The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-09-19


The PUBLIC thanks are due to Gen. San
born for his continued determination to
secure general attention to the sad need
Of such changes in our municipal system
as viii simplify and lessen the cost of
our local government.
St. Paul has suffered greatly for many
years past from the confused condition
OF its local regulations The city IS tC-
day at most serious disadvantage in this
same general direction. The 4 o e
agrees with Gen. Sanborn in the propo-
sition that all methods are impracticable
for securing a proper charter for St. Paul
short of the adoption of a general law,
without the passage of constitutional
amendment.
The question for our people is whether
there is such a prospect of The adoption
CT a general law in the immediate IL
ture, either along the lines OF the pro-
posed Howard charter or other wise, as
to allow ourselves to continue bound as
We are by the existing constitutional
provision against special legislation af-
fecting cities The amendment TO the
state constitution which has stood in the
path of all local charter legislation was
adopted Nov. s. 1892 During each sue
Cessive session since, the attempt has
been made more or less seriously to Sc
cure such united action among the rep
resentatives of the cities as would give
US a general law such as Gen. Sanborn
has in mind Each attempt has resulted
in failure; and, for all the progress
made in the interval we are further
away today from such enactment than
we were when the constitutional inhib-
ton against special legislation was adopt
ed
The o b e, in the Eight of our expe-
rience, believes that there is no prospect
of agreement on such a law as warrants
our further concurrence in the consti-
tutional provision against special legisla-
ton. We believe it ought to be wiped
out. since for eight years it has consti
tuted an insuperable barrier to the re-
spcnsible. economical government of this
and, We believe, of other cities.
Aside from this, both the wisdom and
eXpediency of the provision stand seri-
ously impugned The peculiar conditions
and idiosyncrasies applying to a given
community are almost invariably such as
render it difficult to secure such an
agreement as is Indispensable to the en-
actment of a general charter law. What
may be entirely acceptable to the people
of Minneapolis and most advantageous to
them in given direction of local ad-
ministration may constitute a hardship
for the people of St Paul to be compelled
to put in force. 1t is true, no doubt,
that the great obstacle thus far has been
found to be the childish unwillingness to
agree upon a suitable classification, owing
to pretensions in one direction or another
as to local population. But, even if that
obstacle were removed, there would still
be found the other of the inability to
bring the people of the several cities to
accept in all respects the provisions of a
general charter law 1t has been found
impossible thus far. and we believe it
will continue to be found so.
Instead of indulging in the expectation
that a general charter law may pc agreed
on, after seven years of disappointment.
the G 0 b e urges upon Gen. Sanborp and
all who are activeIg interesting them
selves in this subject to unite in securing
such modification of the amendment of
1892 as will enable us to secure that form
of charter legislation which is most con-
sonant with our needs, without reference
to the wishes or needs of other commune
ties.
Russell A. AIger goes TO the hilton on !