St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-01-26
THE sANBoRN CHARTER
Not Very Popular With Those
Who Have Waded Through Lit.

1.-THE chamber of commerce will in
dorse it, and that will surely kill it,"
The speaker was prominent citizen,
and the Sanborn charter bill was under
discussion.
Have | read it? Not [. l read the
city attorneys synopsis of it, which was
enough. Life is too short to wade
through 1862 pages of a bill that will
never pass. AS L say, the chamber OF
commerce will indorse it, and that will
certainly kill it,"
1t is understood that this morning the
chamber of commerce will discuss the
bill, and, of course, will indorSe it from
''be it enacted to from and after its
passage" But the average men of the
city, if they are familiar with the San
born bill, are opposed to it. 1t is very
difficult to get an expression of senti-
ment. Those who favor some changes
in theEcharter are opposed to railroad
ing through, as the organic law of the
city, the hasty product of any one mans
brain, even though it be as sound brain
as Gen. Sanborn's. Some of the eX-
pressions of opinion heard by GLOBE
reporters follow:
DIR. David Day-It will take fifteen
years to conStrue a new charter. The
charter we now have has been in Oper-
alton so long that it is understood, and
the constitutional questions involved
have been construed by the courts.
Minor changes might be made, but to
reOrganZe the city government would
uusettIe much that has become res
iudicata. A poor law we'll executed is
better than good law poorly executed.
| do not think it advisable to make rad
ical changes in the charter at single
time. l hardly think the proposed
measure should be adopted, if, as is
claimed, it makes sweeping changes in
the charter.
Judge Frank Ford Changes in the
charter should be made only after care
full consideration and discussion by the
people.
j. G. Michael-The proposed bill is
not what the people want. Extended
changes in the charter ought to be SUBJ
mitted to the people for approval.
Postmaster William Lee am in
favor of submitting any proposition that
proposes radical changes in the charter
to the people. Like in other things, it
is impossible to secure perfection In a
city charter, and all people will not
agree upon a specific plan. Changes
upon the plan proposed i'll the senate
bill should be we'll understood and dis
cussed before being incorporated into
the law.
Gates A. Johnson-The change pro-
posed by the Sanborn bill is altogether
too radical. If any board in this city
has too much power it can be reduced
with very little legislation.
Mayor SMITH haven't given the
Sanborn bill much attention, but =
strikes me that charter drawn up
within so short time as two weeks
must have its defects. l understand
that Senator Sanporn's idea is taken
from the charters of Philadelphia and
Brooklyn, which are none too good.
The Sanborn bill is not at all likely to
pass.
favor of the bill. Such radical change
in the city government would not be
advisable.
George r. O'Reilly- The Sanborn
bill opens road to corruption in the
government of the city, and should not
become law.
Ed HOopes-It looks to me like one
man power and don't favor it.
Judge Egan-l haven't time to think
of such matters.
Gen. Clapp-I never heard of such
thing as the Sanborn bill. What is it?
Assistant Attorney General Childs-I
do not think it is eXpedient to submit so
important question to the vote of the
people unless they have an opportunity
to carefully deliberate upon the meas
ure. | am in favor of the question of
new charter being decided by the Iegis-
lature, with proviSo that it shall not
go into force for say period of two
years, the people to then vote upon it
in It's entirety.
Private Secretary Tams Bixby-If the
political parties have fair representa-
ton on the commission, as provided for
in Senator Lineau'S bill, l think it is
very fair proposition. Perhaps the best
way to arrange the matter would DE for
the senate to name the members who
should form the commission who are
empowered to draw up charter to be
submitted to the vote of the people.
Col. Bobleter-I am of opinion that
the question of providing new charter
should certainly be submitted to the
vote of the people, for it affects the in
terest of every taxpayer. L have not
read the SanbOrn charter through, but
express my opinion solely upon the
point as to whether the legislature
should pass bill giving the city new
charter, or whether the matter should
be referred to the vote of the people.
Insurance Commissioner Smith = [
have been so busy with the duties OF
my office that have not been able to
give the question the attention | should
like to have done. l think, however,
that the matter should be placed before
the people of the city for their full con-
sideration.
Railroad Commissioner Gen. Becker
Il think the question Of providing a
new charter for the city of st. Paul is
most serious one. and it should not be
hastily passed upon. This is govern
ment Of the people, and | am in favor of
the matter being referred to the people
for their decision. l believe that we
can secure good administration, not so
much by adopting new laws. but by the
faithful observance of the same.