The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-02-26

Vital changes in the provisions of
the present charter regulating the
granting Of franchises by the common
council were adopted by the charter
commission last night
AT present the power to grant fran
chises is practically unrestricted, and
no compensation is required.
Ii the new charter is adopted, all
persons or corporations thereafter ex-
ercising any franchise or privilege in
any of the streets or public places of
the city, must pay into the city treas
ury annually a license fee equal to
per cent of the gross earnings of the
railways or other plants or business
used in the exercise Of such franchise.
Furthermore, any person or corpora
ton desiring any modification or
change Of any franchise or privilege
must agree in writing to operate I'M
der all the conditions of the new char
ter, including the payment of the Ii
cense fee of per cent of the gross
earnings.
AT present there is nothing in the
charter to prevent the council from
granting perpetual franchise, if 1t so
desires. The charter commission adopt
ed a section last night providing that
no perpetual franchise or privilege shall
ever be granted, and that no franchise
or privilege shall ever be granted for
a longer period than twenty-five years.
The new charter as submitted to the
people, will also provide that no eXclu-
sive franchise or privilege shall ever
be granted, unless the question shall
have first been submitted to and adopt
ed by the vote of the majority of the
people at an election, nor, in such case,
for longer period than ten years.
There was some discussion over the
adoption of the section requiring every
corporation or person exercising any
franchise to file annually in the city
comptrollers office detailed state
ment setting forth the actual cost of
the plant or business operated, it's as
sets and liabilities etc
Mr. Dean thought that such a re-
quirement might handicap the business
of the various corporations, and other
wise hamper them-for instance, in
floating bonds.
Mr.. Lightner, the chairman of the
committee which submitted the thir-
teen additional sections to chapter f.
and the powers and duties of the COM
mon council, said, in reply to Mr.. Dean,
that he deemed the provision a highly
proper one. The railroads and banks
were compelled to make public similar
statements of their affairs, and the law
had not worked any hardship in those
cases.
The absolute veto power of the mayor
over the granting of any franchise is
provided for, as agreed upon some
weeks ago.
The common council is also given the
power to regulate and control the max
imum price to be charged by any cor
poration or person exercising any fran
chise in the city of the service rendered
by 1t to the city. to any other person or
corporations; but such price shall be fair
and reasonable
After the adoption of the last section,
Mr.. Krieger remarked that the chapter
contained no provision empowering the
city to acquire the right to maintain
and operate lighting or street railway
plants.
Mr.. Lightner replied that he did not
believe any member of the commission
was in favor of clothing the common
council with the power to issue bonds
to buy lighting, street railway or other
plants. Such question should be left
to the vote of the people.
Mr.. Lightner Endorsed Mr. Fetter's
proposition that the sale of the city's
present water works should be pro-
hibited except it be authorized by vote
of the people.
The sections submitted by Mr.. Light
ner were all adopted.
The chapter governing the fire de-
partment, which The G l b has pub
lished, was also adopted after one i'm
portant amendment moved by Mr..
Dean That amendment gives the
mayor the absolute power of appOint-
ment of the members of the fire board,
without requiring confirmation by the
common council, as under the present
charter
Moreover, 1t is provided, that the ap-
pointments shall be made in such man
ner as not to interfere with the terms
Of office of the members of the existing
board of fire commissioners.
Mr. Dean, the chairman of the com
mittee appointed to draft the chapter
governing the police department, sub
mitted the chapter
1t was adopted as previously out
lined, with the exception of the first
section, which omitted to provide for
the number of policemen and captains,
lieutenants and sergeants to be ap-
pointed
1t was the sense of the commission
that the section ought to designate
the maximum number of policemen to
be appointed.
Mr.. Murray suggested, and the sug-
gestion met with favor, that, in the
meantime, the mayor and chief of po-
lice, as we'll as once Mayors Smith and
Wright and patrolmen of experience,
be interviewed for the purpose of ascer-
tanning their opinions as to the num-
Der of patrolmen and officers needed
in ST. Paul.
Mr. Murray believed that, under the
present system, the number of Of
ficers employed was too large in pro-
portion to the number of patrolmen.
1t was also the sense of the COM
mission that there was no necessity for
the appointment Of a chief Of detec-
tives. Policemen could be detailed
for detective duty when the necessity
arose
Mr.. Murray added that he would
propose two more sections governing
the matter Of pensions, as previously
outlined by him, to the effect that pen
sions would be granted only to men
injured while engaged in active duty
or the widows of those killed In the
service.
The vital change IN the entire chap
ter is contained IN the section giving
the mayor the sole power of appoint
ment of policemen, subject to the re-
striction of the civil service commits
sion, and the absolute power of re-
moval, with the requirement that he
give reasons therefor in detail
The chapter establishing and regu-
lating the water department was also
formally adopted.
The commission then adjourned until
next Wednesday evening
WANT AN ABATEMENT.