The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-06-27

ment- of public schools and the care
and custody of the school buildings
and property in the city Of st. Paul,
and by the terms of the act the city
Of st. Paul is charged with the pay
ment Of the bonds heretofore issued
by the city, as we'll as all legal out
standing and floating liabilities, and
the city is required to make provision
for the payment therefore as said in
debtedness shall from time to time
become due and payable out Of the
city treasury in the same manner as
other city Indebtedness is paid. This
act was approved March 20, 1891, and
took effect at once.
The legislature at the same session
passed an act ITO amend the charter
Of the city of ST. Paul." and in this
act, Chapter 6, Special Laws 1S9D,
it is provided among other things that
| the common council by a three-fourths
vote may levy an annual tax upon all
property in the city taxable under the
laws of the state to and for special
purposes. Among others to provide for
the support and maintenance of the
public free schools of said city, proVid-
ed that the levy in any one year shall
not exceed 21a mills on the dollar of the
property assessed for ali school pur-
poses, exclusive of state tax, nor be
less than 2 mills on the dollar. This
tock effect Immediately.
Il think the provisions Of law relat-
ing to the public schools, so far as
the city of st. Paul is concerned, have
become so interviewer with provisions
relative to the general management Of
| the government and affairs Of the city,
that they have become a part of the
city charter. [ have merely called at
tention to the provisions of these two
acts Of 1891 as tending to support this
view. I think that when the legislature
provided, as it did by chapter 255,
Laws 1897, that any city or village in
this state may frame a charter for it's
own government consistent with and
| subject to the laws of this state, that
there is included the authority to frame
as part of such charter suitable laws
relating to the support and manage
ment of the public schools of the city.
Under the provisions of existing
| statutes the management of the public
| schools has been brought completely
| under the control Of the city govern
ment, and the laws relating to that
| department have become part of the
| charter Of the city.
Under these circumstances I am.
| Of the opinion that, if the board Of
fifteen freeholders contemplated by
chapter 255, Laws 1897, is appointed,
that board will have the power to pre-
| pare and submit to the people for
| adoption a suitable charter, including
suitable provisions for the care and
| maintenance of the public schools Of
| the city, and that If ratified by the
| vote of the people, such charter will
| have the effect to supersede the exist
! ing charter, including the existing laws
| providing for the support and main
| tenance Of the public schools of the
| city.
IF I am correct in assuming that
| the special laws relating to the support
| and maintenance of free schools with
! in the city of st. Paul, have become a
part Of the charter, and the public
| school system has become part of the
| city government, there would seem to
be nothing in the contention Of Mr..
Dunn, that notwithstanding the adop-
ton Of the new charter, the laws re-
lating in any manner to the schools
would remain intact, and we would
still be operating under them, and
would still have to face the same old
problem of shortage Of funds"
The fact that new charter will fur
nish relief to the school situation is
rot all the good that is anticipated
Other matters can, 1t is thought be
improved upon. Speaking. about anoth-
er desirable change, John E. Stryker
said yesterday:
Among the items which might TO
advantage be included in the prospect
| I've new CHARTER TO cure OeteCtS In our
present charter is the matter of as
sessment for local improvements on
property owned by both resident and
nonresident owners but especially the
latter. AS it is today a man may have
property here today which an exami-
nation shows is clear of assessment
Tomorrow or the next day big lot of
assessments for street making, sprink-
| ling or the building of sidewalks, etc.,
may be clapped on, and he has no
means of knowing it. OF course, no.
tees are sent out, but sometimes they
are received and sometimes they are
| not.
In my opinion there should be a
| specified time when such assessments
are due and when penalties thereon
begin. This is done in the matter of
! taxes, and should be the same for as
| Sessments.
This is one matter. There are a
number Of others. For example, I do
not believe it is right to give to the
| city comptroller the power he now has.
| Our city comptroller has lost more to
| the city by his failure to sign contracts,
| etc., than he has ever saved, and this
| would not be possible had he not so
much power No subordinate city Off
| cial should be granted this much power.