The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1889-03-01
BARNEY TO THE RESCUE.
The Doughty Member of the Charter Re-
vision Committee Has His Say.
Some instruction Given.

Editor Free JTeSS:
In your daily issue OF Feb. 20 you criticise
remarks made by me Mt the Board OF Trade
meeting of Feb. %, based upon the following
report in your issue Of that date.
'Mr. 8. F. Barney thought that the sentiment
lot the city was favorable to the board and
said that IL Mr. Barr didn't know the senti-
'.ment of the people he should come lack and
"live aw hilc aInoI Y his constituents. He said
the action Of the council In opposing the
board Was intended as u Joke.
What did say and is not reported, is. that
believed that the sentiment of the city was In
favor OF board of public works, aud that the
opposition was mainly as to the details, some
objecting to the manner of the appointment
of the Board, others TO the salary fixed for the
members; that the committee had fully con-
sidered a II these points with others, and hal
settled upon the plan as reported. I am still
of that opinion. Am right?
..In your article Of the 28th you say, Mr..
Hunt has never opposed u board OF public
''works, his entire opposition being against
the proposition OF pay ing 5000 each TO three
members"
In the same article you say "the mass of the
tax-pa, ers are In entire accord with the posi-
ton of the PREE PRESS as repeatedly express |
ed i'm its columns" therefore ! am happy to |
know that my opinion in that respect fully |
c0ncurs with that of the Face Press; we only |
differ as to details. You also say In that ar /
Licle "it would take him BARR but a short |
lime TO ascertain that at least four-firths of
he Taxpayers OF Mankato are opposed and /
soto the establishment of the /
BOARD of public works as recommended by the
,harter revision committee"
dr. Hunt, who-would tell him that he is in
avor of the board and so Is the mass OF the
taxpayers, but are not satisfied rs to the
mount of salary.
You are pleased to say in your article of the
9th, Mr.. "Barneys reference to the recent ac-
ion of the city council ss intended as a joke,
certainly very unc rnd neI to that
ore the council, II seems some alderman Of
cred r, solution to the effect that the mayor
nd two members selected by the council con-
titute such board of public works. This
some alderman through some mo-
i've to move that the board OF public works
G stricken out Although the motion was
arried the board was not stricken out, and ,
o provision made for perfecting the charter, ,
D in contemplating upon how the disembow-
led bill would appear, and knowing that the
lass of Taxpayers were In favor OF the board,
concluded the most charitable view to take
the proceedings would be to call 1t Joke.
however IL was done In seriousness by men,
ers who ought to understand how the charter
'ould be after striking out the board OF pub
c works, then was mistaken, and humbly
eg the connciIs pc rdCn. a
However that may he tine council need not
,el over-humiliated in being accused OF 1ok-
~, for IL is not an unusual occurrence In leg
lative bodies, State as well as U. B. Congress,
perpetrate similar jokes even in those ,
date ahd honorable bodies.
ying presumably quoted with his permits
On) ait is n greatly i'll advised scheme, and
how men OF Intelligence can adj ,
'cate such proposition. query Does the q
e taxpayers that the board is all right, but
at bis opposition is solely to the 5000? Is the
Lptain one of the four-ffths referred to, or
the remaining one-tifth not classified? Is c.
ptain Beatty well satisfied with the present 4,
anagement of our public Improvements, or u
he dissatisfied and would refer to remain
the old rut rather than attempt reformf
the FREE PRESS IL not presumed to know IL
the workings of the Captains mind L will i,
I press the questions. Has the Captain ever d
)ked over the names OF those associated n
tn the writer on that committee? Ii SO, well
ght he lift up his hands in holy horror that
much intelligence should disagree with the
ews entertained by the Captain. fC
The proposed amended charter Is not the re- -;
II of clandestine and secret endeayor TO u
through the legislature scheme unknown In
the public. Your paper with other city pa
RS has ndly presented to the public the
ttee, and on its completion and report has N
esented the points inviting discussion: A n,
bile meeting was called, well advertised In VI
~ daily and other city papers, at which
citing there was considerable number of
liens present. different plans were propos- II
and discussed and on vote taken the re- n
RI as whole was recommended for pas VI
re. Twice has tbs subject been brought be- tt
@ the Board of Trade, and both times az =,
,ved, the last at the meeting held on the II
b by a call of ayes and nays, only one no ap-
airing; this too after thorough discussion
The Board of Trade. N.
has been brought before the council, and ~
attempt there made TO improve it, the lie
incl finally untieing the Gordian knct with nm,
e swoop of its mighty sabre. ."
he committee having the revision in charge to
joint committee from the council and
ard of Trade, serving without fee or re-
I'd don't think they would like a three !.
irs' appointment on same terms) and 10
nix without claiming any credit to myself, w
i'm the performance Of its duties &c
has anticipated the future growth and pros n,
'ity of the city, and fully realized that the al
y is as yet but in the infancy of its improve
nts, and the committee has earnestly en- r,
lvored to formulate plan That would be II
in its future improvements, and Sr
h remarkable unanimity agreed upon the
N proposed. At the first meeting of the in
nmittee the question of establishing board -,
public works was proposed and fully dis W.
ised. with full representation from the
re was tut one vote against it, All the de- NJ
Is were settled in committee after a full Ia
CUSTOM with an apparent unanimous APP 10
wal. to
is dinte possible that more capable men
ght be found to entrust with the revision of
charter, but II might be doubtful IL there T..
lid be found three who would more earnest IL
md sincerely devote their labors to that OBJ so
/. It is possible that the committee might oo
re erred in fixing the amount of salary, but WI
D has suggested an Improvement Six hum 70
d dollars may be too much, or 1t may be 70
little. II too much, though light weight. or
n not anxious to pay unnecessary taxes. Ns
90 low am the last to squeai AT any just w
alton.
il not fact that the amount fixed by tho
nmtttee meets with greater unanimity of .
MON than any other project yet suggested?l
ow in as much as the FREE Press and the me
IS of the tax-payers are in accord with the Cal
MON of the committee that board of pub VIC
works is necessary, why cannot we agree Sc
IN the detail of salary? 1t is not probable OBJ
{ the mass of taxpayers have given the I've
ject the thought and consideration as has
committee, and it is quite probable that a :
dly number of our citizens would sign a
lonstrance against its passage, but who of
m all can devise better plan, one that
meet with as general approval. who Is 81
ling to propose such plan and subject 1t ca
he criticism of the people? NJ
is easier to tear down than to build up, Ns
fer to criticise than to invent. No man ru
uld knock supporting prop without hav- to
first prepared a better to take its place. IA
Respectfully yours, on
s. F. BARNEY. an