The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-03-20
THIS CHAPTER Is DEVOTED TO THE
DUTIES OF THE CITY COUN-
GIL.
SOME OF THE SALIENT FEATURES.
No Franchises Shall BE Granted Ex-
cept on a Ratification of the
Voters.

prises only one chapter, but it is the
most important chapter of the entire
charter, as it defines the powers and
duties Of the common council. 1t con-
tain thirty-four sections, beginning
with section SO. In substance, the
chapter Is as follows:
Section SO provides for a dual coun-
Gil such as ST. Paul now has, an es-
sembly and a board of aldermen which
shall meet separately and regularly as
now, except as otherwise provided.
Sections 81 and So specify the time
and manner Of the election of the pres
ident and vice president of each body.
Section Sc declares that each body shall
be the judge Of the election and eligi-
b1lity Of its own members.
Section 81 is designed to put a stop
to the present order Of things. 1t reads
as follows:
No member Of either of said chambers shall
hold any other office under the city govern
ment or be eligible to any appointive office in
the city during the term for which he was
elected.
Sections So, SO and 60 authorize each
chamber to adopt rules of procedure
provide that any resolution or ordi-
Der, declare that no measure shall be
valid or operative until 1t shall have
passed each chamber by an affirmative
vote of majority Of the members of
each chamber, and shall have been
published in the official paper. Then
follow the usual provisions as to proof
of publication, etc.
Section, 81 provides for the exercise
of the mayors veto power, the vote
me- coz TO h
veto, etc. A two-thirds vote of each
chamber is required to make an order,
resolution or ordinance operative, not
withStanding the mayors veto. Any
measure not signed by the mayor with
In five days after 1t shall have been
presented to him, shall become opera
tive.
Section 62 declares that no ordinance
shall contain more than one subject
which shall be expressed in its title,
nor shall any ordinance be amended
after its introduction, so as to change
its original purpose. --
Section 60 prescribes the conditions
governing the introduction of Ordi-
pances. 1t reads:
No ordinance shall be introduced, except
at a regular meeting, at which meeting it
shall have its first reading. It's second read
ing in the chamber in which it originated
shall be had at subsequent regular meeting
or adjourned regular meeting, occurring not
less than one week after its first reading.
No vote of either branch of the common coun-
Gil shall be reconsidered at subsequent
meeting other than the next regular meeting
nor at all unless at such meeting there are
present large a number of its members
as were present when said vote was taken.
Section Ga prescribes that the award
of every contract and order for the
payment of money shall be authorized
only by resolution, except that the
pay rolls of city officers and employees,
whose pay has been fixed by law or
resolution, may be passed and war
rants ordered by motion.
Section IS provides that every meas
ure appropriating money or creating
any liability, awarding contracts and
ordering condemnation of private prop
erty, or the making of local improve
ments shall require a two-thirdS vote
of all the members of each branch of
the common council.
Section 66 contains the usual parlia-
mentary regulation counting any MEM
Der present as voting in the negative,
if he fails to vote when his name is
called, unless excused from voting.
Section 67 prescribes the routine
duties of the president of the board of
aldermen and of the assembly as TO
signing the clerks records of the pro-
ceedings of each meeting.
Section IS, which defines and regu-
lates the powers of the common coun-
Gil, constitutes the bulk of the chapter.
1t contains seventy seven subdivisions.
1t states at the outset the general pew
erS of the council and the matters
over which it shall have the manage
ment and control. These, of course
are the finances and property of the
city. The power to enact, amend and
repeal ordinances, rules, bylaws and
all other measures for the enhance
ment of the city's welfare is granted
In general terms, provided that such
measures be not requgnant to the fed
eral and state constitution. Then fol-
low the subdivisions specifying the par
ticular powers of the council. Lack of
space prevents their publication in full
The first ten subdivisions deal with
the general authority of the common
council over the streets, sidewalks. al
leys and public grounds, and its power
to prevent any obstruction of the same,
to order wires underground, and to
prohibit undue speed of horses, cars
and other vehicles.
In the matter of issuing licenses, sub
division 81 empowers the council to
license newsboys, bootblacks. fortune
tellers, clairvoyants, astrolOgists and
massage doctors.
Section IS, defining the powers of the
ing franchises. is Of special interest IT
is as follows:
The common council shall have power and
authority by ordinance passed by an afima-
tive vote of three-fourths (a4) of all the mem
bers of each chamber, to grant the right
of way over, above, upon, through or under
the public streets, highways, avenues aIleys
public grounds and levees of said CITY, or to
grant the right to use the surface, or to erect
poles or other structures in or upon, or to
construct subways under any such street
highway, avenue alley, public ground OF
levee, for the purPose of the construction and
operation of street railways or for the pur-
pose of telegraphing, telephoning transmits
! sion OF electric power, or transportation by
| pneumatic tubes, or for the purpose of fur
| nfshing to the city or its inhabitants or 8
| portion thereof, water light or heat upor
! such limitations and conditions as il NAV
| prescribe by ordinance in such case: bur mr.
| grant OF any such right or franchise shall
! extend or be of any force or effect beyond
the period OF twenty-five years from the time
when the same goes into effect. Provided
/ however that no such ordinance for any of the
| above purposes shall be effectuaI to grant any
| such right or franchise until the same shai
| have been submitted to the electors of the
/ city for ratification, and approved by a major.
| ity OF the electors voting, at the next regll IA,
city election, the form of ballot for such 7pur.
poses to be prescribed by said council subject
| to the laws governing general elections in
/ this state. Provided. however that such ordi
nance shall be published verbatim in ths
official paper of the city at least once be
4
such election. Provided further that no sucf
1 ordinance shall be valid unless the same shat
contain a condition for the payment of ,
4 certain per eentage of the gross earnings n
! and under such franchise, such payment TO b,
made to the city treasurer at-4east.~o once n
I each year. Provided further, that every sucl
| grant of "a franchise fer the purpose of fur
nishing water or light shall provide for tn,
/ privilege OF purchase by the city of the plan
erected Hereunder and its appliances AM
appurtenances at any time after fifteen year
frTTF11 4hH wi nn az M
at valuation to be agreed upon or determines