Sacramento Daily Union, Volume 82, Number 154, 18 February 1892 — FRAMING THE CHARTER. [ARTICLE]

FRAMING THE CHARTER.

The Mayor Will Keep an Eye on All Star Chamber Sessions. Freeholder Hall OtTers a Batch of Amendments—How Ordinances aud Franchises Shall Be Passed.

The Board of Freeholders resumed their Work of framing the charter last evening. There were present Chairman Green and Messrs. Laßuc, Smith, Roberts, White, Hall, Johnson, Weinstock, Simmons and Hubbard. As the reports submitted at the last session were not returned from the printer these could not be taken up. On motion of Mr. Smith the Revenue and Taxation Committee's report was taken up. DELINQUENT SAI.J-. Mr. White moved to amend Section 18, Bo that delinquent sale?> shall take place in front of the County Courthouse instead of in front of the Collector's oilice. The amendment was adopted.

Mr. Johnson offered an amendment to Section 30, so as to make it provide that the Assessor must collect taxes on al! personal property "where the owner has no real estate." This amendment was also accepted. Tho executive report was next taken up, and Mr. Hall moved to amend - tion 11, defining the duties of the Auditor and Assessor. His suggestion wai provide that at the time of the levying of ti )( . mMowmont the City Trustees may authorize the employment of such immber of deputies as may be deemed necessary to carry on the work. Mr. White said tliat some protection Would lie needed in this matter, ami it would be letter to frame a special section oovering the subject. Mr. ILail explained that Ibis matter was referred to in detail in tho revenue and taxation department, but be thought that there should be a general reference to it in the executive department. There was considerable discussion on the Bnbject, and Mr. Hall finally withdrew that portion of his amendment referring to the depul SPECIAL MEETING 3. Mr. ilall next offered anew section to the executive department, providing that the City Clerk must notify the Mayor of [al meetings of >tne City Trustees or committee meetings, and that lie he privileged to be present at. those meetings, but not to vote. Mr. While thought that the Mayor should also be privileged to express his views at those meetings. Dr. Simmons said that at a former etingof the Freeholders be proposed that tbe Mayor should preside at all tings of Trustees and committee meetings, but he Was voted down. He was now th.it Mr. Hall had changed his mind. Be favored the amendment. Mr. White said he had opposed the doctor's motion at that time because at many of tho meetings of the Trustees the Mayor's own appointments would come up for consideration 1, and it would not be proper for him to preside. Captain Hall said his amendment was not identical with the doctor's former proposition. Me opposed that idea then and was opposed to it now tor the same reason advanced by Mr. White. Mr. Hall's amendment was finally pted. He then proposed a newsecfbr the Legislative Department, providing that all proposed ordinances must be received at regular meetings of the Trustees, and must be voted for at another meeting, not less than a month later, except in cases ol emergency, when the Trustees may vote a we. k later. ! ranchises or ordinances granting special powers, however, are excluded from the emergency clause. < »n motion of Mr. Johnson this propo- I sition was referred to, the Legislative Committee. THE MAYOR'S APPOINTMKNTS. Mr. Hall then proposed yet another amendment. This time he wished to change Section o of the executive department, so that it would provide that the Trustees must act upon the appointments of the Mayor not sooner than seven days nor more than fifteen days. Mr. i Lall explained that his idoa was to prevent the "railroading" through of appointees, and to give the press ami public an opportunity to comment upon the prod appointments before their confirmation.

Mr. Smith was opposed to this amendment, because he did not believe they could provide in <Jto charter against the dangers referred to by Mr. Hall. Jar. Johnson was also opposed to the amendment, because he thought that the Mayor and Trustees should make their own rules.

It was suggested that the amendment should read "not sooner than live days,'' instead of seven, and Mr. Hail changed bis amendment accordingly. The amendment was then adopted. Mr. Hail's next amendment was in reference to the duties of the City Clerk. - bred that this officer should keep a record of the meetings of all special and standing committees of the Board of Trustees, as well as those of the board 11

This amendment was voted down. Mr. Halt's stock of amendments was now exhausted, so the report on miscellaneous provision's was taken up. l>r. Simmons thought that a section Should be inserted providing that street railroads when abandoning tracks niav be compelled to take up said tracks and repair the streets. The doctor's suggestion was approved, and a provision covering the point was inserted. remainder of the report was adopted as it stood. The sections provide: That no member of the Board of Trustees can be interested In any city contract work : that no city officer shah promise or give any compensation for ctionor appointment, nor shall he accept any compensation from any subordinate for any favors he might extend ; that all records shall be open to the public for inspection: that all city offices shall be kept open daily from 8:30 a. m. to 5 P.M.; tiiat no city officer shall employ deputies except when so authorized by the Trustees; that all deputies and employes must be citizens of the United .-taies: that the office ot any city officer who resigns, or is convicted of "a felony or malfeasance in office,or be adjudged insane, shall be declared vacant, and the Mayor, with the consent of the Trustees. shall lili the vacancy; that no city eis:ploye shall be removed because of political opinions, and that the records of tiie Trustees shall be taken as prima fai-ie evidence in all cases of violation of the provisions of the charter or tho ordinances.