The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-09-12
OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

Whatever practical results may follow
or, indeed, whether any practical Results
whatever VIII follow, which is very DOUBT
f,l in itself, Gen Sanborn's Introduction
of the subject Of charter legislation ct
Yesterdays meeting of the chamber Of
commerce was not untimely.
Cur position in this regard is positive
ly pitiful As a municipality we ere in
the same position as a man might be
who, boUnd and gagged. was being de-
spoiled of his possessions. We have been
bound and gagged through a constitu-
tional amendment; ard we are being
piundere without let or hindrance by an
army of political freebooters.
This is appa, entity strong language. But
let him who desires to test its strength
read up the journals of the legislature
for the past four sessions with reference
to cur local legislation CT attempted leg,
islation and recall the general bent of
! the decisions Nhich have been given in
!
government by the supreme court, and
he will find the language none too strong.
Gen. Sanborn introduced in the lesis-
lature while in the senate a few years
ago a measure known then as the San
born charter. There never was Glance
t. pass it. 1t was not Arawn with refer
enee to the requirements of our local
politicians ard of9ceholders, and it just
attained the legislative dignity Of being
printed. All the evils we suffered urder
when that measure was wrought out we
suffer under today, and, judging from
the essays in craftsmanship of our Re-
publican Legislative delegation, we will
suffer under them indefinitely We can
not altar them until we have altered our
constitution back to the condition ir
which it was when or constitution tink-
ers determined to save us from the hor-
rors of special legislation by passing
their amendment.
The remedy is for the commercial bodies
of this city to come together and formu-
late. the needs and demands of the COM
munity in the way of charter legisla-
ton, and go to work and make the legis-
lature adopt it. The people will ratify
any plan which ii omises them relief from
the burdens o: today. They will not rati-
fly anything which overlooks the princi-
pal of these burdens
We have a 1ua! local government, for
instance, county and city, where single
system would do. Under these systems
we have adopted almost every known
method of choosing our different boards
and administrative officials. Let us take
a few instances Of this beautiful varie-
ty. Our board of control is appoint
ed by the judges of our district court
Our county assessor was designed to be
appointed by the county auditor, the
mayor and the president of our local leg
islature. The courts decided that the
third member of this appointing body has
ceased to exist so far as the selection of
an assessor is concerned, and the other
two members refuse TO act The mayor
appoints one set OF administrative off,
Gals; the common council another. There
is uniformity and responsibility no
where.
We must look to our business men and
business organizations for relief. The
class OF men to whom the people have
turned over the absolute control OF their
few years show themselves daily to be
generally utterly untitled for the dis
charge OF responsible OF honorable public
duties.