The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1889-03-01
ANENT THE BOARD OF PUBLIC
WORKS.

Inc citizens OF Mankat0 are thorough
" aroused regarding the proposed board
of public works as set forth in the rec
concentrations of the joint committee
appointed to revise the city charter, and
it is we'll that matter of such vital inn
portance to the tax payers be given due
consideration. At the meeting of the
board of trade Monday morning occa-
sion was taken by Mr.. John N. Hall to
"roast" the editor of the FREE Press for
presenting TO oppose the methods rec
ON nended by the charter revision COM
mittee on the particular clause creating
said board. Mr.. Hall went out of his
way to declare that ''the whole opposi-
ton co the board was spelled in four let
ters-H-u-n-i." He was "at the bottom
of the whole opposition, the interviews
and everything being UNFAIR" Were
this true, Mr.. Hail would be entirely
justified in his remarks, but such state
meDts are as far from the marx as pos
sible 10 imagine. In the first place, Mr..
Hunt has never opposed board of pub
lie works-his entire opposition being
against the proposition of paying 5000
each to three members, which, to say
the least, would be only creating sine
cure for men whose qualifications for
such position could be reasonably ques-
toned. Men versed in public improve
ment affairs, who are required to devote
their entire time, could not be induced
to accept position on the board for any
such sum, while men of public affairs
who have an interest in the progress
and welfare of the city and who consent
to serve in any event, could be induced
to accept the place for much less sum
were it known that only thet portion of
their time would be exacted which
would require a general supervision of
city improvements.
Mr. Barney suggests that il Represen-
tative Barr does not know the sentiment
of the people on this matter she had
better come back and live awhile among
his constituents" Mr.. Barr resides In
Mankato, has lived here for several
wears, and while he may not be fully adj
vised of the feelings of the citizens on
this particular matter, it would take him
but short time to ascertain that at least
four-ffths of the tax payers of Mankato
are opposed-and emphatically SOTO
the establishment of the board of public
works as recommended by the charter
revision committee. In the language of
Capt. Beatty, cit is a greatly ill-advised
scheme, and uncomfortable how men of
intelligence can advocate such propo-
sition." Other gentlemen have ex-
pressed themselves in like manner.
while, as before remarked, the mass of
tax PAYERS are in entire accord with the
position of the FREE Press as repeatedly
expressed in its columns.
Mr.. Barney's reference to the recent
action of the city council as intended
as joke" is certainly very uncompli-
mentary 10 that honorable body. 1t has
not been understood heretofore that the
council ''jokes" with such matters. The
gentlemen composing the board of al
dermen. ere elected by ballot of the peo-
pie, while the directors of the board of
trade are elected by members who pay
an annual fee of three dollars. While
the FREE Press has nothing to say in dis
paragement of the board of trade, which
organization includes within its member
ship some of the hest business men in
the city, it still holds to the opinion that
the prerogative of conducting city affairs,
officially, is vested in the council, mas
much as il is the authorized representa-
tive of the people.
Mr.. Hall "has never heard anyone on
the street talk against it," meaning the
establishment of board of public works.
Perhaps Mr.. Hall has not desired to
hear anything of this kind. If he had,
he could readily have his anxiety APP
peased by dropping into almost any one
of our business houses. :.
The FREE PRESS feels entirely satisfied
that the public does not want this board
of public works as recommended in the
new charter, and so believing speaks its
minds without reservation, at the same
time according to the advocates of the
measure entire honesty in their pur-
pose.