St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1896-04-12
COMPARISON OF PRESENT METH
, DDS WITH THOSE OF THE
HOWARD CHARTER.
BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS
NOW HAS CONTROL AND MAKES
ASSESSMENTS TO DEFRAY EN-
PENSES,
Chances for Corruption Increased
by the Changes Pros
posed.

When the authors Of the Howard
charter encountered the subject of pub
lie works they undoubtedly met diff
cult problem. We do not know that
any system is likely to be devised
whereby property can be taken from
citizens for public use without moral
certainty that some, if not all, parties
to the transaction will feel oppressed
by it's terms. Nor is it likely that
the burden of paving streets, or open
Ing parks. or of any similar public
enterprise, can ever be so adjusted to
the backs Of taxpayers that they all
will go their ways rejoicing in the
equity of the arrangement
1t has already been stated in other
papers of this series that the direction
Of public works-that is, grading and
paving streets, acquiring parks and
the like-is vested by the Howard act
in the council. This provision is in
line with the purpose of that law to
make the council the central power
of city government AT present local
improvements of the kind mentioned
except the acquisition Of parks, which
originates in the park board-originate
in the council, but are directed by the
board of public works, which also
makes assessments to defray expenses.
In the Howard scheme, the council is
to appoint, in each case of assessment
for local improvements, a special COM
mission of five members to estimate
benefits and damages to property con-
cerned.
1t is out Of the question to state
the details Of either system in this
discussion. The subject fills siXty-four
pages in the Municipal Code Of 1893,
and about as much space in the How
ard act. Only an outline Of impor-
tant features can be given.
Suppose, for example, that street
is to be graded. The common council,
under the present law, refers the mat
ter to the board of public works to
investigate and report whether the i'm
provement is necessary and proper. If
the board reports that property can
not be found benefited to the extent
of the damages and expenses of the
Improvement, the matter ends. If
the board reports favorably, however,
then the council may. order the work
done. Thereupon the board proceeds
to let the contract Ito the lowest bid
uSIJ oIu " lldhS dSSeSSIleHC upon
property benefited. The assessment is
made after notice thereof has been
given by publication and through the
mails to property owners interested.
From the decision reached by the
board appeal may be taken to the dis
trict court, which, for manifest error,
may send the proceeding back to the
board for reassessment. The council
has nothing further to do in the mat
ter, AS we have seen, the board con-
sists of four members appointed by the
mayor.
The Howard act proposes to leave
the whole proceeding in the hands of
The council The special commission
Frs appointed by it to make the as
Bessment report to the council, and
the report may be adopted or rejected.
Proceedings may be instituted and
abandoned, assessments made, rejected
and made again, in the discretion of
the council. When confirmed by the
council, appeal may be taken to the
district court, which may in it's turn
appoint three commissioners to make
the assessment anew. Notice of pro-
ceedings is to be given by publication
In newspapers, but not by mail or
otherwise.
Comparing the systems. the first mat