The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1897-04-16
COUNCIL FAILS TO ELECT A
CITY ATTORNEY.
Schmitt, Plymat and Pau Jr. Each
Receive Two Notes.-The Council
Also Tie on Vice President
Couldn't Agree on Anything But
to Adjourn Pau Recon-
mends Economy and New City
Charter.

A special meeting of the new cit,
council was held last night for the
purpose of organization and electinl
necessary officers. The council cham
, Der was filed with spectators, includ
ing a number of attorneys.
The roll cali showed all of the al.
dermen to be present, as follows
Aids. Adams, Peterson, Zimmerman
Fritz, Bradley and Fowler.
Mayor Pfau addressed the council
saying: Gentlemen of the council, ]
have not prepared any written mes
sage TO read to you tonight. l do not
consider that it is necessary, or that
it would be profitable to take up your
time in doing this. We are electedtO
ill the most responsible positions in
the city government, whatever the
people may say, and the conduct of
municipal affairs falls upon US. !
J could indulge in criticism of the man.
ner in which the city has been con-
Quoted in the past, if | cared to, and
no doubt there will be adverse criti-
cism passed upon our administration,
even if we do the best we can. We
should lend helping hand to each
other during the next two years, in
the discharge of our duties, and l
hope that the people of this city will
join Us in helping to make the admin
iStratiOn success.
Il desire to call your attention to
one matter, and that is the unfortu-
nate condition of the city treasury.
We all know that at the end of each
year 1t requires about all of the city's
income to pay up what has been
spent during the year past. 1t is our
duty TO remedy this state of affairs,
and l hope that at the end OF two
years, without adding to the taxes the
floating Indebtedness may be reduced
to minimum. We will have to face
the many demands of growing city,
but, unless in cases of extreme neces-
sity, L would suggest that you be
careful in making expenditures dur
ing two years. We should look twice
before we do anything to increase the
floating debt. 1 don't refer to the
bonded debt, as that is not a debt to
be ashamed of, nor need we fear it.
But it is the floating debt that [ re-
fer to, that swallows up the taxes
raised to run the city during the fol-
deavor to remedy as much as possible.
S'There are several things that l
could speak Of, but there is only one
more that l will mention. 1t is neces-
sary that the charter should meet the
wants of the people and be correct
and adequate in all particulars.
There are too many instances where
our charter does not cover the wants
required, and in many parts it is con-
Trajectory. The legislature has pass
ed an enabling law allowing cities to
frame and adopt charters by them
selves. We were hampered several
years by the prohibition of special
legislation, but by the constitutional
adopted last fall we can
prepare and adopt our own charter.
have studied the matter and coincide
with the view taken at St. Paul that
a general enabling act is proper. 1
hope it is, and if the proposed legisla-
tion is passed we will be enabled to
prepare charter for ourselves. Let
us commence in time and prepare our
selves and have charter made SO
that all of our people may know it's
provisions before it is adopted. 1
don't believe in charter being |
adopted without the people having a |
chance to pass on it. We have had |
too much hastY charter making and |
are now having experience of the re-
suits.
II don't want to say more of my
policy at this time. Every gentle
man of the council will agree with |
me in the feeling that we should |
wait until our record has been made,
rather than to start out with great
flourish of trumpets and have nothing
to show in the end. l thank you.
The election of vice president will |
now be in ORDER"
Aid, Zimmerman namedAld. Peter
sen for vice president, Aid, Bradley
named Aid. Fowler, and Aid. Adams
named Aid. Bradley.
Mayor Pfau: 81 have always claim
ed and shall hold that the mayor has
no vote in the election of officers in
the case of a tie, This must be done
by the council. You will proceed to
ballot"
Twelve ballots were taken, result
ing as follows:
| 2 3 5 I 8 101112I