The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1908-12-31
AS TOWN GROWS
NEEDS INCREASE
Com MM|TTEE TO DRAFT
New Charter Appointed by the
City Council and is Hard at
Work on the Document.

AT the regular meeting of the city
council, December 3, a committee was
appointed to draft new charter to be
presented by our representatives during
the coming legislature, which meets in
January.
Long has been the need of q new
charter. Like the boy who outgrew
his pants, the charter is to shoot "high
waters"
The committee appointed consists of
his honor, Mayor Guy T.. Smith, City
Engineer Maj. Dunlap and Councilman
Is. B. White.
The city attorney, Major G. 7. Lee,
and Recorder Ellsworth we're instruct
ed to make investigations of other city
charters, learn of their working, to
make up rough draft of new charter
for Johnson City and present it to the
committee for presentation to the
board.
Major Lee and Recorder Ellsworth
have already compiled great deal OF
data and will Immediately put it in
the form of a resolution or bill. ~t
They are strongly and favorably con-
sidering the new charter recently given
to Suffolk, Va, viz:
A council to consist of so many
members of the board, to serve with
out pay, this council TO be purely a
Legislative body, to enact the laws and
appropriate the funds, etc. Then to
have board of control, or executive
body, to execute the laws, ETC., the
| Legislative branch enacts, this executive
board to consist of the mayor, recorder
and some member not on the board,
this board of control TO have charge of
all contracts, supplies and acquisitions;
to see that corporation franchises are
adhered to, and the right to accept and
reject bids on public works, etc. This
board of control will have no right or
power whatever to expend moneys, ex-
cept that appropriated by the council.
Among the important features will
be one empowering the council with
authority to issue prohibition licenses
whenever necessary to keep out objec-
tionable enterprises and disreputable
and immoral resorts.
The city of Florence, Ala, according
to the Munipipal Journal, recently en-
acted such law, and they have thus
become enabled to rid the city of pool
rooms, joints of different kinds and low
dives. Another and very important
one is:
In recontracts that the city may have
the absolute power and privilege of ac-
cepting and rejecting bids and propo-
sails which in the judgment of the
of the board will secure the best and
most efficient work. If such a proviso
had been incorporated in our present
charter the city would be at least SIS, 900
better off on the sewer deal. AS it is,
the contract was let to the lowest bid
der OF course bond was given and
forfeited. After trench was dug and
the character of the job exposed, no
other contractors could be induced to
tackle the job. The city then tried it
and lost out-was absolutely compelled
to give 1t up. Then Kelly Bros. were
persuaded TO take the job and they fin
ished it up. This was done at SO much
per diem. If this contract could have
been let to competent contractor
even though the contractor may have
lost money, yet he would have been
compelled to finish the job, which
would have been done much sooner
than it was.
1t is also proposed to incorporate a
clause requiring all practicing physi-
clans to report to the recorder all births
and deaths, and in connection with
deaths the cause and circumstance
connected Herewith, under penalty of
a miSdemeanor.
Suggestions from leading business
and professional men will be received
and considered by the board.
1t is TO be hoped that the city will
secure new charter at the earliest
possible date. We simply can not
wear the old clothes much longer, the
buttons are all Off and they ere kept
on only by strings and nails.
Give us room to grow,