The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-06-15
ASSEMBLYMAN ALBRIGHT FEARS
THE CHARTER LAW is UNCON-
STITUTIONAL.
COMMITTEE ON STREETS
PCSTPONES ACTION ON 1T UNTIL
JUNE "a FOR FEAR OF
COMPLICATIONS,
Same Committee Hesitates as to
What to Do in That Matter at
This Time.

decided at special meeting held yes
terday afternoon that it was ques
ton as to whether ST Paul needed
new charter. The matter came up en-
the ordinance introduced by Assembly
man Daily to appoint a commission Of
fifteen resident freeholders to draft q
charter which would be submitted to
the voters at the next municipal cleo
ton. The ordinance was referred to
the assembly committee on streets, but
was never heard from until yesterday.
Mayor Doran at the last meeting of
the assembly addressed a letter to the
body 'as an individual citizen urging
the prompt action of the council as to
the passage of the ordinance. The let
ter from his honor when read at the
committee meeting yesterday was dis
posed Of by Assemblyman Arosin, sug-
costing that the communication be
placed by the chairman in his inside
pocket. This was done, and the COM
mlttee then proceeded to discussion
of the ordinance. Assemblyman AL
precht was in favor of public hear
Ing on the ordinance, at which the COM
mercial and representative bodies Of
the city might express their views.
some one stated that the council in
Minneapolis had already passed an or
dlnance similar to the one under con-
Slderation. Mr.. Albrecht, who evident
Iy voiced the sentiments of the other
six members of the assembly who were
present, said it was questionable
whether st. Paul needed a new char
ter. Minneapolis and Duluth, he claim
ed, were in bad shape, and there was
some reason for both these two cities
faVor1ng new charter In the case
OF st. Paul, however, it was different.
The city now had a good charter and
possibly nothing could be attained by
meddling with it. Mr.. Albrecht. who
is lawyer by profession, raised the
point that the law under which it
was intended to proceed might be I'M
constitutional This put another OBJ
Struct1on in the way of Immediate ac
tlon, put the committee referred this
point TO the corporation attorneys Of
nee for an early opinion as to the con-
st1tut1onality of the law After con-
siderable discussion as to whether the
president of the common council should
call a special meeting of that body to
decided to hold a meeting of the as
sembly committee on streets June "a
at O'Clock. AT this meeting members
OF the chamber of commerce, CONNER
cial club, city officials and the mayor
| and board Of aldermen will be invited
and expected to air their views as to
the necessity of going ahead and hav-
ing new charter drafted.
The resolution of Assemblyman DaIy
directing the expenditure of 81 900 from
| the street sewer and bridge fund for
| cycle paths was pigeonholed. Assem-
blyman Thompson suggested that a
| portion OF this sum could be expended
| in cycle paths in the Second and First
ward. The other members of the COM
m1ttee, however, inclined to the view
! that the Second ward Statesman should
first pick out the particular path and
! then bring in resolution for having
! it constructed.
The adverse report of the board Of
| public works on the repaving of Broad
way from Seventh to Grove streets
| caused a long discussion. Mr.. Arosin
and Mr.. Thompson were in favor of
| having the street repaved notwith-
! standing the objections of the property
! owners. Mr.. Arosin said the majority
| of the property owners were as fully
! able to pay for the repaving of the
| street this year as they would be next
| year. 1t had reached the point where.
! as soon as an Improvement was con-
| templated the property owners came in
and objected, and said they would be
| perfectly willing to have the work done
| the following year. In his opinion,
| Broadway should be ordered paved this
| year. Mr.. Thompson told tale of woe
about 1t being impossible to drive over
| broadway with a load of berries or
eggs without damage. He also favored
| the council ordering the street paved
| the report of the board of public works
| to the contrary, notwithstanding. No
| conclusion was reached, however, and
the matter was laid over
The ordinance prohibiting the laying
of wooden sidewalks in the Fourth
ward, introduced by Aid. Donahower
was referred to the chairman
The adverse report of the board Of
public works as to the opening of d
street on the upper levee from Jack
son to Eagle street was referred to the
| corporation attorney for an opinion as
to whether the city had any rights to
| street on the levee. This was what
the preliminary order was sent to the
board of public works for, but that
body simply returned report that the
| Improvement was not necessary at the
! present time.
Mr.. Reardon wanted a resolution
| passed directing the mayor to issue
! no more free permits for peddlers, but
| Mr.. DAILY said the mayor had informed
him there would be no more permits
| issued, and with this explanation Mr.
| Reardon did not press his suggestion