St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-12-21
LEGISLATORS CONFER
Considerable Diversity Of
View Developed by an
Informal Talk. IS
y
Municipal Government the
Only Subject at Present
Discussed. 10
liza
A Neat Roundup OF Supposed
Crooks Made by De-
tectives.
Sheriff Bean Is Ccngratu-
lated Upon His Wooden
Wedding.

Repeal the Bell charter and enact a
a new general law.
Abolish all special city charters on a
certain date and let new law control.
End the life of all special charters
and let the governor name three men to
act as commissioners ad interim.
Abolish all boards and let commits
sion govern cities.
Enact general law to govern all
cities at the present session.
Appoint commission to consider the
matter and report to next legislature.
,Sucn were some of the propositions
informally discussed at meeting of
the Ramsey county legislative delega
ton lastnight.
Senator Dean presided, Representa-
tive Dick Walsh acted as secretary, and
besides these two Senators Sanborn and
Lienau were present.; also representa-
tiyeS WallblOm, of the First ward:
Nilsson, of the Third; Williams, of the
Fourth: Ives, of the Fifth; Horton, of
the Seventh; Rodger, of the Eighth,
and Sullivan, of the Tenth and Elev-
enth wards and country district. Presi-
dent Lightner. of the common council;
Assemblyman Tin Reardon, ii. l..
Williams, the lawyer; I. ID. Merwin.
patent attorney, and several other cltl-
Zens were also present.
The discussion was merely Informal.
and the views developed in discussion
were understood to be only given as the;
extemporaneous expression OF the par
tlcipanJS.
At the outset, President Lightner, of
~, nIoin Of
length the position of the legislative
committee Of the joint bodies. lie
stated that, while nothing had been
done thus far, the city fathers were en-
tirely willing to cooperate i'll every
possible way with the labors of the
legislative delegation. elm respons to
questions by Senator L!eEau and
others, Mr.. Lightner specified some
minor details. in which he thought
the present character defect
i've. His remarks covered matters
like the market master. sidewalk
improvements, official salaries, bond
issues, etc, but as they were spoken
not in the sense of official expressions,
it is unnecessary to repeat them in dec
tail. City assessments, for instance, be
held should appear only on the BOOKS OF
the county auditor, so that taxpayers
could know exactly where they stood at
all times. There were also too many
boards; and one of the best things done
by the last legislature. in his opinion,
was the limiting of expense III the vas.
riOuS city departments. !f
Senators Sanborn, Lenau and Deanf
Representatives Horton, Rodger. Ives,
eral discussion of what could best be
done before, the meeting of the leglsla77-
ture. DR.. Williams desired that the
delegation should lie supplied with
copies of the best general laws known
governing American cities, but later Oh
it developed that such laws were being
worked into 4 skeleton measure WHICH
might serve as basis for action later
on.
Mr.. Merwin, of the chamber of COM
MERGE committee on legislation. stated
that he had nearly completed such a
skeleton draft, and within ii week would
be able to submit it for consideration.
The Ohio and Illinois general laws
governing cities are looked upon most
favorably by the delegation as embody-
ing many of the desirable points OF a
good law, and in the report spoken OF
by Mr.. MerWin these statutes Will be
given preference, with necessary modi-
cations.
Representative Rodger, of the Eighth
ward, thought that the trades and labor
assembly and other organized bodies
should be invited to make known to the
delegation their views on public meas
ures, so that generally wise mode OF
action might be determined. He NEIL
toned, incidentally. the present lien
law as failure, and this elected the re-
mark from several that all lien laws
were nuSanceS in some sense. Rodgers
view, however, was regarded AS q SeuSl-g
ple- one. and at the next meeting alE
organized bodies that present them7
selves by committee willhaye hear
ing.
A proposal that the city fathers
frame a general law to be pushed by the
delegation met with opposition. 1t was
held that such work was the business
of the legislators and could not be dele
gated to anybody. This view of the
matter prevailed, and il the councll or
other public body have any say it Will
be in an advisory capacity. .
After much discussion. that served
the purpose of developing the views OF
the delegation, 1T was made apparent
that every member Was willing and
anxious to adopt any course that would
inure to the benefit of the whole city
and county. There was no factious dis
position displayed, and as d result. OF
the talk committee consisting OF hep
resentative Ives, Senators Sanborn and
Lienau, Representatives Horton, w alSh,
Williams and Sullivan, was appointed
to act in conjunction with the chamber
of commerce committee and other bodies
III the preparation of draft OF gem
eral law that the delegation may con
slider IN connection with other proposals
for general law governing cities.
The delegation then adjourned, sub
iect to the call of the chairman.
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