The Saint Paul globe., 1896-12-18
THE MINNEAPOLIS SYSTEM.

An investigation by the grand jury is
now going forward into what promises
to be an almost unheard-of regime of
municipal corruption in the city of
Minneapolis. While we sympathize with
its people in the wretched and criminal
abuses that have grown and fourished
in their public affairs, we congratu-
late them upon the apparent earnest
ness and success with which the ex-
posure and punishment Of the Offend
ers has been undertaken. For the
sake of the city and for the sake of
good government, we hope that the
agents of the law will follow every trail
with unsparing severity. and that the
work Of exposing the rascals will go on
until the last one Of them has been
lodged in jail or is fugitive from ms
tice in some other country. Municipa1
misgovernment is, unhappiIy. NOT so
rare thing in this country that such
an lpstance Of it need create any
particular excitement or surprise RTt
this disclosure of rottenness all throueb
the Minneapolis city administration
mas an important lesson for the people
of every city in Minnesota. because nm
TO this time, the Minneapolis system
of municipal government has been held
up before US pattern and has been
almost forced upon us by coercive leg
1slauon. During the last two sessions
OF the legislature every attempt to So
cure the enactment of a suitable gem
eraI law for the government of cities in
minnesota. conformable to the constitu-
tlonal amendment prohibiting snecia1
legislation, has been brought to naught
by the demand of representatives fran,
minneapolis that their scheme and no
olher must be made the law for all
other communities. The size and in
nuence Of the Minneapolis delegation
IN each legislature have been sufficient
TO defeat any proposition which did NOT
IoIoW the lines that they laid down.
four years ago an earnest attempt
was made by members of good govern
ment clubs and students of civics 70
prepare general municipal law for
cities in Minnesota that should embodv
the latest ideas and the ripest experi-
ehce OF great cities at the East. IT
was defeated because the Minnean nolis
l"ea came to the front, and unless we
could have the old scheme of govern
ment by council, proved everywhere to
be the worst in the world. we could
get nothing. Two years ago the same
Ioea prevailed. The old fight was made
IN the legislature. A law was passed
Tor all cities in Minnesota. which was
called, after the Minneapolis creator of
It, the Howard charter act. IF sa+
Iofth, essentially, the MINNEAPOLIS
scheme Of local government, and is to-
day the only charter that anv civ
IN Minnesota can adopt if it is not SAT-
lsfed with it's own. 1t was onIv as a
concession to hostile criticism that tbe
nome rule amendment was submitted
TO the people, so that, after three or
TOUR years, community that was nm
willing to follow the Minneapolis plan
might frame charter of its own.
we have now a practical illustration
OF the way in which the MINNEAPOLIS
system works. 1t is nothing new. It ts
the experience Of New York and Chi
cago and score Of other American
cities over again. It is the plain lesson
OF human nature. 1t is the inevitable.
necessary and universal outcome Of
attempting to direct all the great af-
fairs Of large city by lodging all
power in numerous common council.
and conducting the several depart
ments by means Of committees. The
system Of divided responsibility offers
the biggest possible premium to dis
honesty. 1t gives opportunities for
peculation' that make it well worth
while for scoundrels to work their way
into public places, even although no
salary should be attached to them. A
common council consisting of from
thirty to fifty members, cannot be an
efficient administrative machine, and it
can hardly be honest, as human ma
ture now stands. The venal element
that is sure to work into. it can COM
bine end direct all public undertak-
ings TO its own advantage. Jobs in