The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1916-08-25
TIE PROPOSED CITY CHARTER.

Concluding their labor of nearly three
months. the charter board has agreed upon
the amendments to the city charter which
will put Pensacola back on the aldermanlc
basis with the exception that the mayor IS
not elected by the people.
The document, which is nearly lO,OOO
words long, has been corrected by the city
attorney, and in this shape will go before
the voters for adoption or rejection IN
special election to be held October 10, 1916.
If adopted, the new scheme of govern
ment will take effect on the third Monday
in December, 1916; the first election to be
held on Tuesday, December II, of the cur
lent year; the next on the first Tuesday IN
June, 1920, with elections every four years
The salient points of the proposed char
ter are as follows:
The city government consists OF mayor,
board Of aldermen, and an advisory board.
The executive departments are finance
and taxation, public records, streets, parks
and city property, fire, police, buildings,
water, law health. The mayor appoints
and suspends the department heads by and
with the consent of the aldermen, with
eight and seven votes, respectively. Subor-
by their respective chiefs, subject to the
mayors approval.
There is also a public welfare department
of which the. mayor is head. To this apper-
tain all matters relating to publicity, pub
lie functions, civic development, public
Fairgrounds and recreation places, and
charities
The advisory board, which consists OF
the mayor, comptroller, city attorney, en-
gineer and city physician, is to hold al
least two regular meetings a month to in
vestigate and advise the mayor regarding
the city affairs.
All privileges and responsibilities relative
to pending bonds are vested in the hands O.
the mayor and aldermen. Provision is also
made for the creation of a Board of Bono
Trustees
There are to be fourteen aldermen. O
these twelve are precinct aldermen, the othel
two are at-large aldermen; one of whom i
chosen from the east side of the city, anC
one from the west, with Palafox street tn,
dividing line; but the entire city must vot,
on the at-large aldermen.
Candidates for office must have thei
names put on the ballot by caucus, con
vention, mass meeting, primary election
or by petition signed by 25 electors.
The mayor and president of the counci
are to be chosen by the aldermen from
among themselves, eight votes being re
CURED to elect. In case of a deadlock tn
alderman at large receiving the larger mum
Der of votes shall be mayor or president 0
the council until those officers are dull,
elected by the council The president of tn
council acts in the mayors absence prt
tenn, and in case of his removal, resignation
or death, serves out his term.
The mayor can be removed by a vote Q
nine and by impeachment proceedings.
Neither the mayor nor the president c
council has vote, except in case of ii
when the latter officer, who presides owe
the aldermen, casts the deciding ballot.
Thus unless the mayor and president c
council are chosen from the at-large alder
men there will be two precincts withou
active representation in the legislative dt
partment of the city government.
The functions of the mayor and counc
are about the same as under any alderman
government
The council, in brief, is the citys legisl;
tive body. Seven is quorum. 1t mus
hold two regular meetings a month
approves all contracts and bills exceedin
500. Ordinances require vote of seve
TO carry, and must be read three week