St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1895-02-01
GOODBYE TO BOARDS
The st. Paul Charter Bill
Makes many Radical
Changes.
A DISTINCTION IS MADE
AS to Classes Of Cities Ac-
cording to the Popula-
ton.
A DISTINCTION IS MADE
IT CUTS PRESENT SALARIES
The Mayor to Be Made Re-
sponsible for Good Gov
eminent.

eminent of cities constitutes the chief
features in the title of the st. Paul char
ter bill, introduced i'll the senate yes
terday under the patronage of Senator
0Zmnn. The chief work in the prepar-
alton was donesby Herman w. Phillips.
who was tor several years assistance
corporation attorney. For months there
have been meetings Of business men
and the chamber of commerce to dis
eass features of city government. In
fact, for the past four years, the people
and the papers have discussed needed
changes i'll the present charter. and
the bill presented may be said to EN-
brace just such features as the people
demand at present. The drafting mas
been done with care. and 1t is probable
that it will receive general support.
This is true TO greater extent If it can
be so shaped as not TO interfere with
features OF the Morgan bill or prevent
other cities from securing different
charters that suit them better. This
objection may be met by passing both
the Morgan bill and this one, with the
option left of adopting by st. Paul and
Minneapolis the bill best suited to the
needs of each. The objection of other
cities is warded off by provision
which dIsting uishes between cities.
Two Glasses of Cities.
The 81. Paul bill provides fer divid-
ing cities into two classes. and its pro-
visions are framed so that charter OF
one class may be applicable to cities OF
over 10000. while other provisions apply
to cities of less than $4,000 Inhabitants.
When city of the second class reaches
population Of $4,000 it becomes first
class city and will come under the pro-
visions of tie charter designed for
cities of the first class.
The bill has omnibus provisions, as
would be necessary when dual charter
is proposed. This makes it very
voiumiuous, as it embraces full pro
visions for all the varied features OF
cities and villages.
Tie bill makes number of changes
in the present charter and is different,
in material points. from the present
charter of Minneapolis and also from the
bill introduced by Senator Howard. 1t
differs from the Minneapolis bill
slightly in the number of elective
officers, but has other points of striking
difference. The present charter is
changed in the feature providing for
the selection of officers and i'll its pro-
posing to abolish number of boards.
The only elective officers are the may
or, comptroller and treasurer. besides
the assembly Of nine members nd an
alderman from each ward. The other
officers are TO be appointed by the may
Or. and TO hold office at his pleasure.
The wards of the city may be reor-
ganiZed after state or federal census.
but the reorganization is not TO take
place oftener than once in five years.
The time of the
City Elections
is changed from May TO the first Tues
day after the first Monday in Novem-
Der, and occurs in the oddnumbered
years They take their Offices OH the
second Tuesday in January following
the election. They may be removed at
any time for cause by tWO-thirdS vote
offices are to be filed by the council.
If in the election the two highest candi-
dates for al Office receive All equal num-
Der of votes they are TO cast lots for the
office in the presence Of the council Ill
joint session.
The present dual council features are
preserved. and an amendment Is made
which requires the lapse of four days
after the passage of an ordinance before
it may be signed by the mayor. The
Howard bill requires an ordinance to be
read at three separate sittings OF the
council.
The st. Paul bill dispenses with
boards, and particularly the board of
public works. and substitutes in their
places heads of departments, appointed
by the mayor, to serve at his pleasure.
The Howard bill would have such
heads of departments named by coun-
ell.
A Relic.
In the St. Paul bill the park board
ana board Of education are preserved as
relics. In place of the board of public
works there is to be a commissioner,
who is also to have charge of the water
works as well as the public works. under
the direct supervision Of the council.
This commissioner is given power to
appoint the city engineer and supervise
his operations. This not only dispenSes
with the board of public works. but the
water board as well, and places the
direct charge and responsibility Of both
of those departments under the control
Of the mayor, who names the commits
siouer to serve at his pleasure. The
city engineer holds his office only dur
ing the pleasure Of the commissioner OF
public works.
The park board is to consist of seven
members instead of four as at present,
and will have full control Of all the
parks.
The principal change in the school
board is that the members, of whom
there will be five, hold their Office for
five years instead of two, and the Sec
rotary and superintendent are named as
members of the board, though they are
to hold their Offices at the pleasure Of
the board.
The bill provides for health COM
missioner aud assistant, inspectors, etc.
Weekly Wages.
The present charter is changed in
many respects and one relative to pay
menI of laborers will be decided inn
movement, as it provides that they may
be paid weekly, while the officers are
to be paid monthly. 1t requires three
fourths vote of the council to incur
debt, but if the proposition receives
majority vote in the council, it may be
submitted to the people at the next
election. a majority of the members
of the council may issue bonds to pay
for mature outstanding bonds without
submitting the matter to vote Of the
people. The council is given the right
to regulate gas and electric lighting and
heating plants, the manner OF manufac-
turing gas, and the charge for the same.
ard to inspect meters, ETC., but 1t is al
lowed to grant no exclusive franchises
whatever.
Labor for the city is to be let by con.
tract. except when the amount is less
than $500, when it may be done by the
city force. or, in the event of all the
bids on contract being higher than