The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-06-11
RT-sIGHTED sTATECRAFT.


To those who qualified to pass upon such sub
jects the opinion of Judge Mitchell announcing the
decision of the supreme court in the Rtt-Seng
SesSoFShip case will be accepted being strong
luminous and we'll reasoned document has
mated from court of last for many years
The subject is of course, somewhat abstruse; and
he who he reads may not be expected to read
it with any great advantage. 1t is sufficiently clear
and cOgent however to satisfy all who qualified
to consider it that states the law and all the law
correctly and cOnvncingly on this general subject
The Globe has more than occasion called
its readers attention the irredeemabe stupidity
and political and official greed and corruption which
have distinguished the efforts of local Republf
politicians to make this constitutional provision
bend to their ignOble schemes to put money in their
pockets which they had not earned and could not
pect to The people of Ramsey county to
be congratulated that this decision will put end
to many such existing and to all future schemes to
this end.
Looking at the subject from the broader stand
point of the political and official affairs of the entire
state the decision could not we'll be far-reacn
ing in its effect 1t results practically in condemn
ing the entire plan of legislation by which it has been
sought for past to meet the requirements
of tire several municipalities of the state without io
latng the amendment TO the constitution which pro-
hbits special legislation 1t. moreover is, in effect
u very sweeping condemnation OF the question:
able and altogether short-sighted craftsmanship
which forced certain features of this constitutional
amendment on the people of the several municipalI
ties without having any preparation made before
hand for agreement such charter legislation as
might meet the requirement of uniformity and thus
protect the communities against the inhibition as to
special legislation.
1t seems to quite time that Mr. Hiram F.
Stevens, of this city who is regarded the person
principally responsible for this constitutional enact
ment should tell the people just what crisis in the
affairs of the municipal life of this state it was
which made it necessary to pass this constitutional
amendment in the form adopted. Let US hope II
Mr.. Stevens thinks proper to take this STEP that he
will not lay too much stress the irrelevant propo-
Stien that the majority of the people of this state
decided by their votes that the amendment was
necessary. This decision makes it plain it seems TO
u.s. that it is virtually impossible now for COM
munity situated st. Paul is for instance to Sc
cure such legislation its special needs and re-
quiremens demand, except through medium of some
form of classification which nobody regards feasl
bic in view of the relative conditions of the prIn-
cipal municipalities of the state
When that constitutional amendment was being
urged for favorable consideration on the people or
this state we were told that it would hasten the
adoption of uniform system of charter legislation
which would recognize certain valuable principles of
kind followed and for all substantial purposes the
several cities of the state have been chung up" and
prevented from securing much legislation that is alb
sOlutely needful for the past seven years by this
same constitutional provision Our own corrupt
local political clique and those other cities have
it is true, been prevented by the amendment untif
lately from passing many of their corrupt schemes
through the legislature. But the general effect has
been, and under this decision will continue indefinite
y to be- that needed legislation in the several cities
of the state affecting the special anil peculiar condi-
tons applying to them will be impossible
Notwithstanding the supposed significance Of tina,
Minneapolis court house decision. now so generally
referred to- it would be more to the advantage of
the cities of the state that the proviso Of that con-
sttutional amendment which prohibits the passage
by the legislature of any special local law ragu-
latng the affairs of county city should be repeal
ed than that it should continue to have the effect II
has had since its enactment. Unless some general
plan of charter legislation be agreed upon among
the several cities of the state classified on some lines
which will meet the objections set forth in this par
tcuiar case, that amendment should be gotten rid of
at as early day as it is at all possible to be rid of it.