St. Paul daily globe., 1895-09-20
A CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS.

(
7 The decision of the test case
brought before Judge Brill, to de-
Eermine whether the city council has
br has not power to reduce the sal
aries Of municipal officers which have
been fixed by legislative act, while
applying technically only to the Of
fee Of the city engineer, covers IF
course all others that rest on a
Similar foundation. 1t is to the ef-
fect that, as the weight of opinion
inclined, the council is powerless to
act in the face of a positive enact
ment of the legislature. This was the
position taken by Mr.. Darragh, the
city attorney, and the text of Judge
Brilrs decision makes it clear that
no other conclusion could have been
reached. The council did no more
than its duty in attempting, at a time
when retrenchment of public ex-
penditure is imperative, to lower
salaries to a figure in conformity
with the changed circumstances of
The times and the duties performed.
IT has done what it could. That it
is impotent to help the taxpayers
in this direction is the fault of those
Who prevented any legislation look
Ing to that end. 1t makes it all the
more necessary now that the coun-
Ell should consider in what other
directions it may enforce the econ
pmies that are found impossible in
lhis.
The way in which the peoples
bands are tied is another pregnant
instance Of the absurdity of local
government by state legislature.
IT is an unansWerable argument in
favor Of home rule. What does a.
legislature know about the duties of
, city engineer or any other official
h st. Paul, or their proper COM
9ensation? Why should this power
be placed in it's hands? Why should
tllis body, totally unfamiliar with
municipal conditions, be authorized
70 fix certain municipal expenditures
rnd then adjourn, leaving the COM
}nuuity unable to make any change
Vt all for two years, or any after that
Sme unless 1T shall elect representa-
yves pledged to secure amendment
9r repeal? Indeed, as matters now
ttand, with the constitution forbid
Fing special legislation, not one of
ttle salaries previously awarded can
We changed without repeating the
tntire charter of the city. This is
Ihe logical but ineffabIy absurd and
unjust conclusion to which we are
Jed by system that takes out of the
nands of the people the conduct of
Gheir own affairs, and says that the
legislature of state knows better
What Is good for a city and what it's
people can afford to pay for certain
Services than they do themselves.
when the question comes up of re-
organizing our municipal govern
Nnent under charter prepared by
sur own people and amendable by
Them when it needs change, no one
Fan ask for more conclusive argu-
ment than this decision.
1t is probably useless to carry the
controversy further. This should
be the more unnecessary as we prefer
10 assume that all of the officials
Interested were desirous only to as
certain their legal rights, and that
they will now desire to make vol
gntarily those sacrifices which the
people believe to be fair, but have
no power to compel. We shall walt
With much interest to see who will
be the first Of the functionaries af-
iected by the imperative resolution
Of the council to lay upon the pub
lie altar the glad sacrifice Of that
portion of his stipend which it has
been agreed should be returned to