St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1896-03-10
MEMBERS OF THE CHAMBER OF
COMMERCE. DISLIKE THE
HOWARD CHARTER.
GEN. SANB0RN AN EXCEPTION.
COMMITTEE APPOINTED TO CON-
sIDER THE ENACTMENT SUB
MITS A REPORT.
DO NOT WANT AN UNTRIED LAW
Comparisons Are Made Showing the
Existing Charter to BE the
Safer One.

Calmly and with that discreet mod
Grafton becoming to. patriarchs of trade
and finance, the chamber of commerce
told itself yesterday morning that it
did not like the Howard charter w.
Is. Dean compared the charter to an
earthquake. and Mr.. Murray suggested
tnat Gen. Sanborn was insane, because
the general believed that it was posi-
Die to conceive outrages more henious
than the adoption Of the Howard char
ter. Thus the trend of sentiment was
somewhat discouraging to those who
would be pleased if st. Paul abandoned
its present special charter and adopted
the so-called Howard charter, passed
as general law at the last session Of
the legislature. The report upon the
subject was read by ]. D. Ludden,
chairman Of the committee appointed
to consider the merits of the Howard
charter. With Mr.. Ludden on the COM
mittee were Messrs. G. P. Noyes, R.
A. Kirk, H. S. Fairchild w. H. Light
ner, A. B. DriscoIl and Gen. ]. B. San
born. Gen. Sanborn was the only men,
Der of the committee who believed that
any good could come out Of Nazareth. -
He submitted minority report favor
ing trial Of the general law. The
majority report was as follows:
Your committee have carefully considered
the recommendation as to the adoption of the
so-called Howard charter law contained in the
report OF Gen. John B. Sanborn. The single
question to be considered is whether the city
OF st. Paul shall abandon it's present charter
at the present time and adopt in its place the
general law.
This is more serious question for this city
IMAM appears at first sight, and for two rea-
sons: .a
First-Our constitution was amended in 1892
by forbidding the enactment in the future of
any special law affecting city, The aban-
donment, therefore, of our present city charter
will be final. Even if experience should prove
the change to have been unwise, there will be
no possibility under our present constitution
of return to our present charter.
Second-The Howard charter is an untried
law. While modelled upon the Minneapolis
charter, 1t contains many new provisions, and
is general and not special in it's form and
wording A new. law Of this character is ex-
detrimental. 1t must and will give rise to
much litigation and 1t will be many years
before such law can be interpreted and set
tied by the courts. These objections are not.
weight and consideration before the change is
made. Our present charter Is the growth of
many years legislation and has remained un-
changed since 1891. 1t has been the subject
of much litigation and Interpretation by the
courts. 1t has, as result, become settled
law and is now well understood.
The report then considers at length the OBJ
jections urged against the present charter.
Continuing, it says:
There are certain prominent features of our
present charter which are valuable and which
Will be lost IL the general law is adopted.
First-The dual council which has in five
years demonstrated its usefulness.
Second-The financial department and the
rigid provision against intermingling of funds,
or the expenditure of funds not provided for in
the tax levy. Under these provisions, added
n n or VIZ hu ftn Id Dali H.
there has been marked Improvement in the
management of our finances
Third-The regular and systematized re-
ports required annually from all departments
have been valuable in placing before the
public eye the full and detailed operations of
the city government.
Fourth-The limitations as to annual ex-
penditures.
For illustrations: The annual expenditure
OF the fire department cannot exceed $215, coo;
for. police $1S5,OOO; for street, sewer and
bridge cleaning and maintenance, $3.50 900.
This chamber is doubtless familiar with the
facts that before these limitations were i'm
posed in 1891 the annual expenditure greatly
exceeded these limits, in some instances be-
ing double the amount mentioned and that
since 1891 the limit has not been exceeded in
any year, mainly because there was no power
to exceed the limit.
Your committee have thought it necessary
to call attention to some of the provisions
of our present charter. in order that we
portant changes which will be effected by
the general law If adopted.
First-The entire basis and principle of our
city government will be changed. The coun-
Gil system will be adopted. The power of the
executive will be greatly reduced and in
general the boards will be abolished. The
council is given the power to fix the salaries
OF all officers and employees of the city (Sec.
3d. In general it elects the administrative
officers and agents of the city, such as chief
engineer of the fire department. and by it's
power to fix the number of inferior officers
and their salaries, and the rules regulating
their appointment, it in effect has the ap-
pointment of all employees. The vice of such
a system must be apparent. 1t may be ex-
pected to result in filing all positions in con-
sideration of political or other services and in
indefinitely increasing the number of public
employees.
Second-The specific limitations in our pres
ent Charter are swept away. 1t is true such
limitations could not we'll be placed in gen.
eral law; but these limitations are extremely
valuable and should not be hastily aban-
doned.
Third-The Howard charter is only partial
in its operation. There are many branches
OF our city government not referred to, and
it is presumed that they will continue to OPP
crate under the remnants of our present char
ter. The following, subjects are not covered
by the Howard charter. viz: Schools, munic-
1pal court, court house and city hall commits
sion. ! INC
Fourth-The method Of making and collect
ing assessments is entirely changed. The pro-
vision which carries all delinquent assess
ments into the general taxes is undoubtedly
great improvement. But as to the method
and cost of making the assessment it may
we'll be doubted whether any Improvement
will be made. In place of having board of
public works make the assessment it is pro-
vided that in the case Of every Improvement
requiring an asseSSmeptl the council shall APP
point five commissioners who shall make the
assessment In other Words instead of hav-
ing one board upon stated salaries to make
all assessments, the council will appoint a
board to make each assessment. We doubt
whether this is any Improvement upon the
present system and believe it will add to.
rather than decrease the cost Of improve
ments Provision is made for appeal to the
district court upon the question of damages
and assessments. This is a protection to the
taxpayer not found in our present charter.
There are several features of the Howard
charter which will commend themselves as
wise precautions. Ordinances cannot be
acted without three readings. and these read
ings must occur not less than one week apart.
This gives an opportunity for the public to
criticse and discuss a proposed ordinance.
No such provision. however, is made for the
passage of resolutions, and oftentimes the
corrupt measures are adopted in the form of
resolutions.
The mayor has powerful veto. To pass a
measure over the veto requires a vote of three
fourths of all the members of the council, and
in cases which require a three-fourths vote
or the original action of the council, it will
require the unanimous vote of all the mem
bers of the council TO oyerrule the veto.
The mayor comptroller and president of
the council are constituted board of tax levy,
and it is their duty to nix the maximum rate
Of taxation each year, and the council is de-
prived of any power to levy taxes in any year
in excess of this maximum rate.
Your committee has only been able in re-
port of this character to noint out the salient
points and changesr and in this connection
desire to call particular attention TO sec
ton 81 of the general law which provides that
call laws and partg thereof not inconsistent
with the provisionsOf this act shall continue
in force and be applicable to such city or viii
lage the same as H. >ueh reorganization had
not taken place; and REORGANIZATION shall
be construed to bena repeal or surrender of