The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-02-17
UNDER A COMMISSION
GOVERNMENT OF THE POLICE DE.
PARTMENT UNDER PROPOSED
NEW CHARTER
ACTION SET FOR TUESDAY
New Plan VIII Be Discussed by the
Full Commission Then-Ends of
the Work Are Being Gathered
Together Preliminary to the
Early Completion of the Proposed
Charter.

The news that the supreme court was
about to hand down a decision sustaining
the law authorizing the levying of an
additional mill and a half tax for schools
In Minneapolis had a rather depressing
effect on the members Of the charter com.
mission at the meeting last night.
1t was admitted by the members of the
commission that If the supreme court
should reverse the decision made last
fall, the principal object for which the
local commission was appointed and or
gained would be settled. President
Flandrau presided and Messrs Clifford.
O'Brien, Tighe, Smith, Zimmerman, Me-
Nair, Doran, Albrecht and Nelson an
swered the roll call. The chapter reIas
ting to the workhouse was adopted The
only important change made was In omit,
ting the provision requiring the appoint
ment of members of the board of d.
rectors Of the institution to be confirm.
ed by the council
There was a long discussion over the
chapter on board of public works as re-
ported by the committee. Mr. McNatr
favored three instead Of four members.
Mr.. Zimmerman thought one commits
sioner would be still better than either
Mr.. Albrecht stated that there was too
much work for three members. Mr..
Tighe thought If three members could
not do as much work, they could not do as
much harm. as a larger body. Mr.. Do,
ran said at one time he had favored a
single commissioner, but he realized that
this WAS not what the city-needed. Mr..
McNair suggested that a board of five
all serving without compensation, and q
superintendent to do the retail work,
would get a high class Of men on the
board. It would also prevent deadlocks.
which was so ANNOYING at present to
the public. Mr. Tighe queried If the
deadlocks in the present board had been
on any but political questions. The chap
ter was laid on the table until the next
meeting. A chapter devoted to public
revenues was adopted, the principal
change being that the council Is allowed
to appropriate the revenue derived from
sources other than from taxation to the
several department funds. This carries
out the scheme to allow the school funo
to be increased from the general fund
to make UP the amount raised by taxa
ton to a sum necessary to operate ths
ter also provides for the levying of the
tax in January of each year instead OF
October, as now provided for. The eom>
mfttee on police department reported a
chapter which will be, taken up at the
meeting of the commission Tuesday Night
The chapter provides for board Of
police commissioners of five members APP
pointed by the mayor for terms OF hVe
wears each The commissioners, in order
to be eligible, must have been freeholders
and electors for at least one year preced-
ing appointment. The board Is never
to be so constituted as to consist OF more
than three members of the same political
party There is to be q president, vice
president and a secretary, not member.
Only the secretary Is to receive COM
pensation and his salary is to be fixed by
the board The secretary is to keep &C.
curate and detailed accounts of the af-
fairs and finances of the department, and
separate accounts for each station. A
majority of the board shall constitute a
quorum and all expenditures are to be
authorized by three-nfths vote. The
board Is given power to appoint, pro-
mote, reprimand, dismiss or otherwise
punish any member of the department,
and to require bond from any member
of the department. TO fix the compensa-
ton of all members, except chief, manage
and control receipts and disbursements
under the aggregate amount to be ex-
pended as set apart by the council. The
chief of police Is to be appointed by the
board for term Of two years and may
be removed for misconduct. The force Is
to consist of a chief of detectives, not to
exceed four captains, not to exceed six
lieutenants, not to exceed ten sergeants.
a jafer, matron, superintendent of police
alarm and as many policemen, patrelmen
and other employees as required for the
efficient and economical administration Of
the department.
Promotions are to be from the next
lower rank, efficiency and seniority Of
service to be considered. Any member
guilty of misconduct or breach Of duty is
liable to be punished by reprimand or
temporary suspension without pay or by
fine or reduction In rank or by dismissal
from service; no fine for any single Of
tense exceeding one months salary shall
ever be imposed. The other provisions
of the chapter are practically the same as
the present charter relating to the police
department