The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1909-05-26
"CITIzEN" ON THE CHARTER
CALLS ATTENTION TO SOME
THINGS WHICH HE BELIEVES
ARE OBJECTIONABLE.

desire to call the attention of the
citizens of Dawson to the proposed
new charter prepared by committee
appointed by your mayor, a copy
of which is published in this issue
of The News.
Now, as all the laws of our town
are based on the city's charter every
citizen is vitality interested in it's pro-
visions. 1t stands in the same rela-
ton to the citizens of our town as
the constitution does to the citizens
of the state.
1t is, we understand, patterned
after and copied largely from the
charter of the city of Galveston, Tex,
whose tax rate is $3.50 per thou
sand.
To begin with, is it not about four
or five times too large for our town?
Doesn't it give entirely too much
power and authority to the council?
Would it not apply to a town Of
100000 better than to Dawson? Is
it wise to change from the Old Gus
tom of electing three councilmen
every year to a plan of electing all
six each year?
Why change from the good law
of councilmen not succeeding them
selves, and fix it so they can per-
petuate themselves as long as they
please? Isn't it taking the rights
of the people away for the council
to elect councilmen or mayor in case
of ties or vacancy from death or
otherwise? Doesn't this right belong
to the people? Does it not give the
council authority to create just as
many offices as they see fit, fix their
salaries and pay them out of the city
treasury? Is this wise?
The proposed charter creates the
office of tax collector. Do we need
this extra expense? 1t gives the
council the right to elect the city
treasurer Why not let the people
elect, as before? Do we need a city
physician, as suggested? Can't we
do without this expense? 1t gives
the council the right to fix the may
or's salary from so cents up to $500.
Is this wise? Why not let the sal
airy remain $500 as it is now, and
be fixed by the charter? 1t gives
the council the power to improve
sewer, grade, pave, widen or do what
they see fit to the streets, and make
property owners pay twO-thlrds the
cost. Assessment for this expense
becomes a lien against the property,
and if the property is sold the title
is absolute the owner has no right
to redeem it; it's gone to pay for this
improvement, if it brings only half
it's value. Are there not citizens on
Main and other streets who, if forced
to pay this expense, would lose their
property? Furthermore, if the real
estate does not pay this expense it
is also a lien on the citizens goods
and chattels, and household goods
can be taken in the same manner.
Is this wise for small towns?
It gives the council power to
widen streets as they see fit, con-
denim any property, move houses
back as far as they see fit and make
owners pay-two-thirds of the expense;
or sell their real estate, goods and
chattels to pay it. Is TINS wise lot
a town of our size?
1t gives them the power to extend
the sewerage beyond the limits ana
levy tax to pay for 1t.
1t gives them the authority to con-
tract for power for the city IN any
amount and at any price they may
see fit.
1t gives them authority to borrow
for current expense seven Thousand
five hundred dollars. Isn't that pref
ty swift for Dawson?
It takes away from the citizens the
right to arbitrate tax assessments.
The only recourse is the courts.
1t takes away from the citizens the
right to appeal from the decision OF
the mayor to a full board OF the
council.
Should not anything of as vital
Importance as a city's charter De
submitted to the people for rauhca-
ton?
Is it wise for the council to have
authority to fix rates for pubic cor
porations. If the council was not
conservative might they not fix rates
entirely too high or too low? Would
this not be an inducement for corpoT-
ations to go into politics?
IF Americus, a much larger TOWN.
pays her mayor $500 ought not $3OO
be enough for Dawson? Why pay
$500?
The foregoing are some of the on-
iections to the proposed charter'
There are others not mentioned
1t isn't intended by pointing out
these objections to condemn the char-
ter as a whole, for there are as l
see it, many wise and good proyls-
ions in it that would be applicable
to our town, but there are many
that should be changed, modlhed or
omitted. Respectfully, CITIZEN