The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1881-09-02

The FREE Press cannot agree with
the Recie~ in saying We never have
had Il more inefficient administration of
city affairs than now" Such an accusa-
ton is too serious u charge against the
Mayor of the city, MI. Wiswcll, who is
also the presiding officer Of the city
council. Let us see, by reference to the
Amended Charter OF the city of Manka
to where the responsibility Of the Mayor
begins and where it ends. We quote
from the Charter verbatim (:
UTIEs OF MAYOR.
"ISec. 19.-The Mayor shall by and
with the consent of the common cOun-
Gil appoint u health officer who shall he
a physician of regular practice In said
city in good standing with his profession
and II graduate of some college OF Medi.
cine.
1t shall be the duty of the health of.
ficcr to make regular inspections of the
city MS to matters affecting the health of
its citizens. He shall make reports to
the State board of health of such facts
as may be required by said State board"
etc.
Sec. 2O.-The Mayor shabby and with
the consent of the common council APP
point three health inspectors for said
city, who shall have the same authority
us police officers, in enforcing the Ordin-
anCes of said city for the security Of the
public health, and they together with
the health officer shall constitute the
board of health of said city, and the
common council may provide by Ordin-
ance all rules and regulations necessary
for such board to secure the public
health of said city"
So far as we know, Mayor Wiswell
has performed all and singular the duties
prescribed for him in the above sections,
and to that extent is blameless.
sIDE WALKS.
"Sec. Aft the owner Of any lot o,
parcel of land shall suffer any sidewalk
along the same tO::becOme broken, rotten
or out of repair, it shall be the duty Of
the street commissioner to Immediately
repair the same in a good substantial
and thorough manner and to report to
the city council the costs of such repairs
in each case, and a description of the lot
Or parcel of land abutting which sucl
repairs are made, and such report shall
be carefully filed and preserved by the
| city recorder, and the common council
shall once in each year at, or AZ heal al
conveniently may be, the time of levy.
ing the yearly city taxes, assess and levy
upon each of the lots and parcels OF
land fronting or abutting upon side
walks which have been so repaired BY
the street commissioner the cost Of
making such repairs"
In case any such sidewalk shall be-
come dangerous and cannot be made
safe without being rebuilt, and there
are no funds to dcfray the expense o.
such rebuilding, it shall be the duty o.
the street commissioner to remove thu
same entirely, and the expense of suct
removal shall be added to the cost o.
re building when the same shall b.
reconstructed, and collected with thu
assessment for such reconstruction"
How far the street commissioner ha'
filed this requirement, those having
eyes can see in the broad light of day.
We were struck with one provision
touching dangerous sidewalks, wherein
it is provided in case Of accident or in
juries arising thercfrom and prosecu
tions arc instituted for damages, tn,
owners of the property are declared t
lie liable for all damages to whomsoeve
resulting, arising from their fault o
evident neglect In not keeping any sucl
sidewalk in good repair, and in o safe
passable condition" r
It is further provided that " no actioI
shall be maintained against the city O
Mankato by any person SO injured,
&C., "unlcss the owner of the land alOn,
which such sidewalk was so defectiv
is joined in said suit as a party de
PENDANT, and in case of judgcmen
against the defendants, execution shal
at first issue only against the detendan
owning such land"