The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-05-02

could be submitted, II the greatest eA-
petition were used. for the study of
the people and for discussion and ciiti-
cism through the press. The next mu-
nicipal election will occur in May, 1898.
If, therefore, the initial steps are taken
at once, there will be, no more time
than is needed to enable the people to
ponder and digest this most important
act before they are called upon to pass
on it at the polls If the preliminary
work is not done in time for the spring
election, it would go over until Novem-
Der of next year: and it would be ex-
tremely undesirable to have so impor-
tant a local measure voted upon at
state instead of city election. IL pass
ed beyond that stage. nothing could be
done before the year 1900, except at the
great expense of holding special cleo
ton for the purpose. We have, there
fore, made clear the reasons why this
subject should be taken up without
moments delay by our people, and the
work of charter-making be begun.
1t is not necessary for us to enter
here upon a discussion of the details
in which the present charter is de-
fective. Not all of us are agreed en-
that point and none of us expects to
see the charter that would suit him
personally adopted by the others. But
there is one proposition on which at
least nine-tenths Of our people are
united and that is that changes in
the charter should be made. We want
to keep just as close a supervision as
now exists upon the finances, but we
want, also, to make possible many new
economies. The people want their hands
united. They tried to abolish the board
of public works, and the courts de-
clared it impossible There are many
other reforms which they desire, and
every one of them stands defeated, not
merely until another legislature meets,
but for all time to come, until we have
acted under the home rule legislation
referred to.
The terms of the law of 1897 seem
to give an absolute guarantee against
any revolutionary proposals, as we'll as
! against any relaxation of sound limita-
| tons upon the money-spending and
| debt-creating power. Any new char
| ter adopted by the city must have a
chief magistrate and legislative body
! Of either one or two houses; and, if
| there are two, one Of them must be
elected by a general vote. Alternate
sections of the charter may be submit
ted for a choice between them, so that
the popular will can find the freest
possible expression 1t is explicitly pl o.
vided that no such change shall affect
established liens or rights or disturb
the settled course of judicial procedure.
The city council is to have control of
the finances, but no charter can be
framed, legally, that will enable it to
pass the 5 per cent limit Of indebted
ness. If such limit has ever been ex-
ceeded, then bonds may be issued to
that extent, but no more, until prop
erty value has grown up to correspond
| with the. debt, It is only in cities Of
less than 5000 inhabitants, where many
public improvements are to be made
that 10 per cent limit of indebtedness
| is to be permitted. There are the gen.
eral provisions already found in our
laws for excepting from this, in GER
| tain cases, appropriations for water
works and lighting systems A most
| admirable clause, covering the whole
ground, forbids any city council. under
any charter that may be, formed, to
issue bonds for any purpose to the
amount Of 100000 or over until such
issue has been approved by the voters
It will also be highly satisfactory to
/! find that the new charter is specifically
| allowed to provide for regulating and
controlling public franchises and privi-
| leges. and that it must forbid the grant
| ing of perpetual franchises; and also
| that it must provide that there shall be
no such thing as an exclusive franchise
,
nor even that until after a majority Of
| the voters have approved it.
| We find in these regulations relating
| to debt and franchise and privileges
| sufficient warrant, if none other exist
ed, for urging every city in the state
to organize a charter under this act. 1t
is certainly of the first Importance for
us, and there should be no delay. Any
citizen who has followed with intelli-
gent interest the discussion Of public
questions, the work of our. different
in the way Of retrenchment, and the
needs of st. Paul today, must see that
welcome relief Is offered by the pro-
vision for home rule. We urge this
matter upon the attention of our peo-
pie, and hope that st. Paul will be the
first to claim the advantages Of home
rule, and that the summer of 1893 will
find the city acting under a charter
Of it's peoples own making, suited to
their own needs, and susceptible, I'M
der the terms Of the law, of proper
amendment at any time that they may
so desire by the people themselves.
MAKE 1T REASONABLE.
We are glad to see a disposition on
| the part of the members of the council
to reject various unreasonable conditions