St. Paul daily globe., 1891-03-27
GUARDED ALL ROUND.
Carefully Prepared Synopsis
Of the Bell Charter, to Go
Into Effect May 1.
How the Double-Headed Coun-
Gil Will Proceed to Get in
Its Deadly Work,
And the Penalties City Gffi-
eiaIs Will Suffer for Neg
ligenee Of Duty,
As Well as a Multitude. Of
Other Provisions for the
City's Welfare.

The Bell charter, which was signed
Tuesday by Gov. Merriam, goes into
force May l. The main features of the
aw are those providing for the new
aual common council, vested with the
powers of creating contracts and IN
aebtedness for the various boards and
departments of the city government.
1t provides at great length for the crea-
lion of what is known as conference
committee, composed of the various
presidents of boards, the mayor, city
treasurer, clerk and county auditor,
who must meet every year and draw
np estimates of the expenses of each
department for the ensuing year, which
must not exceed certain amounts fixed
by special laws. Great care is to be eX
erciSed so that rigid economy is pre-
served in the working of the various
departments. The charter is very
lOrg one. but, shOrn OF an amount of
legal verbiage. its main points and feat
nres are as follows:
The DOubie-Header
Section l provides that on and after
May l, 1891. the legislative authority of the
city shall consist of the assembly and board
the city hall. These bodies shall be known
as the common council. and shall consist of
board of aldermen. one to be elected from
each ward of the city. and the assembly to
consist of nine members elected by the peO-
pie, four from the district east of Wabasna
and Rice. four west of that district and one
from the Sixth ward. The city clerk to be
flerk of the common council. All ordinances
10 become valid must pass both bodies in
conformity to the rules governing them
which they are empowered to make. Before
becoming operative. an ordinance must be
presented to the mayor for his approval or
rejection. By two-thirds vote of the dual
boards the mayors veto shall be imperative.
The members of the council shall be elected
for two years. On May II, 1891, the present
members of the council elected AT large are
remain in office as one of the dual boards
The mayor to appoint nine electors on May |
10 constitute the other board.
Members of the new council will receive
300 per year, payable monthly.
The city clerk viii receive 5000 q year in
addition TO his present salary, owing to addi-
tional services.
The council has the sole power to vacate or
discontinue public grounds. streets, alleys,
etc, in the city upon the petition of a ma
iority of the property owners on the line OF
road or street in question.
Treasury Department.
Section of chapter 1 of Special Laws for
1874 is amended so as to provide that the
present bonded or permanent funded debt of
the city shall not be increased. nor any new
bonds issued except as provided by law.
The common council is required to provide
by taxation for the prompt payment of in
terest, and for sinking fund sufficient to
meet such bonds and all other bonds of the
city at maturity.
All money belonging to the city shall be
under the control of the common council.
and only paid out upon an order of the MAYOR
and clerk, counterslgned by the comptroller,
duly authorized by two-thirds resolution Of
the council. NO order or fund shall be
drawn or issued until there is money enough
to the credit of such funds to pay the same.
Taxation.
All real and personal property in the CITY,
except such as is exempt by state law, shall
be subject 10 taxation for the support of the
eity government, payment of its debts and
liabilities and for the support OF the pnblic
schools, same taxation to be assessed as pro-
vided by law.
The levy for the support of the public
schools must not exceed in any one year TWO
and a half mills nor less than two mills on
!he dollar on property assessed for all school
purposes.
The maximum amount which can be ex-
pended in any fiscal year for cleaning and re-
pairing streets, sewers, etc. is S15O,UO0. Tax
levy Is TO be made by the council on or be-
fore Oct 10 each year, the city comptroller
and city treasurer to keep books showing the
separate accounts of taxes Taxes levied for
purpose. and the money of one fund cannot
be transferred to another fund
City Comptroller.
The city comptroller must communicate to
the city council at its second regular monthly
meetings statement showing the amount of
cash in the treasury, according TO each fund
or department, the amount designated in
estimates OF each department, and the
amount of estimate for each department
paid out at the date of statement.
The common council has no power to
create any office or increase salaries of any
officials except as designated by law.
No department or board of the city shall
have any power TO make any contract or
create any debt against the city without the
authority of the common council by a two
thirds vote.
Any w1llful neglect or refusal on the part
OF the city treasurer comptroller clerk or
county treasurer 10 perform their duties as
required by law, or any vote of a member OF
the council. or act of any officer of the city
done with the intent To evade the provisions
of the charter shall be deemed malfeasance in
office. and up on conviction such officer shall
be removed from office and punished by
fine not exceeding $1,000 or by Imprisonment
Ill the county Jail not exceeding three years
In July, 1891, each department of the city
must submit statement of estimates for
funds necessary 10 be raised to carry on the
work of such department., and the council
must not later than its first meeting in Sep
tember declare by resolution the amount TO
pe raised DY taNallOn 1or carrying on the
business OF each department. On or before
Oct 10 the council shall make tax levy for
The amount required.
Certificates.
As soon as the tax estimate has been made
the council may by two-thirds vote issue
and sell certificates of Indebtedness, as money
may be needed, in anticipation OF the collec-
ton of taxes for any department named in
the tax estimate: but no power shall exist 10
issue certificates for any department exceed
Ing so per cent of the amount to be collected
in taxes for the nse of said depart
ment No certificate shall be issued
10 become due and payable later than Nov.
10 of the year succeeding the year in which
said tax estimate was reported to tie auditor
Iuch certificates not 10 draw more than per
cent interest.
All laws authorizing the city of St. Paul or
board OF education to issue certificates of in
aebtedness are by the charter repealed.
The city of ST. Paul assumes, and is OBJ
bgated TO pay at maturity, together with ill
erest. all the lawfully created bonded in
aebtedness Of the board of education, to-
Eether with the floating Indebtedness OF the
board of education.
The city is authorized to issue certifica les
Of Indebtedness for the purpose of taking up
and redeeming certificates of the board of
education now outstanding in the sum OF
$500 or as much thereof as may be nee
essary.
The common council, IN making the tax
estimate for the years 1892, 1893, 1894. must
Include an estimate sufficient TO produce g
Eum 10 redeem one third of the certificates
ard interest thereon issued under the au-
thority of the charter.
improvements.
All applications and propositions for i'm
proponents, except public parks, must be
made to or emauate from the common conn