The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-09-30
POINTERS ON CHARTERS.
Cleveland, Harrison and Roosevelt
Give Their Views.

Cleveland, Harrison and Roosevelt
Give Their Views.
At the regular meeting of the board
of trade yesterday letters were read
from Grover Cleveland Theodore
Roosevelt Charles J. Bonaparte, and
other men of note touching the ques-
ton of the proposed new charter for
the city of Minneapolis. The letters
were received by President A. L.
Croker, in response to a request for
an expression of opinion as to the best
methods used in city government.
With view to securing the highest,
most impartial and authoritative ex-
pressions on the most approved meth
DDS of conducting the affairs Of
large city. Mr. Croker addressed
letters to many of the most prominent
men in the United States. Besides
those mentioned above, ex-President
Harrison, Seth Low, Washington
Glading, Gov Francis, Of Missouri, and
others equally we'll known to the pub
lie.
In his opening remarks, President
Croker reviewed the work of the board
of trade in securing the Tri City char
ter. and stated that in view of the
prominent part the board has taken in
the movement he deemed it proper:
that it should respond to the request Of
the charter commission to lend its sup
port through an expression of opinion.
To the speakers mind the main
question, and that which should be set
tied first of all, was what should be
the form of organization of the city
government, that is, what should be the
respective functions of the legislative
and executive departments? Should
these be separated with specific duties
and responsibilities, or should they be
all mixed up, with responsibility no.
where, and with unlimited opportuni-
ties afforded for maladministration
and increased expense in cost Of gov
question would hardly determine sub
sequent details of the charter, the
speaker believed.
President Croker next read three of
the letters alluded to above. They are
as follows:
FROM GROVER CLEVELAND.
Gray Gables, Buzzard's Bay Sept. 3D. 1897.
Your letter is received While governor OF
the state of New York, in 1854, l had occa-
sion to pass upon legislation affecting the
city of New York, which placed the appoint
ment Of certain officials entirely in the hands
of the mayor, without participation of the
council or board of aldermen. l then wrote
a memorandum setting forth my reasons for
approving such legislation, which pub
lished in book which send you. The MEM
lie papers of 1884. 1 had then to deal with
a case where the officers affected were al
ready appointed, and the question was whether
they should be appointed by the mayor alone
or by the mayor subject to confirm tion
by the legislative body of the CITY, In addi-
ton to what then said in the memorandum
in favor of the former plan. my observation
and thought since writing the memorandum
convince me that original proposition
the subordinate officers of city should be
selected by the mayor without interference,
and that SO long at least as the City legisla-
ture is elected by wards or small divisions,
he should have power of veto upon all its
acts. In the city of Buffalo there has been
a change recently made creating board Of
councilmen elected from the city at large,
consisting of five members, whose concur
renee with the board of aldermen elected by
wards is necessary to municipal legislation.
These councimen constitute sort OF upper
house, corresponding somewhat to the fed
eral and state senators. 1 am not clear as
to the power of the mayor under this plan,
l should fear, however, that besides its
cumbersomeness it would not altogether meet
the evils to be guarded against. Yours truly,
Grover Cleveland.
Ex-President Harrison replies, Plead
ing a great press of business and cal
ing attention to the articles on the gen
eraI subject printed in the Ladies'
Home journal for March and April,
1896, which articles are about to be
published in book form, covering his
whole position, he says:
Executive direction should always
be single. When anything is wrongly
done we must be able to put hand on
the man who did it"
Rev Washington Glading writes in
great haste and refers to his full dis
cussion and opinion as given in his lit
tie book called the Cosmopolis City
Club Of city government he says:
1.-The difficulty in the case arises from
the division of functions between the
executive and legislative departments.
1 think that councils ought to have
considerable legislative power, but [
would concentrate executive power and
responsibility in the hands of the may
or" He says he has no new light
since he wrote the above book.
THEODORE ROOSEVELTS REPLY.
Navy Department, Washington, Sept16, 1897
I entirely agree with your views. After
tics l am convinced that one of the chief
reasons for bad government is divided re-
Sponsibtlity. We ought to give one man the
power to do definite job, ard hold him re-
sponsible for the way he exercises that power.
In my opinion it is sheer nonsense to give the
council power over the mayors appointments.
He is responsible and they are not If there
is maladmin istrat:on he can be held account
able for it, and they cannot. Politicians can
work through them to procure the rejection or
appointment of man. without fear of de-
tection but the mayor stands before the whole
people, and is responsive to their wishes.
Most emphatically he should make his ap-
pointments wholly without consultation or
approval with or by the council. Yours
truly, Theodore Roosevelt.