The Saint Paul globe., 1897-10-23

and board of equalization a part of the
present charter?
Mr.. Murray said they were not a
part of the charter.
Col. Clough wanted to know how the
charter commission could regulate the
duties of any county officers or inst1-
tutions, or the municipal court What
had the charter commission to do with
justices Of the peace? How could the
charter commission regulate all the
duties of the mayor, who Is chairman
Of the board Of county commissioners,
joint court house and city hall COM
mission and a member Of the boards
Of equalization and abatement.
1t was suggested that all these pro-
visions could be allowed to stand.
"But, under the new charter" re-
sponded Cox o1ough, "the present one
is to be swept away. The question Is,
what is to be swept away? If we adopt
a new charter. are all these provisions
gomez" I "a
Col Clough pointed out the difference
in the condition Of Minneapolis and
Duluth, as compared with ST. Paul, in
that the governments of the two for
mer cities were entirely distinct from
the counties in swhich they are located.
Mr.. Lightner suggested that the pro-
visions governing the board Of control
and other officials or institutions in
any way connected with the county,
might be incorporated verbatim in the
new charter.
Then arose 1.-The important question
what power had the charter commits
sion to touch the public schools. Were
the schools a part of the government
of st. Paul? There was no precedent
to show by reference to any other city
charters granted by the state, that
public education was declared or deem
ed portion of the city government.
They were a. part of the state govern
ment. In 1881, the Legislature had con-
stituted the city of ST. Paul an inde-
pendent school district
Judge Clark asked Mr.. Murray what
power he thought the charter commits
sion had to pass on the government
of the schools. Mr.. Murray said he
had some doubt on the question
Judge Clark thereupon remarked
that the public would be greatly dis
appointed if it should prove that the
commission had no power to change
the existing laws regulating the gov
efnment of schools. If the public had
thought such was the case, Judge
Clark doubted whether the commission
would have come into existence.
Col. Clough said that while the pub
lie schools of the city are part of the
ShtJ SONCi iililciIl, luSy were certainly
part of the state government By
the state laws this city was made an
independent school district, but wheth-
er the subject could be dealt with in a
city charter, he was not prepared to
say.
Judge Clark said the question was, is
st. Paul, as a municipal corporation,
one thing. and st. Paul as an inde-
pendent school district another. Judge
Clark suggested that the commission
interfere with the school law as little
as possible, so that whatever is done
would stand
Mr.. Lightner was of the opinion that
the board of school inspectors consti-
tuted a part of the government of the
city Of st. Paul, Notwithstanding that
the st. Paul schools receive an ap-
portionment from the state. Mr. Light
ner argued that the school board was
as much part of the city government
as the board of water commissioners,
which, under the charter, is given full
power to sue and be sued and is made
as independent a body as possible.
AT this point the commission ad-
journed until next Friday evening.