St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1895-02-06
CHARTER MAKING.
Joint Committee Agrees on Par
N OF a MuniCipaI Government Bill

IL of Municipal Government Bill
MI The members of the senate and of the
hO use committees OH municipal corpora
lfions held joint meeting last night IN
Ethe senate chamber. There was a large
representation present.
Ell Senator Howard, of Minneapolis, was
I elected chairman of the joint committee
tpn motion OF SENATOR Sheehan..
y Senator Howard asked for the wish OF
the people as to whether anything more
than municipal charters should be dis
cussed by the joint body.
At the suggestion of Representative
Cant, Of Duluth. it was agreed that
charter legislation alone be discussed.
Chairman Howard stated that three
charter bills had been introduced in the
senate. He conceived that the chief
conflict would be between a charter in
which the chief responsibility should be
placed in the hands OF the mayor, as
opposed to one giving the council the
chief responsibility. Speaking of his
own DILL, Senator Howard said that it
had been drafted as the result of the
experience secured in the discussion
two years ago. and through conference
had with attorneys from various parts
of the State. He believed that the bet
ter plan is to place the greater RESPONSE
DilltY in the council.
Senator Sheehan, being requested to
do so, gave his reasons for introducing
the ''home rule" bill. He said that the
| experience of two years ago, and the
discussion in conference OF attorneys in
various cities has prompted him TO be-
lieve that the cities would not agree
upon charter. Hence he had prepared
bill proposing an amendment to the
constitution SO as to allow the larger
cities to draft their own charters. He
believes that charter legislation will be
Il difficult problem. He feared that the
discussion that would follow would pre-
vent charter legislation, aud he believes
his bill the only solution of the prob
lem.
Capt. Van SAINT wanted to know why
$4,000 was made the limit for cities.
| That, he said, would cut Winona out by
LOCO or SO.
Senator Stebbins also suggested that
smaller cities would be left cut.
Senator Sheenau suggested that cities
| of $4,000 or less might he included in the
| list.
Representative Jacobson wanted to
know If there was any hope of the two
large cities agreeing on any plan. ii
not, he believed it folly to waste time in
discussing plans or bills. The people
from the country did not believe i'll
wasting the time of the legislature in
discussing bills while there is no plan
agreed upon by the two large cities.
Mr.. OZmun moved theselec!lon of a
Joint subcommittee 10 discuss the bills
and to try to agree upon charter bill.
Senator Spencer moved to amend the
motion SO DIS to appoint committee of
cities. this committee to agree upon a
measure TO be submitted to the general
| committee.
Senator Howard opposed the motion,
saying that while TIE city OF Minneap-
! oils can get along for the present with
out much charter legislation, yet there
is demand for charter remodeling by
all the cities. large and small. He
thought it inadviSable to delegate the
matter to small committee, but that
the whole bill shoul d be discussed and
settled, step by step by the whole com
mttee, as it would save time. He be-
lieved the subcommittee could not
agree. He believes that the small cities
are interested as much as the larger
ones in charter legislation.
Senator Fuller favored the discussion
by the whole committee and said his
city, although small one, is interested
as much as any city in the matter.
Senator Sheehan saw nothing to be
gained by discussing the matter in a
Su bcOmmittee.
Representative Shell said that he
wanted to be around when the discus
sion goes on.
Senator StebbinS was in favor of the
two cities settling the question Of a
double charter, but believed the smaller
| cities should have a voice in settling
other questions.
The question for subcommittee was
lost.
Chairman Howard suggested that the
committee take up the Sheehan bill
first as it contemplated superseding
| both the other bills.
Senator Sheehan said his bill would
not interfere with the other bills.
Whether another bill was passed or not
he felt that his bill should be passed
LII case satisfactory charter should
not be agreed upon his bill would be
| advantageous.
| Senator Stebbins spoke along the line
| of the argument offered by Senator
| Sheehan i'll support Of the constitutional
| amendment.
Senator Collester said that he might
| favor Senator Sheehan's bill if amended,
| but he believed in proceeding with the
work OF agreeing upon general
| charter.
On motion of Mr.. Shell the committee
! proceeded to discuss the merits Of the
two senate files, namely, tbs Howard
| and the Philips preparations.
The first forty sections of the Howard
bill relating to organization had no cor
| responding provisions in the other bill,
! and were read and discussed
| On motion OF Mr.. Shell the first sec
ton was amended so as to make the
| charter applicable to cities Of 1000 or
over. MIR. jacobson thought this num-
| Der small enough. as smaller places
should not put on airs.
Other sections were approved down to
| section Is, which was amended by
| striking out the clause allowing an an
neXivn to any incorporated city OF new
territory by petition alone.
On motion of Senator Fuller, Senators
| Stebbins and Mr.. Jacobson were named
as subcommittee to draft a provision
covering the point of admitting addi-
| ti0nal territory TO an incorporated city.
Senator Fuller was added to the com.
| mittee.
Sections 36, 50 and 40 were passed
after being read by Clerk Alexander
-McCune. of the senate committee, for
| future discussion. The remaining NUNS
Der of the forty sections of chapter l
were agreed upon.
Ii. W. Phillips, who drew the st.
| Paul charter, suggested that there be
daily meetings of the committee, SO as
to get through as soon as possible. In
case there be no possibility of passing
a charter, he wanted 10 propose another
| bill covering specific features desired to
| be covered in the st. Paul city goveln-
ment, and secure separate action by the
| Legislature. He stated that an eXami-
nation of the two bills had convinced
him that they are similar in many
features, in fact, in nearly all of the
main features. He thought that they
| could agree on NEST of the features. On
motion of Senator Collister the joint
committee adjourned. subJectto the call
| Of the chairman. Senator Howard an
nounced that he would call meeting
| Tor O'Clock this evening.