Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1909-01-15
The New Charter.
Much Excitement among our People
over the Matter

Much Excitement among our People
over the Matter
There has not been anything occur
red in this city for years that has so
stirred its people is the question now
being agitated, that Of asking the leg
islature to give us new charter in
which the bounds Of the city Will be
greatly extended aBd plan of govern
ment will be completely turned over
There seems to be a loud ana earnest
acclaim in favor Of the innovation and
tie extention Of the boundary upon
the part Of those living inside the pre-
sent limits but on the other hand there
is almost unahiEous opposition from
those on the outside aud losn 1t is
proposed to tate into the city.
Those living outside claim that they
will have the opportunity to pay cor
poration taxes but have none, few
of the advantages of the city. The
residents of Frankenberrytown aud
the Boom have been holding meetings
anu Has lai1C0 iuho W Xxi wv SD al
ter to the bitter end. Several of the
leading lawyers of the county have
been employed and it has been pre-
dlcted that The charter will have hard
shedding before it gets through.
We are giving in this issue map Of
the city with the present limits and
the proposed limits given so that any
one may readily see what the extern
sion is and what 1t includes.
The new charter provides that there
shall be mayor reside one councilman
from each of the Ave wards into which
the city will be divided. The qualifica-
tions of voter will be the same as
now and the mayor and councilmen
are to be elected for two years. The
charter makes it unlawful for any Of
hcer Of the corporation to be interested
in any contract for fprk or, supplies
for the city ana prdades severe pun
ishment for Nil such offences. TIE
greatest change proposed by the new
charter IL that the mayor shall appoint
Board Of Affairs composed OF three
taxpayers 81 the city one of whom
shall be of the opposite political party
and into the hands of this board the
town Is practically placed. This board
shall have control of all public utIli
ties, parks and grounds, all improve
ments Of all streets and alleys, have
control Of the fire, water and health
departments but the board shall not
begin any work Of improvement with
out first Iayiag same before the com
Gil and getting its approval. The most
extraordinary power 10 given to the
board in this particular that ''any con-
tract made or ordinance passed by the
council shall be certified by the record
or to the board of affair, and it shall
become effective within ten days after
its passages unless within ten days
the board of affairs shall veto the same
in which event they shall notify the
mayor Of their disapproval and their
reason for snch disapproval endorsed
thereon or attached thereto. The may
or shall lap the same and said reasons
before the council at its next meeting,
and thereupon the mayor shall put to
the council the question; Shall the
ordinance or contract become effective
notwithstanding the objections of the
board of affairs?'f If at least four-fifti $
of all the votes of the members elected
to the Council are cast in the affirmi-
if less than four-fifths be cast IN the
Affirmative the measure shall be lost. O