Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1915-09-23
NEWARK CHARTER
DRAFT NODDED
IN FINAL FORM
No Further Alterations Expect
ed Before 1t Goes to
Legislature.
MUNICIPAL INSURANCE
CHANGES ARE ORDERED
Charter Will Make MayoraIty
Term Four Years and Gen.
tralize Finance Department.

Final draft of the proposed new
city charter was effected at meet
ing of the Charter Revision Com
mission yesterday afternoon. A num-
Der of changes. comparatively minor,
were made in the document, as previ-
ously drawn, and tho draft in its
completed form is to be published in
full on Saturday Unless public
opinion should so demand in unmis-
taxable terms, there will be no fur
ther alterations before the measure
Is presented to the Legislature. If
passed by the Legislature, the people,
of course, will then have opportunity
to determine whether or not they de-
sire the proposed revised form of gov
ernment to go into operation.
The changes made at yesterdays
meeting related almost entirely to
the department of finance. TlHe in
suring of the city against loss from
fire or other causes and against loss
through injury to employees was
placed under this department.
The director of finance was given
such additional authority as seemed
necessary In view of the new sec
tion putting insurance under his de-
partment The sinking fund COM
missioners were charged with the in
vestment of the municipal insurance
fund. The administration of the city
pension fund was placed within the
province of the board of estimate.
OF Routine Character.
The rest of the corrections were
similarly of a rather routine char
3,
be by ordinance, which was not so
provided before, and new general
provision referred to the form of con-
tracts.
Opinion upon the fate of the char
ter when 1t appears in the Legisla-
ture seemed somewhat divided among
some members of the Charter Re-
vision Commission today. While not
offering any criticism of the result
of the commissions labors, one or
two spoke rather skeptically upon the
success of the charter at Trenton,
and If 1t should be successful there,
of Its ultimate fate at the hands of
the public.
Provisions of the charter already
accepted by the commission give to
the mayor and the members of the
council, which Is to consist of five
members, very broad powers. These
six officers are the only ones to be
elected, and are to hold office for four
years. The mayor is to have the ap-
pointment of seven administrative
officers, the police judges, three men,
bers of the Board of Taxation and
Assessment and three sinking fund
commissioners.
The mayors salary is fixed at $40 900
O. year, the same as at present. Four
of the members of the council are to
receive $4,000 year, and the president,
who is to be chosen at the general
election. $4,000 annually.
In order that one-half the number
of elected officials shall be chosen at
alternate elections, the charter pro-
yides that at the first election follow
ing the adoption of the charter, the
president and one other member of
the council, together with the mayor.
shall be chosen to serve terms of four
years, and the other three councilmen
for terms of two years. AT the next
city election the successors of the
short term councilmen shall be Sc
lected to serve the full four years. At
the first election the councilman re-
ceiving the greatest number of votes
will be the officer serving four years,
MayoraIty Appointments.
The officers to be appointed by the
mayor will be q director OF tnance, at
a salary of $500; director of audits
and accounts, $4,000; director Of public
safety, $1,000; director of public
works, $4,000; director of public
health, $4,000: director of public well
fare, $4,000; corporation counsel,
5000; members of the board of taxa
tion and assessment, $4,000, and police
judges, $4,000.
The council will elect the city clerk,
who is to receive $1,000. and the direc-
tor of finance is to select the city
treasurer, at a salary of $4,000; a pur-
chasing agent, whose salary is to be
$4,000.
While the powers of the mayor and
members of the council are extreme
ly broad, the charter vests the pow
er of initiative. with relation to city
legislation, and recall of officers in
the voters generally. A petition con-
tanning the names of 1000 voters Will
bring an ordinance before the council.
The council must adopt such legisla-
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