The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-04-05
CHANGE FOR A CHARTER
COMMISSION CONSIDERS THE CUES
TION OF SUBMITTING 1T To
A SPECIAL ELECTION
IS A DIFFERENCE OF OPINION
Thomas Cochran Argues That the
Charter Stands Good Chance
at u Special EIec-
ton.

| The charter commission listened to
Messrs. Thomas Cochran, E. w. Peet and
Il. 5. Gushing, a committee from the
chamber of Commerce last evening on
the question of whether the charter
should be submitted TO the voters at the
coming city election or at special cleo
tlon Mr.. Peet said resolution had been
adopted by the chamber of commerce
recommending that the charter be eub
united at special rather than the gen
eral election. Another resolution had
also been adopted appointing a committee
10 confer with the charter commission
ana secure an opinion from the commits
SION as to whether a special or general
election would be the best.
Mar. Feet said the charter question wa;
OF the Most vital interest to the CITY and
While he felt satisfied that the taxpayer;
ana thinking people would vote for tho
measure he was afraid the masses OF
the people would not vote for il unless IL
provisions pleased them He favored n
special election for the reason that the
people interested would come out then
ana vote for the charter and as 1t 1yould
take but four-seVenths of those voting to
carry ii the chances were It would h.
adopted He considered it very question
able as to whether four-sevenths of all
the people voting at a general election
would vote foT the charter as being at
the bottom Of the ticket it would be over
| looked by many
THOMAS Cochran also favored a special
! election arguing that the charter stood
| petter chance of being adopted at a
| special than at a general election IT haI
| been suggested that an attempt he made
at the general election and then if it fail
| ed to receive votes enough a special cleo
| ton could be called
Several members OF the commission
! were OF the opinion that it was not adj
visable to trust to- a Especial election for
| tho reason that some of the city officials
| who were lukewarm over q new charter
! might raise the point that there were no
funds from which the expense Of a special
| election could be paid and this would put
the charter over until the fau election
| when there would be much mere to dis,
| tract the attention Of the voter from the
charter. 1t was decided that the charter
should be submitted to the voters at the
coming city election.
Commissioner Childs asked that the
chapter on public library be amended so
as to provide that if necessary the sum
Of $4,000 could be set apart annually for
the maintenance of the library. He in
formed the commission that If provision
was incorporated to this effect several
gentlemen had intinated that a very
large sum of money would be donated to
erect a library art museum and scientific
hall combined. If such a provision could
be placed In the charter Mr.. Childs said
1t was more than possible that within a
few years the city would be the recipient
OF the iinest library building III the North
west. Mr.. Tighe said the gentlemen did
not wish 1t understood that they made
any such PROMISE but it was understood
that If $3000O was given for such build
ing, the council must have authority to
appropriate not less than $S5, 600 per year
for maintenance OF the library. DR.. C. E.
Bean, president of the library board, and
Harris Richardson, one of the directors,
stated that a chapter would be submitted
to the commission Friday night, drafted
on lines which the directors desired to be
inserted In the charter.
Present at the meeting last night were
Messrs. Flandrau. oDran. McNair Tighe
Taylor, Childs, Zimmerman and Smith