The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-02-18
ALWAYS WITH Us.

"A number of those interested in mu-
nicipal reform in St. Paul, Minneap-
oils and Duluth have been holding
sweet converse with one another in the
interest Of still further charter legis-
lation. The general principles upon
which they agreed in their conference
at Minneapolis are reasonably free
from objection. They approve the dual
council, which is a great preventive Of
tanning through" jobs, and which
has the further advantage Of requir-
ing one body to be elected at large.
They call for spring municipal cleo
ttons in the ODD numbered years, which
Is vital to reform, by enabling the
public to keep national and local is
sues entirely distinct, and to vote for
local councils. if they WILL without
bias. The third principle, which calls
for the adoption Of a system of civil
service reform, is also admirable. The
collection of taxes through the county
treasurer could very we'll be accepted
with these other provisions, while we
all want proper limits" placed upon
the city council in the matter of tax
alton, bond issues, the granting of
FRANCHISES and other acts involving
the property or credit of the people.
10 carry these ideas into effect it was
decided to draft another charter bill,
and three gentlemen from each CITY
were selected to perform this service
o-
trely in sympathy with the general
proposition. and while at least a part
OF the gentlemen who act for st. Paul
are fitted for the work, we see no rea-
son in the world why the legislature
should be asked to take up this SUBJ
Ject again, or why we should have
charter legislation always with US,
whenever our lawmakers are in SEES
sion. There is no particular reason
why the governments Of st. Paul.
Minneapolis and Duluth should be
identical in form, unless the people
please to have it so. There is no rea-
son in the world why the customs
and methods which have become famil
upon another against it's will. We
can say this now without suspicion Of
interest, because it is the best things
or the St Paul charter which are to
be Incorporated in the general law
suggested. But, just as we saw no
reason why the Minneapolis system,
since discredited and disgraced, should
De forced upon US in the Howard char
ter act, so we see no reason why our
system should be crammed down the
threats of the people Of Duluth or
any other city.
All that is necessary to do is for the
legislature to pass an act putting into
effect the home rule amendment adopt-
ed at the last election, and specify the
conditions under which it NAV be
accepted by any city in the state.
Then the legislature will have done
with the subject for good and all. Then
our cities representative can get
together, If they want to, and agree
or they can stay separate. if they
want tc, and frame charters of their
own They can take their time about
1t, select the best provisions, and use
only language that has already stood
the test of litigation and been inter-
preted by the courts. It is wholly i'm
possible for any commission. how
ever ably constituted, to draft a munic-
ipal charter act in time to be passed
upon at this legislative session, and
to give due care to it's provisions and
It's language. Such a document would
be full Of oversights, mistakes and
uncertainties. and would have to run
the gauntlet of all the courts before
1T could be of settled effect.
This straining for uniformity in city
charters, and this earnest desire that
the Legislature should pour all the
cities of the state into one common
mold, is something that we do not
understand. It is really antagonistic
to reform, because it leaves the leg
islature free to amend the general
law under which all such cities act
at any session, and so holds a wide
open door before q ring in any state
that may succeed in pushing through
the legislature a charter change franz
ed to give them opportunity for hood
ling, and threatening equally all other
cities under the law. The home rule
system Of local government Ia the