The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1906-03-01
PROPOSED NEW
CHARTER FOR
CITY Of NEWPORT


The committee appointed by the Mu-
nlcipal association OF Newport a few
months ago 20 consider the matter OF a
new charter for the city OF Newport has
completed the draft OF charter TO be
submitted 20 the electors OF Newport,
together with its report to the associa-
ton
The corfimittee has made careful study
OF the subject and has Investigated the
conditions In other cities The commit
tee In Its report gives the causes that
have led TO It's proposal. II reads:
The undersigned. while holding divers
opinions on state and national politics,
believe that partisan politics should not
control the administration OF city affairs
and have endeavored to consider the ques
tion ora new charter only from the point
Of view Of the best civic interests Of all
"A city government, I'm the common
form. has not proved a complete success.
To remedy this II has seemed wise 10
create a body sufficiently large TO be
representative OF the entire body Of cti-
zens, and whose deliberations shall be 80
open and whose debates shall be so car
ried on as 10 keep the entire community
Informed iand interested IN its common
municipal affairs.
"A body OF 1876 members. chosen 80 from
each ward. and one-third of its members
renewed each year known as the repre-
sentative council. is in this charter vested
with The election Of all important officers,
with the control OF the appropriations
and spportionment Of all moneys, with
the direction Of all subordinates. and gem
orally with the powers vested ia town
meetings in the towns. To a council OF
this kind will be chosen those persons
who are interested in the public welfare.
young man will then be given an0oppor
tunity to educate himself In public ar
fairs. and likewise a business man OF ex-
perience will be attracted to deliberate
several times a year 10 promote the COM
mon veal, where he would be unable 10
take an Office OF which the duties are
more exacting.
I'm order that the discussions OF this
representative council may be based upon
ascertained facts and may not descend 10
mere personalities. II has been provided
that before proceeding 10 the fixing OF the
budget for the year the balance sheet OF
the preceding year ehal be printed. the
board Of aldermen shall make their rec
omm mendations. and an Independent COM
mittee OF % chosen from the representa-
tive council shall consider this material
and make report in print. 20 be circu-
days before the appropriations are made.
THE powers over the police are trans
ferred 20 the mayor and the board OF
aldermen and the licensing power 10 IL
cense commissioners TO be chosen by the
representative council after the year 1907.
In view OF the political controversies
which have arisen over these questions
IL Is deemed advisable that the election I'm
December. 1905, for the entire representa-
tive council should be held on purely mu-
nicipal issues without involving matters
Of partisan dispute.
ITO separate the city business as much
as possible from party politics and place
Il upon the plane OF the public good. the
date OF the city election has been changed
from the first Tuesday In November TO
the first Tuesday in December. and the
greatest freedom OF the people I'm nomi-
mating candidates for municipal office is
provided, divorced from party embfems
or names.
''The details OF carrying out the direc-
tion OF the representative council arc dele
gated 20 a mayor and a board OF alder
men consisting Of n small number. one
from each ward but elected by the peo-
pie at large who receive a salary. and
a large portion OF whose time !s required
in city matters. on the other hand TO
still retain control in the hands OF the
entire people, as far as practicable, with
out subjecting the city 20 the expense OF
frequent elections on matters not OF the
first importance. a limited referendum
and a full initiative by the citizens are
provided FOR
These general principles. under the re-
strictlons contained I'm the Constitution OF
the state. and with as little change as
possible I'm existing laws. have been en-
bodied as briefly as practicable I'm the
draft act, which is presented herewith"