The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-01-11
MIR. LIGHTNER SUGGESTS THAT
THE CHARTER COMMISSION
MIND IT'S OWN KNITTING.
INNS PROHIBITION IDEAS
WE'RE WHIT BROUGHT UP THE
DEBATE AS TO THE PRO-
RIETIEs.
POWERS oFnTHE CITY FATHERS
Were Conside cred Last Night. and
Chapter w. Was Adopted, Ex-
cept for One Section.

Q, N
With the exception of one section
that relating to the power to grant
franchises-the charter commission dis
posed last night of chapter A. dealing
with the general powers and duties of
the common council. This section, No.
"a, was referred back to the committee
en- chapter 4, Of which w. H. Light
ner is chairman, to report at the next
meeting Of the commission.
The section, as reported last night by
the committee, as far as it went, con-
sisted Of uniting of the principal pro-
visions Of sections 10 and II of chapter
4 Of the Bell charter, relative to fran
chises. But the enabling act under
which the commission is acting pro-
vides that no exclusive franchise can
be granted except by a vote of the peo-
pie, and then only for a period not to
exceed ten years. It also provides that
no perpetual franchise shall or can be
granted under any circumstances. At
present, however, there is no provision
limiting the period for which the coun-
Gil may grant a franchise. The ques-
lions involved will be thoroughly in
at the next meeting. Mr.. Lightner re-
marked, In the very brief discussion
Of the section prior to it's reference back
to the committee, that, If too rigid pro-
visions were made, the effect would be
to discourage public improvements and
to give those already possessing pub
lie franchises a monopoly.
All Of the remaining sections were
chapter g. Of the present charter, many
of them being scattered through the
instrument under various heads. The
committee grouped them and saved
space in the end as in the existing
charter many sections are practically
repetitions Of each other.
The only new provision added was
subdivision 81 under section IL, which
gives the common council power to &C
Quire or take real or personal property
by gift, grant, devise or bequest and to
hold and employ the same for public
purposes. In case property should be
willed to the city, this provision would
remove all doubt of the power of the
council to accept the bequest or devise.
1t was section 10 that developed the
only interesting discussion of the meet
ing. This section is a compilation Of
all the ordinances establishing what is
known as the prohibited district, with
III which the common council cannot
grant a license to sell intoxicating
liquors. A city map with the prohibit
ed district painted red-how Prof. Innis
came to select that particular color no
one could guess-was hung up for the
edification Of the commission and the
better understanding Of the boundaries
as they were read.
After Mr.. Lightner had finished read
ms, Secretary 1nnis, seemingly under
the impression that the charter COM
mission might assume the functions Of
the common council, proposed that the
prohibited district should be enlarged
SO as to include all that district on each
side of West Seventh street, extend
ing to the Fort Smelling bridge. Mr.
Innis' grievance, according to his state
ment last night, is a saloon at the
city's extremity of the Fort Smelling
bridge.
THAT saloon" said Mr.. Innis, sis a
bad place. 1t is frequented by disor
derby people, girls are taken out there,
and there have been two or three muir
ders or attempted murders, so L hear
Mr.. Innis wasn't sure which.
Mr.. Krieger informed Mr.. Innis that
the proprietor of the saloon in question,
was a respectable man who lived there
With his family.
Mr.. Murray expressed the opinion
that saloons ought to be concentrated
where there is adequate police service.
Mr.. Innis stepped up. to the map, and run
ming his finger down to Dale street, remarked
with ingratiatiDg smile:
Il would be happy to include all the dis
trict west of Dale street to the river in the
prohibited district
Yes, you would be happy to put the whole
city in the prohibited district" rejoined Mr..
Lghtner.
Mr.. Innis laughed out loud as he nodded his
head and admitted that was what he'd like
to do. ~ -e5
Mr.. Lightner then gave his reasons why
the commission should not interfere to change
the present boundaries,
''These districts have, been established by
ordinance from time to time as the people
demanded No one of the districts has ever
been cut down. Two ordinances creating adj
ditional prohibited districts were adopted not
long ago. We're not sitting a common
council. 1t is that body's duty to define
these districts 1t can act after proper in
Vestigation while we would be merely Specu-
lating.
''arouses such sensitive feeling the liquor
question The prohibitionists should recog-
nize that fact This body was appointed to
draft charter not to get into trouble over
one or two saloons. Let the council manage
such matters. 1t has certainly done so in the
past. Any prohibitionist ought to be salts
fed when he looks at that map and sees the
area of the prohibited district. 1t is certainly
evidence that his interests have been looked
after 1t would De great mistake Tor the
commission to touch this matter"
After this speech. Mr.. Innis had but one
supporter of the other seven members pres
ent and that was Mr.. Alness, who seconded
the amendment of Mr.. Innis that the section
be laid over a week.
T But as it was evident that the other mem
bers wanted to dispose of the matter at once
Mr.. Inns withdrew his amendment and Mr..
Murray's motion to adopt the section was
carried.
Early in the meeting the chairman ap-
pointed Messrs. Innis, Clough, Lightner
Clark and Murray-a committee on printing
and editing the charter when it is completed
This includes the insertion of marginal notes
Owing to the chamber of commerce ban
quet to take place next Friday night. the COM
mission adjourned until Saturday night
Those present last evening were Messrs.
Alness ClouGh, Horn. Innis, Krieger, Light
ner, Lndelle and Murray.