The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-02-21
WILL CD RIGHT AHEAD
CHARTER COMMISSION WILL CON-
TINUE DESPITE SUPREME
COURT DECISION
THINKS IT CAN Do SOME. GOOD

| 1t Was the Opinion of the Members
That While the Most Urgent Rea-
son for It's Existence Had Been
Removed, 1t StiIl Had Wide
Field Before 1t for Improve
| ment.
Ten Of the fifteen members of the
| evening discussing the question of
| whether the commission should proceed
| with the drafting and presentation of a
| new charter. It was finally decided to go
| ahead and finish UP the new charter.
| President Flandrau said If the one and
| half mills for schools could be levied
and collected under the decision of the
| supreme court, the main duty for which
| the commission was appointed was set
| tied.
| Mr.. McNair opined that the decision
would stand for at least six years with
| out another reversal.
| Mr.. Doran inquired what would be done
with the chapter on school finances re-
| Gently adopted.
| Mr.. McNair said. under the last de-
| cision of the supreme court, the schools
would get q total of four mills from city
taxation, which would amount, in round
| figures, to $4,000. To this would be add
| ed the $4,000 from the one mill county
| tax and $4,000 from the state apportion-
| ment, making a grand total Of s545,000
each year for the schools. AS this sum
would exceed the amount which could be
H. Al,
ed by the commission, the action could be
reconsidered
Mr.. Taylor called attention to the law
creating the commission which provided
| that the charter should be drafted and
| presented to the mayor within six
months after the appointment Of the
commission.
Mr. Fetter was of the opinion that un-
less the commission went ahead the
members should resign.
Mr.. O'Brien declared that the persons
holding office were always opposed to a
new charter The commission had been
appointed owing to the necessity for an
increase in the school finances. The de-
cision of the supreme court made the sit
| uation very different, and yet the COM
mission, regarding the public good,
| should get up an ideal charter.
| Mr. Fetter was of the opinion that the
| voters would not adopt new charter un-
| less there was some particular thing,
! such as the question of school finances,
to attract attention. He favored the res
! ignation of the members, but was willing
to do as the majority desired.
| DR.. Bridgman suggested that an adj
| journment be taken, and the commission
! meet at the call of the president. In the
meantime the judges Of the district court
could be consulted.
Mr. Doran favored an adjournment for
| a week, and In the meantime the mem
bers could consider the question of what
was best to be done.
| Mr.. A1brecht said there was no use trv-
! ing to throw the question on the Judges.
| The commission should not shirk its duty.
| The commission should either proceed or
| resign. The present charter had Its de-
| fects, and new one should be prepared
| and submitted to the voters at the COM
| ing election.
| DR.. Bridgman withdrew his motion, and
| the commission proceeded to take up the
| chapter relating to the police department.
| and a police commission.
| Mr. Doran said the chapter was an i'm
| portant one, and asked to have it laid
] over until the next meeting, when 1t
would be made the special order of bust
| on contracts and contractors bonds was
referred back to the subcommittee for
amendment, so as to conform to the gen.
eral law of 1895 on the subject.
After some discussion the chapter re-
! lating to the board of public works was
returned to the committee, with instruc-
| tons to have the plan include not only
| the board of public works, but also the
charge of street sprinkling, building in
| spection care of the streets and removal
of waste and refuse, all under one depart
| ment. Mr.. McNair wanted the board of
public works to consist Of three commits
| sioners appointed by the mayor, to serve
without salary, the trio to appoint a
| commissioner with a salary of $500 per
year. His idea was to have the three
members pass on the question of assess
ments and the detail work done by the
commissioner. The only other member
to favor the idea was Mr.. Childs, the
others voting against tt
Present at the session were Messrs
Flandrau, Doran, Childs, McNair, Smith,
O'Brien, Albrecht, Taylor, Bridgman and