Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-01-25
CHARTER CHANGES
/ ARE CONSIDERED
Orange Council Takes Up Sug-
gestions Outlined by Former
Judge Davis.

Deferring definite action untl
mare careful study of the sugges-
lions can be made, the Orange Com
mon Council last night considered
changes in the city's charter, which
were outlined by former Judge
Thomas A. Davis, chairman of the
special charter revision committee OF
the city.
Authorization to the mayor TO APP
point all administrative bodies and
remove them if he sees fit; having
Two councllmen from each ward in
stead of three; having five instead OF
seven members of the Board OF
Health combining police and hre
commissions; taking the power OF
appointing a police judge from the
governor: removal Of mayor by I'M
parchment and defining the 1urisdic-
ton Of the police Judge are the prln-
cipaI changes suggested.
III the charter is adopted 1t will not
20 into effect until after the expira-
ton of the present mayors term.
n is planned to have the governing
hndy the Common Council, which
viii be composed of two members
from each ward, with a councilman
at-large. The terms of the mayor
and councilmen shall be for TWO
wears. the councilmen having the
usual powers.
Mayor Would Have More Power.
If the charter goes into effect ac-
cording to the present plans the
MAYOR will be practically in charge
Of the entire city. He will appoint
officials and will be held responsible
for the carrying out of their duties
in a satisfactory manner, and VIII
be given the power of suspendlng
anv officer pending trial of charges,
and will have complete control over
the police and fire departments. Prac-
tically all the councilmen Favored
approving the principal sugges-
tions. except giving SO much
power to the chief execu-
tive. If the council approves the
changes. the charter will be sent to
the Legislature, and If approved by
that body will go before the people
for a vote.
Mr.. Davis brought up the question
of whether a police judge should De
an attorney at-law or a layman. The
eitys present magistrate Is lay
man Mr. Davis stated that most OF
the cities of the size of Orange have
lawyers for judges.
Present Charter Out of Date.
Judge Davis, before he outlined the
Contemplated changes, told the
Council members that the present
city charter is more than forty years
old and was adopted for a smaller
uify than what Orange is today.
"ITnder the present charter" he
said, there is a large differences Of
authority. 1t is difficult to put your
hand on the responsible party. II
the new charter is adopted there
will be head who can be held re-
sponsible, as 1t stipulates who is 70
direct the management of affairs
There was discussion over the sug-
aestion Of Judge Davis that no more
saloon licenses be given by the new
excise board, the present number,
about eighty. being considered sutfi-
Gent. On the matter of terms for
the mayor and councilmen, City
Counsel Arthur B. Seymour, who re-
Gently finished two terms as mayor,
declared in favor of four-year terms
for these officials, without the privi-
1ege OF seeking reelection. This plan
Vas opposed by Councilman Cheet-
ham, who declared the question of a
mans term of service should be de-
tefnined only by the voters.