The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-10-27
WANT A NEW CHARTER
DIRECTORS OF THE ST. PAUL
SCHOOL UNION UNANIMOUSLY :,
DESIRE TT
CRISIS OF THE CITY SCHOOLS
THAT Is the Only Practical Solution
of the Difficulty That Appears
Mayor Declines to Call a Special
Meeting of the Council, but the
District Court May he Asked to
Name u Charter Commission. -


St. Paul School union, held last evening"
at the Y M. c. A. rooms, 1t was unan-:
imousy decided that the only practical;
solution of the school fund question was
the adoption Of new charter, and that
the machinery be set in motion which
would secure the drafting of such a meas
r. j. Smalley, president of the upion,4
was IN the chair, and twenty-one of the
members Of the board of directors Were
present. An Invitation had been Extend:
ed to officers Of the Trades and Labor
assembly, members of the board of edu-
cation; 4 officers of the Woman's Civic
league, Federation Of School Teachers
and representatives from the legal de-S
partment Of the city. None Of the mem
bers Of the board Of education were pres
ent, and representatives from the legal
department and Trades and Labor as:
sembly We're conspicuous by their ab-,
sence President Smalley said that APP.
peals to the legislature in the present
difficulty had proven hopeless, owing to
the recent decision of the supreme court.
There were but one or Two avenues
open now. The press favored a new char-
ter, and public opinion was in line with
this suggestion. The legislature could
give relief by changing the law so as to
provide for q levy per capita for school
purposes on the enrolment in the schools
rather than on rate on the assessed
valuation Of property. Earlier action
than this, however, was needed. and this
could be had by having q new charter
drafted and adopted at the spring cleo
ton.
Mrs. Condo Hamlin. president Of the
Woman's Civic league, suggested that a
special session Of the legislature be call
ed.
George L. Wilson said this would be
not only impracticable, but doubtful, for
the country members of that body had
way of thinking the cities were getting
the best of all laws, and perhaps the
relief needed could not be passed even
should a special session be called and
held If a special session could be held
simply for one purpose, it might be all
right, but other matters could be taken
up, and this possibility rendered a spe-
eia1L session fnpracticable.
W. G. White declared that a new char
ter was wanted as quick as it could be
secured. Some one queried if, after the
charter was drafted, it would be adopt
ed.
Mrs. Condo Hamlin settled all dispute
and debate on this point by saying: let
the board Of EDUCATION close up the schools
about April ], or about the time the char
ter is to be voted on, and the people wilt
see that the charter is adopted.
- This sentiment was agreed to by those
present and President Smailey said If
the school board only had the backbone
to run the schools at the present sched-
ule and close them up April 1, the course
would have the effect Of carrying the
charter through. An effort would be
made. President Smalley said, to have
the board spread the amount appropriate
ed by the council over the ten school
months, and already propositions had
been made to the board with this end in
view. He was opposed to any such ac-
ton.
.Geofge az Wilson was of the opinion
that the only thing which would bring
the people of the city to a realizing sense
Of the question was to close the schools
April 1.
E. c. stringer said new charter was
the remedy. It would be deplorable to
close the schools April l or reduce the
salaries Of the teachers. He had a half
formed scheme in his mind by which the
money could be secured to run the schools
until after the charter was adopted and
in force. The best thing TO do was to
provide for the future and new charter
at present and at some other time con-
slider the question Of money to run the
schools for the three months between
April and the close of the school year.
President Smalley called attention to
the new charter adopted by the city OF
San Francisco, which. he said, provided
for per capita tax levy Of s35 on the
enrolment OF the previous year. 80
A resolution was presented by w. G.
White and adopted which declared that
1t was the sense of the meeting that the
only practical solution of the question
@hok hn
taken at once to set In motion the
ma chiiery for a new charter.
A resolution by e. C. Stringer requested
the school board to furnish the union
with an accurate estimate Of the money
necessary to carry the schools through
the year without reducing the salaries
Of teachers or closing the schools before
the end Of the year This was passed by
q unanimous vote
A resolution by s. 8. Howell appointed
President Smalley, e. G. Stringer and
w. G. White a committee to arrange for
the circulating Of petitions and the secur-
ing of the necessary ten per cent Of
names requesting the judges Of the district
court to appoint charter commission.
The committee was given power to call
for assistance in preparing for the work
allotted to it.
President Smalley suggested that 1t
would be q good idea to express approba-
ton Of the stand taken by the school
board in deciding to run the schools on
the basis fixed by it and closing them In
April or as soon as the funds were eX-
changed
Objection was made to the meeting
taking any such action on the ground that
1t might prejudice public opinion and in
ture the success Of the movement. The
meeting adjourned to meet at the call Of
tho chairman as soon as the report from
the board of education stating just how
much more money was needed was re-
ceived.
MAYOR KTEFER DECLINES