St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1895-03-20
SENATE TALKS CHARTER.
This Matter Takes Up the Day to
the Exclusion of All Else.


This Matter Takes Up the Day to
the Exclusion of All Else.
The senate put in another day
upon the charter bill, but has not
yet finished the revision, although
they have gone through it once.
There are a number of amendments
already proposed which make ma
terial differences in some of the pro-
visions, and which will be consid-
cred in connection with chapters or
subjects as whole. Chapter Is, re-
lat1ng to eminent domain and local
improvements and assessments, is
not satisfactory to a number of the
senators, and even those from Min
neapolis are divided in opinion This
chapter is lengthy and may take up
considerable time before being
agreed upon. 1t was laid over for
consideration today. There is also
a difference of opinion upon the
chapter relating to water works, and
senator Potter has a substitute for
the entire chapter, which will be
considered today. The amendment
provides for a committee to have
charge of the works, and for req
lister. The bill gives the works into
the hands OF the council through a
superintendent. There was a con-
test yesterday upon the two sys-
TENS as to whether the chief power
should be vested in the council or
IN the mayor. The Howard plan of
giving council control of appoint-
ments to minor positions prevailed
Durlhg the reading Of the bill yes
teroay a number Of minor changes
were decided upon, and I'm addition
thereto the following more impor-
tant amendments were made,
oectioh 81 was amended so as not to
interfere with independent school dis
trlcts made up in part of a CITY from
having separate treasurer.
section l22 was amended so as to re-
qulre the council to declare vacant
the seat OF any alderman who shall
demand any board or officer to appoint
any one to a position upon the paw roll
of any city department.
section 126 was the Subject of much
Debate, on the proposition to limit the
Indebtedness of a city. The clause that
Allows cities of less than 5000 to have
debt equivalent to 10 per cent of the
value OF taxable property was stricken
out. The section was also amended so
as 10 provide that the expense for
water works and lighting plants shall
De part of the debt, and to prevent ex
ceedlng per cent of the value of the
taxable property, except in cases where
that limit has already been exceeded
senator stevens succeeded in Sectr-
ing consent to amend section SO along
the line or his offer of the day before.
his amendment provides that the limit
OF salaries for certain officers shall not
re exceeded until changed by a three
IoufthS vote of the common council
Inc limit liked is the same as in S. F.
4oi, ana hXes the maximum as follows:
Inc mayor, 5000 per annum: the
mayor private secretary, 1920; the
treasurer, $4,000; the comptroller. 81. 900:
the city clerk, $4,000; the corporation at
torhey, S4,eOU; the city engineer, 81, 600:
the president of the board Of wafer
commissioners, $1,000; the secretary of
tne board of water commissioners
Sz,oO; the superintendent of the water
department, $1,800; the commissioner
OIL health, or health officer, 81, 400; the
building inspector, $1,S00; the chief en-
Slheer OF the fire department, SO. 500:
the first assistant engineer of the fire
department, S1,500; the second assistant
engineer of the fire department. 81, 200:
the chief OF police, $3.50; the Judge or
Judges OF the municipal court. each.
$4,000; the clerk Of the municipal court
$1,000; the superintendent of the work
house, $500; the commissioner of pub
lie works, $4,000 per annum.
Section 1873 was amended, upon mo-
ton of Senator Wyman, so as to give
BOARDS of education sole control of
buildings for school purposes.
Section l35, relating to the specific
powers, was amended in the portion
relating 10 the sale of liquors, so as to
prohibit saloons within 500 feet of q
schoolhouse, and not to limit sucb
proximity as applied to churches and
public libraries. A motion to allow
the council to prohibit licenses so as to
operate as local option, was defeated.
The same section was also amended so
as to guard against the smoke nuis-
ance by licensing stationary engineers
and firemen
Secuon l54 was amended so as to pre-
vent the discharge of a police officer
uldef the grade of captain until after
charges shall be made in writing and
hearing had.
Section 17S, pertaining to frenen
was also amended in like respect.
Section III was amended, on motion
of Senator Pottgieser, so as to provide
that any police officer who has been
pensioned shall forfeit the pension by
being again placed upon the force.
LOCATING THE POWER.
The chapter relating to the fire de-
partment was the subject OF conten-
ton. Senator Ozmun wanted the chap
ter amended so as to give the mayor
control over the appointments in this
department instead of the council.
Senator Howard contended for the
provision giving the council control
and read from book by DR.. Albert
Shaw upon the government of cities
to support his position. Senator Spen-
Ger spoke in favor of the idea of the
mayor being supreme Senator Wy
man favored the democra tic theory of
giving the council the power to an
point minor officers
Senator Stevens, discussing the mat
ter in an impartial way, alluded to the
dissatisfaction in Chicago as being the
outgrowth of acts of the council. He