Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-03-06
CITY CHARTER
IS AMENDED.
Legislature Agrees On Changes
Which Have been Approved By
City Council.
TWO BOARDS ARE ABOLISHED
Sergcants to Replace f..eutenants nh
Police FOrce--CiIv May Borrow
MOBey--The Health Law

a letter was received in this Of.
flee today from Delegate Robinson
Moncure. announcing that the three
bills affecting this city have passed
both HouscS of The General Assem-.
bly,. These bills are more far-reach-
ing in their effect upon our munich
pal government than has been gencr-
ally supposed. Both the fire depart
ment and the health department un-
dergo radical changes. The Board OF
Fire Wardcns is abolished. and the
duties which have heretofore been
performed by that board will now de.
Yolye upon the committee of the
;City Council, linOwn as the Fire
Committee: likewise. The Board oi
Health, which has not proven sails
factory us now organized. is abolish
ed. and the duties Of that board will
be performed by Il committee OF
Council, 10 be known us The Com
mitlce on Health
IL is not thought that the change
in reference 10 the fire department
will cause any Immediate change in
the general management OF the de-
partnIent. But if the present elab-
crate set Of health laws now pending
in Council are passed. and it is al
most certain they will. the health de-
partment will become one OF The
most important branches Of the city
government. The passage OF Il prop
or health law has long been advocal-
ed by majority Of the members OF
the Council and the only thing that
has prevented it has been the nnsat-
isfaclory condition of ,hn'iaw in ref
erence TO the Board OF Health. and
with that feature eliminated. it is al
most certain that the health law will
be passed Il health officer elected.
committee on health appointed, and
within The next few months. The
effect Of putting the health and fire
departments under committees of
the Council is to centralzc the city
government. and as near as possible
bring every department under the
direct control OF the City Council.
The bill in reference TO the police
department is also among the meas
ures passed: this is the measure that
was introduced IN the Legislature and
passed by the Senate before it had
been approved by the City Council
but after considerable discussion, il
recommended the passage of the bill
as originally introduced. The bill
abolishes the Office Of lieutenant oi
police. and provides for chief OF
police. and as many scrgcants and
privates as may be deemed necessary
The third measure. and one OF
vast Importance. is The amendment
TO the City charter, authorizing the
City Council TO issue bonds and ne
gotiate loans. Under the charter
rs It has heretofore existed. there
has been no express power in the
city to borrow money in any way
While no immediate use of this pro-
vision was anticipated by City Coun.
cil at the same time, it is believed
by many who have studied the an.
nexation question. that il is the best
policy for the City to extend its cor
porate limits under the bond issue
plan, which is authorized by the law
in reference to extending the corpor-
ate limits. 1t may use all Of the rev.
'enue collected from the annexed ter
ritory imp ornament improvements in
that territory. for period of five
years, but cannot raise the taxes dur
ing that time. Under the other plan.
the City may by bond issue, set apart
q sum equal to twelve per cent Of the
assessed value of the annexed terri
tory. 10 be expended on permanent
improvements in that territory. and
as soon as this sum is set apart. then
the taxes can be raised to the same
rate as the City rate. and will go into
the general fund
On the whole. it is believed that
these three measures will remedy
many defects in the present system OF
conducting the city's affairs.