The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1895-03-15
WANT HOME RULE.
THE BOARD OF TRADE TAKES AC-
TON ON CITY CHARTERS.
While the Sheehan Bill is Favored, a
Committee is Appointed to Suggest
Amendments to the Howard
Bill.

Mankato of the college of the Christ
ian church organization. He stated
that there is now such an institution
located at Excelsior, point not far
from Mankato, and he saw no benefit
in prolonging the negotiations, and
recommended that the matter be
dropped.
: Gen. Pope was asked to make a
y, statement as to the present status OF
the railroad suits, which he did in
\ brief form, showing that all the cases
are resting in statu quo.
NJ. B. Haynes stated that undoubt-
edly some action would be taken in
the legislature this week in regard to
city charters. The Howard bill will
not suit us, and the Sheehan bill will.
He moved that it is the sense of the
Board that Mankato wants the Shee-
han bill to be passed, and that the
Blue Earth county representatives be
notified to this effect. This motion
was unanimously passed.
Z. p. Wheeler, secretary-treasurer
of the Central Publishing Co., appear
ed.before the board and made state
ment in behalf of the Blue Earth
county Map and Gazetteer, saying
that he would like the recommends
tion of the Board and if possible it's
cooperation. There would be an ap-
pendiX containing historical and BIZ
ographical writeup of the county. The
village council of Lake Crystal had
voted 800, another village had voted
$50, and the county commissioners
had contracted for 800 worth of
space.
Some of the members objected to
paying money in any other way than
as individuals, or recommending the
council to do so. Mr.. Wheeler asked
that the Board appoint committee
to look into the proposed publication,
and to report to the Board. If the re-
port was favorable, he would like the
Board to recommend the work.
M. B. Haynes moved that a COM
mittee of three be appointed for the
purpose, and this was carried.
Acting president Shoemaker was
authorized to appoint the regular
standing committees of the Board for
the year.
L. P. Hunt appeared before the
Board with copy of the Howard city
charter bill, and stated that he had
received letter from Senator Barr,
who had said that the Howard bill
will come before the Senate on
Wednesday of this week, and that
there was no doubt but that it would
60 through. Very likely the bill will
go through the lower house unless
there is vigorous opposition made to
it. The Sheehan bill is not likely to
pass, although it would be the best
bill for Mankato and the other smaller
cities of the state. If the Howard
bill is bound to pass, it would be well
to have it amended so as to remove
it's most obnoxious features, if posi-
BILE. Some of the provisions would be
absurd for this city. For instance,
one clause provides that the municipal
elections shall be held with the gen.
eral fall election instead of in the
spring. This has been heretofore con-
sidered and opposed by our people as
likely to result disastrously for the
city in the trading of city offices for
the county and state tickets. Another
clause provides for one alderman from
each ward and four at large, which
would give us ten aldermen, while eX-
perience has shown US that six is a
great plenty, if, indeed, it is not too
many. Another clause provides that
the floating Indebtedness of the city
can be turned into bonded in
debtednesS to a limit of 10
per cent. The members from
Blue Earth county ought to be
advised as to the wants of the city on
this bill. The board of trade should
appoint committee to advise with
the city attorney as to what amend
ments are desirable.
M. B. Haynes asked whether it
would not be advisable to have COM
mittee of citizens go to ST. Paul in
the interest of desirable amendments.
Mr.. Hunt replied that committee
of two could do as much good as a
larger committee, and that it would
be well for such committee to be
appointed to consult the local men,
bers of the legislature, as well as to
meet with similar committees from
other small cities. Were all the
smaller cities to take similar action,
the desired changes might be brought
about.
III. p. Jensen moved that a COM
mittee of three be appointed to con-
suit with City Attorney Young upon
desired amendments to the Howard
bill, and to have power to call a spe-
cial meeting of the board if needed.
This was carried, and the board
adjourned.