St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1895-02-13

edial legislation Tor ST. faul, anu
added that the committee would pc
pleased to hear from the senators.
In response to this request Ozmun
arose, and first explained the ma
ture of the Howard bill, which pro-
vides for a government by the coun-
ell. The senator then pointed out
the difference between his own pro-
posed charter, which calls for gov
eminent by the mayor and council.
Ozmun said that he thought that
he would be able to get his bill
through, though he feared that 1t
would not retain the section proVld-
ing for dual council, as there was
a strong sentiment against that sys-
tenn on the part of the country mem
bers.
Senator Sheehan followed, and ex-
planned his "home rule" bill. The
senator was of the opinion that it
was
THE WORST THING
that could happen to st. Paul to
have a charter adopted at this ses-
sion of the legislature. He thought
that the present Bell charter was a
pretty good charter in times like the
present.
Later in the evening Senator Shee-
han read his bill. 1t proposes an
amendment to the state constitution
whereby the legislature shall be en-
powered to pass law providing for
the appointment in any city desiring
to change it's charter of fifteen free
holders, to be named by the judges
of the district in which the city is
located.
Under such law the committee Of
freeholders shall, within six months
after their appointment, prepare a
charter and submit it to the mayor,
after which it shall be laid before
the people of that city at the next
regular election to be voted upon.
The proposed amendment to the
constitution further empowers the
legislature to pass a law amending
the charter thus adopted, in case the
people of the city desire it.
1t was plain from the discussion
that followed the reading of the bill
that all the members Of the council
committee favored it. Assembiymen
Parker and Lewis and Aid. Hare
said as much, While the other mem
berS Of the committee uttered no
adverse opinions. OZmun objected
10 IL
ground that it imposed unnecessary
delay in effecting the needed re-
forms, as it would be necessary first
to wait for the general state cleo
ton before the people could vote
upon the amendment, and there
would be subsequent delays in the
case Of every city deserving a new
charter. Senator Sheehan replied
that there was no hurry. ST. Paul
had been trying for forty years to
get a good charter, and could af-
ford to wait two CIR three years for
satisfactory results.
Senator Stevens then enlightened
the councilmen regarding his salary
bill and his retrenchment bill. The
former gives the council absolute
power to reduce the salaries Of all
city officials save that of the mayor
and comptroller 1t was thought
wise by Senator Stevens to remove
these two important officials from
the interference or jurisdiction of the
council, which might otherwise
DESTROY THEIR USEFULNESS.
The retrenchment bill permits the
council to remove for cause all city
officials save the following: The may
or comptroller, city clerk, city treas
urer and city attorney. These ex-
ceptions were made in order to OBJ
viate the possibility of the council
abolishing the form of city govern
ment as has occurred in some cities,
greatly to the destruction of their
financial credit
l. Both CT these bills met with the ap-
prevail of the council committee. As
semblyman Parker suggested that if
the good points of the Home rule"
were merged into those of Senator
Stevens bills, the combination ought
to prove highly satisfactory.
Chairman Markham said that he felt
warranted in saying that the common
council Of st. Paul was in favor of a
government by mayor and council
Alderman Hare scored the Bell char
ter, and expressed his approval of Sen
ator Sheehan's bill All of the mem
bers opposed doing away with dual
council. City Attorney Chamberlain
also favored the Home rule BILL
At the opening of the session the
senators were asked as to the status