The Saint Paul globe., 1897-07-02
A BRIGHT LOT.

Probably the members of the as
sembly, who do not know anything
that is not poked directly under their
noses, were not aware last night, when
they voted down the ordinance pro-
Viding for a charter commission, that
their action or inaction had
been made of no consequence
by the filing yesterday after
noon with the judges of the district
court of petition, signed not only by
per cent of the voters at the last gen.
eral election, but by more than per
cent of the entire registered vote, re-
questing the court to proceed, as di-
rected by law, to name the commits
Sioners to draft a new charter 1t is
of little consequence what this mori-
bund body, composed of small potato
politicians, does or declines to do. The
people have taken its measure, and
ceased to expect from it anything of
public value, anything that has not a
personal or a private motive behind it,
1t is interesting, however, to note the
forces that lie behind the persistent re-
fusal of the council to comply with the
almost unanimous wish of our people
These all fall into two classes. First,
there is the consuming fear, from the
head of the city government down to
the spittoon cleaner at the city hail.
that by some means a new charter
might interfere with their present jobs
and perquisites. Little they reck of
the interests at stake, of the saving
of the schools, of the realization of
economies in government, of necessary
local reforms, if they imagine that ir
any way their petty places could be
jeopardized. And this is the main Sc
cret of the opposition, open and covert
to the demand of the people for charter
reform. The other reason amazing as
it seems to have it stated in cold type,
is the confession, made by members
of the assembly, that they do not know
anything about the matter and want
more time to look into it, pretty
lot of fellows these, forsooth, to as.
sumo to represent the voters of st.
Paul. The home rule amendment was
before the legislature of Minnesota in
1895. 1t was thoroughly canvassed
then and its purpose pointed out. It
was voted on by the people of the
whole state at the election last year,
and man who aspires to the position
of poundmaster or dog-catcher might
be assumed to know something of il
Then the legislation necessary to
carry it into effect was passed by the
legislature of 1897. Then came the de-
mand of the public for a new charter.
the uprising of the people, the rush of
voters who signed to the number Of
$500 within two weeks of the date
when the first petition was offered to
them and the first coupon published III
the b e, and the successful cul-
mlnat1on of the movement in the fill
ing of this petition with the district
| court. And still members of what Is
claimed to be the upper branch of
the council, men elected by the voters
of the whole city to serve them In
| the assembly, are not ashamed to
profess, as a reason for inaction. their
| sublime ignorance of events that have
been constantly in the public mind and
under public discussion for two wears
! and half at least.
! Fortunately for the community. II
Is not left to the tender mercies of such
blundering incompetents and place
hunters The people themselves have
acted. If they had waited upon their
precious council, they might have
waited until doomsday. Charter re-
form would have suffered the same
fate that waits upon street railway
legislation. But they did not walt.
| They have helped themselves; and the
petition that was presented to the
court yesterday voices their desire and
will be. we are confident, the first
| step in the realization of their hope.
Acting under this, in conformity with
| the law, the district bench will appoint