The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1907-03-15


der f E. Erwin, R. II. Guest and
Elem Thomas, have been working sew
eral DAYS, with assistance Of other
commemorative business men, prepar-
ing a new charter for the town OF Co
nmbia Yesterday they completed
their work. and Judge Erwin and Mr..
Lander appeared before the Board OF
Mayor and Aldermen, Mayor Guest
having called his board to meet in
snecial session for that purpose, to
submit to them the proposed new
charter for their endorsement. After
a fun explanation and discussion OF all
the material changes from the old
charter. the Board, on motion of Al
darman fowler, ratified the work OF
the committee, and the new charter
will go before the legislature, there
fore. with the endorsement OF the
BOARD of Trade and the Board of
Aldermen, and also the unanimous en-
dorsement of the local representa-
lives and of course, will meet with
no objection.
The provisions of the new charter
are in most respects Identical with
those of the DID, but several minor
and a few important changes were
made.
Under the present charter Column
bia has four wards and eight alder
men: and these aldermen are elected
nv the voters of their respective
wards: but under the new charter the
town will be divided into three
wards and have only six aldermen;
and these aldermen, though TWO
mist reside in each ward, Will De
elected not by the voters of their re-
spective wards, but by the voters OF
the town at large just as the Mayor
Is And instead Of there being
voting Mace in each ward, as hereto
fore. there will be just one voting
Mace for the entire city; and that VIII
be at the court house. This cnange
is made for two reasons; One is
that six aldermen can transact Nhe
business as well as eight, and perhaps
better as the fewer there are the
greater the responsibility and the
more it will be felt; and the one vol
ing Mace will save three-fourths the
exnense Of holding the election, and
will also prevent repeating" and otn-
err like frauds.
This is one of the most important
changes made, but another important
change is the additional power gwen
the Mayor, who, under the new cnar-
ter will appoint, not only the ponce
and city attorney, as he now does ou'
the City Marshal, as well. the reasons
FOR This change were, first, to divorce
the aldermen from politics as mucn as
nossible so that the selection OF al
dermen would not depend upon the
wishes or the friends of candidates TOT
City Marshall, but simply ana alone
for business reasons and quailho"-
tions Second. to avoid any posslDle
friction between the Mayor, VINO Is
the chief executive OF the CITY, anu
the CITY Marshal, or any OF the polioe
force II was argued that If the May
mr. appointed the police ana the Do"iu
oloctod the CITY Marshall, there mlght
arise serious conflicts between Inc
Mavor and the Board, or between the
civ Marshal and the police, 10 INC
detriment of the public service ou'
that II the Mayor was clothed WIN o.
authority for the appointment OF Tue
entire police force, inciuaihs Tue
c,tv Marshal and made entlrely re
snonsible for Law Enforcement 'nen
~ the law is not enforced the peopie
u,,,, know who Is responsible and VINO
&c 70 blame, and they VIII WISH 'hei'
ndomnation upon the guilty party
II will simplify matters by making Ihe
Mavor's office the only political ONCE
in the gift Of the people; ana IL 'ne
noor,a want Law Enforcement tne'
viii interest themselves In the eieo
t,on NJ Mayor who will enforce tnt
low. and IL they do not want Law ED
torcement they may turn the to"i
over to the boot-leggers and gambler :,
nS bawdv house keepers by permit
IT, ,hem TO elect Mayor VINO VII
.nno,nt City Marshal and poiice loro'
who will wink the other eye al 'n'
Festive sports, and pass their imper
fections by" The Mayor zen.
80 This new and impor
tant duty, the new o"'". - ~
ives the Board of Aldermen the pow
a. y they so elect, to Increase tn'
Movor's salary to $500. The mar
mum under the old charter mas '
42OO a.