Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-01-23
City Council.

An adjourned meeting of the city council
was held last evening. A communication
from the committee of the Land League asso-
citation inviting the council to be present at
the mass meeting to be held at Pence Opera
House this evening was read and accepted.
A communication from w. T. Bower, street
commissioner for the Third and Fourth wards,
asking that o committee be appointed to In
yestigate charges of dishonesty that had been
made against him, was presented. a con-
mittee of three will be appointed. Aid. Smith
offered Il resolution that the ordinance for
bridging the streets by the Manitoba company
ON the East Side, be amended so as TO make
the company build and maintain bridges, the
city to build and maintain the approaches, The
railroad company providing the dirt.
Aid. Haugan, from the committee on roads
and bridges, offered resolution authorizing
the city attorney to prepare bill authorizing
The city council to issue bonds not exceeding
S6G, Geo, to build and maintain 4 bridge from
the First to the Third wards, and that the
legislature be requested to pass this bill at as
early date as possible.
The council then took the proposed amend
meats to the charter under consideration
Among those present besides the council We're
Senator's Pillsbury and Langdon and Speaker
Fletcher, and q number of the city and county
officers.
The new charter as prepared by City Attor-
ney Benton, makes several important changes
which affect the city government. As recon
structed the new charter is expected to be q
model in all points The following are q few
of the features and the changes that are
effected.
provision for cutting down the current
expenses when the report OF the comptroller
shows them to be exceeding current income.
A provision that is an absolute prohibition
or the council to increase the debt or liability
of the city.
A provision that creates permanent i'm
provement fund out of which all bridges,
buildings and the city's proportion of pave
ments and water mains and sewers are to be
paid.
A provision changing the details of main
tanning sinking funds, and provisions to en-
force compliance with those sections.
A provision changing the term of assessors
from one to three years, making it board OF
continuance to which one new member is
added each year, one term of office expiring.
A provision changing the mode of having
street work done, the new charter requiring
that all street work shall be let by contract SC
far as possible, and prohibiting the street com
missoners from receiving pay for materials OF
use of teams furnished by them.
A change providing for a public inspector
of buildings, to prevent accidents like the fall
of the Woolford building more than year
ago.
Also a provision for sprihkung streets
These provisions are founded upon the stat
utes governing the city of Boston.
A provision whereby the fiscal year is
changed to begin March LIST of each year The
comptroller is also required TO make his est
mate for the succeeding fiscal year by Septem
Der 10.
The new charter as drawn makes the city
city limits three and half miles square, add
ing one and three-fourths miles to the terri
tory This will be presented to the council
but there is no probability that it will be en-
dorsed Ward boundaries are not changed.
The above are the principal changes con
templated by the new charter, of special mo
ment to the city. Supplementing them ar,
numberless changes in the detail of sections
of minor Importance. The old charter ha.
been thoroughly revised and the changes made
so that all amendments shall be harmonious t
the whole.
At about 1880 the council adjourned, havin:
considered all of the proposed amendments L
the charter, and decided to refer the matter Il
the Hennepin county delegation for action %
the legislature.