was done unanimously by the
Board after a caucus. In the caucus
Mr.. Cowper received ten votes, Mr..
Sherwood Upchurch five. part of
the law of the diSpenSary is that
missioners, but as Mr.. Cowper was
residing out of the city at the time
of the election he cast no vote.
Other things that were done at the
meeting are set forth in due order
later on in this epistle, but the great
er time of the meeting was devoted
~ hearing city Attorney Watson
read the changes recommended to be
made in the city charter. These
changes have gone through the grist
mill of three committees and some
extra citizens, these being representa-
tives of the City Council. the Cham
Der of Commerce and the Merchants
Association.
The Charter Changes.
The election of a Mayor is to take
place every four years, the Aldermen
every two years. A Police Justice and
the City Clerk every two years. There
are to be eight aldermen in place of
sixteen. one from every precinct as
now arranged. The Police Justice is
n new officer provided for, as is also a
Board of Audit and Finance of three.
which Is to have charge of all finan-
cial affairs of the city.
The Mayor is not to be eligible to
n reelection. The Aldermen and
other elective officers are to be chosen
i'm May, the Board to meet in five days,
but the officers whom they are to
elect are not to be chosen till in Au-
gust, this to give the Board a chance
TO study the needs of the positions
and the fitness of the applicants.
8 The officers to be elected by the
Aldermen are to be the Chief of Po-
lice, members of the police force,
Sanitary Inspector, Street Commits
sioner. Treasurer, Tax Collector and
City Attorney. All salaries are to be
fixed in advance and not to be in
creased during the term of office.
The Mayor is to receive $1,000 year,
Police Justice $500. Chief of Police
$1,000, Street Commissioner $1,000,
city Clerk $1,000, Tax Collector
$1,000. Treasurer $500. Other officers
are to receive such salaries and fees
as their positions call for in compari-
son with the above. No fees are to
20 to officers with salaries
1t was stated that this would make
a saving of $5,11S.55 year, an esti-
mate having been made from So, 900
of receipts one year that the Chief of
Police received $1,000, Tax Collector,
two estimates. one $1,000, the other
of S2,SO6.15 the treasurer $312 (who
charged only half rates) the Auditor
$500, the Sinking Fund Commission
S2i0. The duties of these last two
officers are to be performed by the
chairman of the Board of Audit and
Finance, who Is to receive $500 year.
the other two members 800 each,
and clerk 5000 year. All salaries
are to be flat and all fees paid are to
20 in the City Treasury.
The Mayor is to have no trial pow
Ell. He can remove summarily from
Office all except members of the Board
of Aldermen, this for maifeasance
misfeasance or nonfeasance or any
act or neglect of acts which would
disqualify such officer. the matter to