The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1906-10-23
AUDITOR BUSY WITH.
new CHARTER
WILL SOON BE READY FOR CIRcU.
EATIoN AMONG THE PEOPLE FOR
SIGNATURES POPULAR VOTE
UPON ITS ADOPTION DEC. IA.

The Astoria charter commission hav
completed their labors and the pro
posed new city charter IL now in th
hands OF Auditor Anderson for com
piliation. He expects to have tn,
work completed this week, after whicl
it will be published. so that the vot,
ers az taxpayers of Astoria can vote
upon it intelligently. Many of the old
provisions OF the charter were retained
several important amendments being
made TO the manner of improving
streets.
One of the most important changes
is the change in the ward boundaries
of the city. Heretofore the city has
contained three wards. with three coan-
cilmen from each ward, The first ward,
from Ninth street to Smiths point, con.
tanned more voters than both the 9th
er wards. and there was a demand from
the residents OF Uniontown for a di.
vision of the wards. The first ward
will extend from Sixth street to the
western limits of the city. and the see.
ond ward from Sixth street to Sew.
enteenth St.; the third ward from Sew.
enteenth ST. to the eastern limits OF the
city. This will make an equal proper.
tion of the voters. Instead OF elect.
ing three eouaeilmen from each ward, |
only two are elected. and one council. |!
man at large, leaving the same mum
Der as at present.
An effort was made 10 abolish the
police commission and leave the selec.
tion of chief of police and police OF.
iicers in the hands OF the committee on
health and police, but majority OF
The members OF the commission decided
20 retain tne present commission. 1t
. reported that a petition win be cir.
'ulated to abolish the police commits.
ion, leaving the appointments in the
lands OF the council. and il will be sub
nitted as separate amendment. to be
voted upon at the December election.
As soon as the charter is compiled,
i win be circulated among the legal
Toters to secure the requisite number
If signatures, 200, and will then be
submitted to vote Of the people at
he city election on December IL, for
'atification or rejection. II Is impos.
ible at this time to publish many Of
he important changes made, but when
he new charter is published. its pro-
-isions can be intelligently discussed.
those who have comprised the commis- {
ion claim that the new charter il an
over the old. In many re-
peets. One Of the principal changes is
a the amount of indebtedness, allow.
1g the city to increase the indebted
ess from $4,000. a. at present, to {
250,0O0. This, it Is claimed, will put j
he city on paying investment, per. ,
lit 1t to create sinking fund for re-
eeming outstanding bonds and place s
he finances Of the city on a more sub '
tantial basis. C
The new charter, II adopted, so far i
; the election of councilmen and 9th.
r officers of the city is concerned, will {
Of 20 into effect until December, 1908, b
which time all the city officers will P
, elected at one time, and will not n
, divided up as now. All the other d
-ovisions will 90 into effect within 30 4
lys after its adoption by the voters,
it is adopted. Under the old char
r, all the city officer, with the ex- a
ption of mayor and city attorney, are v
ected in the odd years from the elec-4 fl
On of all other officers. The new Il
arter will remedy this defect, and d
! officers will be elected every two =,
.ars, with the exception of council o
en-. n