Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-02-26
new CITY CHARTER
WOULD CHANGE
MANY OFFICES
Draft Submitted by City Counsel
Nugent Gives Mayor
Great Power.
PROVIDES SINGLE HEADS
FOR CITY DEPARTMENT
Home Rule of Excise License
Proposed Under a Commission
to Regulate Traffic.

A draft of the proposed city charter,
embodying the ideas of the members
of the Charter Revision Commission,
brought out since their appointment
by Mayor Haussling in 1907, was pre-
sented for the consideration of the COM
mission at its meeting last night by
city Counsel James r. Nugent. 1t is
planned to introduce the bill granting
Newark the new charter in this years
Legislature.
The charter as ii stands makes many
changes in the present system of gov
ernment and gives the city home rule
in the matter of excise regulation.
Under its provisions the mayor shall
appoint an excise commission of three
members who shall have the sole
power to license and regulate the sale
of spirituous, vinous, malt and other
strong or Intoxicating liquors; to fix
the day of the week and the hours OF
the day when such liquors may be
sold," and shall regulate fees.
Insofar as the broad scheme of city
government is concerned, there are
radical changes. The charter provides
for reduction in the size of the Com
mon Council, Instead of thirty-two
members it would have o Council of
seventeen, one TO be elected from each
of the sixteen wards and president
to be elected at large.
Finance Control shifted.
The control of the city's finances is
taken from the Council and vested in
q board of finance and control, consist
ing Of the Mayor. president of Common
Council, the comptroller and two mem
sbers TO be elected at large. This board
is invested with authority to make
budgets, levy taxes, make up the tax
ordinance issue and sell bonds. build
fire and police stations, pass on all pay
rolls, fix salaries, and otherwise con-
duct the business of the municipal COR
p@ration.
The Fire, Police and Health boards
are abolished under the new charters s
provisions, and in tlieir place singie-
headed commissions are created. the
proposed department heads to be ap-
pointed by the Mayor without Council
concurrence, and to serve at his pleas
ure the charter limit for their salaries
being $500 year each.
The Mayors powers are greatly in
creased under this proposed legislation.
His term is fixed at two years. He is
authorized to appoint the superantend-
ent of buildings. the corporation coun-
sell corporation attorney and numerous
other officials.
Among the most important of the
new places provided for is a commits
sioner OF charities to have charge and
Supervision of all city corrective and
charitable institutions, including the
al!nshouse, hospitals. City Home, etc.
TIe would replace the overseer of the
noor, but would have greatly enlarged
powers. Among other duties devolving
upon him would be those now vested
in the Playground Commission.
Bonrd of Works Change.
The Board of Works would consist
of Eve elective members as at present,
except that they would have term of
four years and have an increased sal
ary maximum of $4,000, and that their
powers would be greatly increased.
Among other important functions voted
10 them would be authority to reg Ilate
the price of gas, trolley fares. cost Of
electricity, the location of tracks. to re-
quire building Of subways or elevation
of tracks, etc.
] During the discussion of the Board,l
Of Works proposed powers. former
Mayor Fielder, Mr.. Riker and City
Clerk Connolly recalled that there had
once been an exercise or municipal
control over the rates TO be charged for
street-ca fare in this city
IT remember that the first time l
ever heard David Young talk" said
MFR. Riker. was when he advocated q
reduction in street-car fare from six to
five cents He was member of the
Common Council and the Council
passed an ordinance finally reducing |
the fare 10 the present rate of five
cents"
yes" said Mr.. Fielder, "and I was
nayor at the time and signed the
ordinance. 1t was some years after
hat when Mr. Young became interested I
n street railways"
II was the consensus of opinion that
here was nothing in the law to prevent
he exercise of such authority by mu-
,icinaIity. Mr.. Hardin said that it had
,ever been questioned, and yet such
was seldom exercised in this
lay.
rhe proposed charter aims to give
,ack to the Common Council many OF
he mowers of which 1t has been stripped
n the last twenty or more years The
legislative functions now exercised by
he Board of Health and all other
,oards, with the exception of the Board
y Education and the Board OF Works
ire delegated to the aldermen. 7
Tn a statement smade when he pre-
;ented the5copies Of the 9s,0oo word act.
Mr.. Nugent had thissto say;
II submit complete draft of the
new charter, IT is drawn
,ccording to tho inssructions of your
az + understood them.
..,rhe lrst draft was very vclumin-
,us the Intention 9being TO senaet. If
,ossfble every necessity for the pro-
,osed new government. On second
hougi1t however. tbis seemed unnec-
,ssary, as it vas thought proper bya
,our commission ITO fpreseye all the
avs and ordinances. at present af-
ecting the city " aieh "a srscd with the