The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-02-16


Hereafter Authorized to BE Oper-
ated or Mainland in Any Public
Parik-Questfcn Of the Abolition
OF the Frontage Tax.
The charter commission was in ses-
sion for some time last night, but it
was unable to make any progress ow
ing to the absence of the members Of
committees having in charge the chap
tiers not yet reported.
The evening was devoted to a general
discussion CT the miscellaneous topics
with a view to ascertain the views of
of the bare quorum present.
Those in attendance were Messrs.
Clough, Clark, Innis, Lindeke, Murray,
Dean, Fetter and Alness.
The troublesome section Is of the
chapter governing the board of park
commissioners, which prohibits the au-
thorizing of any street railway comp
any to operate any extension of its
lines through any public park of the
city, was finally adopted. This section
was first adopted four weeks ago; then
it was reconsidered, recommitted, re-
called, rediscussed and last night re-
adopted, on motion of Mr.. Fetter.
The section as reported provides that
no form of street railway shall here
after be authorized to be operated or
maintained through any public park of
the city.
The chapter establishing the park
board was then ordered to be printed.
There was some discussion concern
ing the granting of franchises, generally
1t was the sentiment of those present
that the city ought to require a con-
sidera ton of all grantees of public
franchises to be measured by the
amount of business they do The city
government came in for criticism for
failing to compel the ST. Paul City
Railway company to pay its annual
license fee for $40 per car on all it's
cars. When Judge Clark inquired why
this was not done, Mr.. Murray answer
ed
Because the ordinance is not en-
forced. The license inspector is pri-
marily to blame. The street car comp
and that's all there is to it. Tom
Lowry's word is good with this city
government"
After some further discussion Judge
Clark offered the following resolution,
which was adopted, with the under
standing that it be embodied in the re-
port of the committe appointed to draft
the miscellaneous chapter"
All provisions of law in force and
which are also contained in this charter
shall be regarded being continued in
force, and all provisions of law now in force
which are changed, amended or modified
by this charter shall be regarded as con-
tinued in force as so changed, amended and
modified.
Judge Clark explained that the OBJ
iect OF the resolution was to retain all
special legislation desirable or benefi-
cial to the city.
The commission was about to adj
journ, when Mr.. Lindeke called atten-
ton to the legislative act of 1897 abol-
ishing the water frontage tax provid-
ed for in sections 26 and 81 of chapter
10 of the present municipal code. 1t
was the unanimous opinion of the com
mission that the act was invalid, in
that it purported to repeal a part of
a special law. Consequently, sections
26 and 81 will be retained.
Mr.. Murray referred briefly to the
chapter On the police department, and
notified the commission that, when the
chapter was considered at future
meeting, he would advocate a section
providing that pensions would be
granted for two reasons only; if a
policeman was killed while In the dis
charge of his duty, his widow should
receive pension; If he was injured