The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1894-11-30

ern a, city of disorderly people, thar
it does to govern a city of orderly
people. 1t takes more checks upon
the expenditure of public money tt
prevent the diversion of public fund;
in IA city where public officers are
likely to want piece of any job that
is about, than it is in a city where the
public officers are men interested only
for the welfare of the city.
A city situated on the Mississippi
river needs the right to spend money
in ways which would be out of the
question in cities not so situated. The
city of Duluth has also special circum.
stances to consider in connection
with her situation and the kind OF
business and Development which is
sought by her citizens.
1t is thus apparent that one city
needs in its charter the power
to do certain things which an
other city does not need. II
is always dangerous to have any
power within the control of public
officers which is unnecessary. In case
incompetent or faithless men succeed
in getting control of affairs such
powers are likely to be used recklessly
and to the serious injury to the pub
lie interests. 1t is also fact that the
use of any particular power neceS
Sarily in one direction is a safeguard
against its being used even by reck-
less officials in an improper direction
1t will not be possible for any bill
passed to meet all the requirments OF
the developments Of the cities of this
CT of will thnrafnro hn
Sary from time to time for certain
cities to secure amendments to the
charter law, if such a law as has been
proposed is enacted. 1t will be i'm
possible to secure such an amend
ment without long tedious and eX
pensive campaign in the legislature
The amendment will need to be sub
mitted to the representative O.
every other city. 1t. will be neces
sary to compromise with other citie
and to consent to the making O
other amendments, which are no
wanted and which are perhaps posi-
| lively dangerous, in order to secure
| the needed amendment,
The purpose Of all charter legisla
tion should be to give to each city tn,
opportunity of securing for itself ;
charter best suited to it's partlcula
needs and to the transaction of thu
particular business which it has Il
transact. Any charter law which
does not meet these requirement
will be oppressive and unjust. Unde
the provision Of the constitution a.
it now Stands, legislation must b,
general. 1t is not possible by legiSlat
ing along the line adopted by the las
legislature to do justice to all cities
The question then arises: Is there
any other line of legislation which
can be adopted and which will bt
just to all cities? That there is sucl
line of legislation, the writer has
cOntended ever since the passage O.
the constitutional amendment pro
hibiting special legislation.
The amendment sought to do ava,
with the old system of making char
tiers which was without doubt baC
system. Charters were made
and amended. by Legislative
delegations who were elected with
out reference to such action and wht
secured the passage of amendments tt
their respective charters which were
not dreamed of at the time of thei
election. 1t will be found in genera
that the people of each particular
city know what they want in the way
of charter. The people of Mime
apoliS are far better able to prOvid,
themselves with charter than is any
| body 'Of men. like the legislature OF
the state. Only few members O
the legislature reside in cities OF
have had the experience which WoulC
qualify them for that work. The
great majority come from small cities
very differently situated. The Others
do not come from cities at all and are
entirely without experience in mum
! cipal business.
In the smaller cities every SubStan
tial citizen keeps himself informed
with reference to the conduct Of the
public business of the city. Every
| substantial citizen is, therefore, able
to form a definite opinion with refer
ence to the best systems of conduct
ing the departments of the business
Of his particular city. Every substan
tial citizen of such city is also wei
| informed with reference to any par
ticular circumstances of situation
| business or population which makes
| UIlC pOoSCOSlOu VI pCtl UlCOluI JOWClO W
| the direction Of public investment il
particular direction advisable. L
seems to me that there can be N
question but that such citizens ar,
better able to prepare charters TO
their respective cities than is an.
| legislature or any body Of men com
ing from out side of the particula
cities.
Several years ago a constitutions
amendment was adopted prohibiting
the formation of private corporation
by act of the legislature. Previous t.
that time private corporations, a
we'll as public corporations, had beel
formed and their charters made b.
acts of the legislature.
After the passage of that amend
ment, the legislature enacted gen
eral law specifying who might form
a private corporation; specify
| ing for what purpose private col
porations might be formed; spec