The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1889-03-01
MUCH DISCUSSED MATTER.

ii SAldTy Is III tndt 6tstuub DetWctu uiiu |
md the FREE Press and the great mass
If Taxpayers" on the subject Of the crea-
ion of another costly city department.
Mr.. Hunt probably meant that the OPP
position he had expressed up to that time
was entirely against the salary
clause. AS that provision seems likely
10 kill the proposition of itself, there
was no occasion to make other objec-
lions.
The FREE PRESS has not actively OPP
posed the board ofpublic works Though
it could see no loud call for one) partly |
out of courtesy to the joint charter COM
mittee and partly because it thought that
perhaps, in view of the unsatisfactory |
of the city in connection |
with public improvements, some scheme
might develop from the board of public
works agitation which would bring re-
lief and be satisfactory to the taxpayers
of the city. We have, however, at no
time been sangulne that such result
would be reached and really doubted the
wisdom of adding another expensive de-
partment to those already in existence
to conduct the affairs of our small city.
The matter being in the hands of the
able gentleman Mr.. Barney describes
we were 10th to interfere and did not do
so until the proposition had been report
ed in which was embodied the greatly
Objectionable feature of three 5000 off,
ces which would be looked upon as a
soft "snap" by the pack of small poll
ticians who swarm about the city hall
and are ready at any time to further
their own interests at the expense of the
city's. At the risk of dispIeasing them
and the good gentlemen who had been
wheedled into their scheme we de-
nounced the proposition and set about
to feel the public pulse on the matter,
and were not surprised to find that the
great majority of tax PAYERS were in &C.
cord with us in opposition to the salary
matter, though no effort was then made
to get an opinion from citizens on the
subject of the wisdom of the board it.
self. The unanimity of sentiment against
the scheme to saddle three more $500 of
ficials on the city seems to have rlled
certain members of the board of trade
so much as to prompt them to make sill
ly exhibitions and to hint that there was
no appeal from the decisions made by
that body. One gentleman was 80 con-
spicuously ratified by the intelligence
that anybody disagreed with, him that
he furiously announced that the whole
opposition was summed in the letters
Hunt. To show how silly such a
statement was we call attention to
the fact that petitions have been circu-
lated the past day or two and signed by
many of the heaviest tax payers of the
city not only opposing the clauses upon
which We attacked the proposition, but
praying that the entire part of the char
ter relating to the creation of board of
public works be eliminated.
While we do not know that such would
be the wisest. course, believing that a
board properly constructed and under
certain conditions might bring about
good results, we must say that a city
council of eight or twelve members ought
to be able to struggle along
mess of a city of -" After
go. .uere I. .rouble
and right there the remedy rather
right at the ballot box. If the citizens
of the city took proper interest in their
public affairs and elected to the board of
aldermen only progressive, public spiri-
ted and strictly capable men we should
not have any trouble over the expendi-
ture of few thousand dollars on public
works. The experience of this city is
not unlike the great majority of places,
there is lots of kicking and plenty of
reason for it; but if any deluded mortal
thinks that the creation of a board of
public works at a salary of $500 for three
members Tor any other amount, for that
NATTER is going to cure ills or remedy
troubles that lie rather in the apathy of
the citizens themselves, we pity his state
of mind.
AS to the other matters referred to by
Mr.. Barney We do not think they need
much attention, from US, at least. The
aldermen will take care of their Coke"
and Capt. Beatty is able to speak for
himself AS to the joint charter revision
committee, the FREE PRESS has treated
il with all courtesy, and would be well
pleased to receive the same favor in re-
turn.
AS showing that the FREE PRESS is not
alone in its position of opposition to the
salary clause and its skepticism as to the
wisdom of the creation of the board we
append the following petition, which
was sent to Representative Barr to-day:
To Hon. Geo. T. Barr:
We the undersigned tax payers of the
city Of Mankato, respectfully state that
we are opposed to that portion of the
proposed amendment to the city charter
which provides for board of public
works. In our opinion the same would
entail upon our citizens needless, addl-
tional expense, and increase our taxes
without producing any beneficial results.
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