The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1898-03-11
CHARTER REVISION
The Social Science Club Discus
ses Matters Connected
Herewith.
Ommittee Appointed to See What
Steps Should Be Taken to Secure
New Charter.

The Social Science clubTuesday eve
ming discussed the question Of char
ter revision. Mr.. w. L. Comstock
read a paper on that subject in which
he treated the matter from a general
point of view. rather than from that
of local standpoint. The discussion
of the question, however, was almost
entirely from local standpoint.
Mr.. Comstock said that a municipal
charter is intended merely as a
means of extending the generalAmer-
lean governmental plan to meet the
needs of densely populated communi-
ties, wherein often special rules Of
governmental policy need to be appli-
ed. But in this the general plan or
scheme of government need not be de-
parted from. The distinctive
branches of legislative, executive and
judiciary departments working in
harmony but each Independently in
it's own field should be preserved.
There is danger of departing from
this, and said that there were cases
where there remains no semblance Of
the well-known American form of
government as adopted by the nation
and the states.
There was, he said, general dispo-
sition to amend and patch up charters
until they bear no semblance Of
their former self. This work in this
state has been stopped by the consti-
tutional amendment prohibiting
special legislation, but an attempt
has been made to get around this
through amendments to the general
laws of the state for the government
of cities, and in the legislative ses-
sion of 1895 over sixty such amend
ments we're made, and in 1897 over
thirty amendments were added to the
existing laws. He had failed to note
any call from the people for all this
change, but rather there was de-
mand that the abortively miscella-
neous set of rules which restrict their
rights rather than promote them be
entirely expunged. The change that
has been made in this state, whereby
the people can make their own char
tiers, he looked upon as a most hope
full one, and indicated that progress
in the right direction is being made.
This means that city has some show
of securinga charter adapted to it's
special needs, and that the people, in
stead of few, would have a voice in
it's final adoption.
He discussed at some length
various features of municipal govern
ment and charter making, and the
tendency that is shown to establish
too many petty rules and bylaws, Of
ten conflicting with each other. To
avoid such tendencies he believed
charters should be brief and direct to
the point. Ordinances should be few
as possible and direct in their appli-
tion and never for a special nature.
Matters of that kind should be dis
posed of by resolution. Police power
or regulations looking to the good
health, good morals and general well
fare Of the community should be
clear and uncertain in their meaning
and at all times founded upon pru-
dence and good judgment of the ne
cessities at hand. The question of
taxation, he said, always grievous
one, should receive careful considera-
tion. This matter he discussed at
some length, and believed that in the
matter of special assessments were
some of the greatest faults in munich
pal government. These assess
ments ought to be levied wholly upon
the basis of benefits and damages by a
commission of disinterested men,
sworn to do justice, and where they
become delinquent they should be
transferred to the regular channels of
tax collection Of the county or state,
so that they would become matter
of record against the title of the pro-
perty affected. Such assessments
should be made payable IN deferred
annual installments covering period
of five years.
B. D. Smith opened the discussion
and confined his remarks almost en-
tirely to the need of local charter re-.
Qe 4