The islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1891-1899, 1896-07-09
HOME RULE ST. LOUIS.
The City Charter Was Made by It's
Own Citizens.

HOME RULE IN ST. LOOlS.
The City Charter Was Made by It's
Own Citizens.
If the analogy Of our national ana
State organizations is to be followed at
all in municipal government, 1t ought
to be followed so intelligently and log
ically as to retain the merits along with
the complications and inconvenience
This is what the st. Louis system, more
than any other in the country, has sue
ceeded in doing. The one great achieve
ment for which st. Louis is to be praised
is the completeness with which it has
won it's liberty, and stands for the
principle of municipal home rule. 1t is
entitled to be called ''free city" Even
it's charter was not made for it and con-
ferred upon it by the Legislature, or by
any State agency, but was made by
local body of citizens elected for that
purpose, and was then adopted by the
voters of st. Louis at special election
This was in 1876. The State of Mis-
souri, had been holding constitutional
convention, and the convention had
found itself face to face with the prob
lem how to deal with the government
of MissOuris chief municipality. Much
confusion had arisen from the Illogical
and overlapping dual government or
the county of st. Louis and the city OF
st. Louis. The county debt was a
large and growing one, while the city
debt was in the same process of eX-
trayagant increase. A rOugh-and-ready
method for the limitations of local in
debtedness was fixed upon by the con-
vention. 1t was ordained in the State
constitution that such local debts
should not become greater in the aggre-
gate than per cent. of the assessed
valuation of local property. AS re-
CARDS st. Louis, it was provided that
the city and county governments might,
if they chose, agree to hold a special
election in order to choose thirteen
men, who should be empowered % to
draw up a scheme for the entire sep
aration Of the city from the county, and
(2) to draft a charter for the reconsti-
tuted city. This program was carried
out. The scheme of separation greatly
increased the municipal area, and fixed
the bounds now existing. County build
ings, with other county property inside
the limits of the city, were all trans
ferred to the municipality, and in return
the city assumed the entire county
debt.
The popular house of the Municipal
Assembly, known as the House of Del
egateS, was made to consist of twenty
eight members, one from each ward,
elected for two years, all retiring to-
gether. The upper chamber Of the
Assembly, known as the Council, was
to consist of thirteen members, elected
for four-year terms on a general city
ticket The President of the Council
was to be specifically elected to that
position. OF the remaining twelve mem
bers six were to retire every two years.
The municipal elections were ordered
to be held in April, and were thus kept
distinct from State and national cleo
tons, which occur in November. The
Mayor was to be elected for a term of
four years, and other general officers, to
be elected at large, for four-year terms,
were as follows: Comptroller, Auditor,
Treasurer, Register, Collector, Record
err of Deeds, Inspector of Weights and
Measures, Sheriff, Coroner, President
Of Board of Assessors, and President
of the Board Of Public improvements
Century.