The Saint Paul globe., 1900-04-10
TUESDAY, APRIL 10. 1900.
ABOUT THE NEW CHARTER

After every endeavor had been made
to prevent the adoption of new char
ter by many of those who now profess to
he the warmest advocates Of the adop-
ton OF such an instrument, it was made
virtually Impossible to carry on the pub
lie business through the existing ma
chinery The difficulties created by the
constitutional inhibition against special
legislation affecting cities have at last
made themselves felt, and the people will
be presented on election day with an op-
portunty to adopt an amended charter.
It Is needless to remind the regular
reader Of this paper that the G o b was
the consistent and continued advocate of
new charter from the outset of the
movement TO create a charter commits
sion This position 1t continued to occupy
Until It seemed plain that the charter
commission seemed disposed, under the
pressure Of certain influences which it is
not necessary to specify. to shirk a
proper discharge of its functions
Then the C 10 b declared that, animat-
ed by such a spirit, the commission would
not be entitled to have its work ratified,
and declined longer to occupy a favorable
attitude toward the movement for a new
charter. Another occasion of doubt and
misgivng on the part Of this paper arose
from he lack of general knowledge Of the
extent or character of the work of the
commission
The objections Of the G 10 b have been
in the main removed. Steps have been
taken and will continue to be taken be-
tween now and election day to bring a
knowledge of The charter and its pro-
visions home to each and every voter. If
any voter goes to the polls without an
intelligent understanding of what the
proposed new charter seeks to accom-
pIish it VIII be safe to set down his ig-
norance as the product of his own care
Iessness and indifference. If the charter
fails TO receive four-sevenths of the vote
cast II can with equal safety be assumed
that the people either do not care enough
for their own interests or are so utterly
host in their concern over the candidates
for the various offices that they do not
choose TO give the true interests of the
city an intelligent consideration.
A careful examination Of the proposed
changes in our charter laws can leave
no reasonable doubt but that the new law
when adopted will operate to the cftys
advantage. 1t will be, not such a char
ter as the c 0 b would give had it the
power, or as an intelligent Democrat, un-
derstanding the needs Of a great munich
patty, would regard as adequate to the
city's needs. But it IS an improvement
80 far as it goes, on the existing system,
And as such it should be adopted. Its
adoption will leave 1t In the power of the
people to improve the system until thew
have secured something which will be a
closer approximation to the requirements
of a progressive community. AS the mat
ter stands today and will remain unless
four-sevenths of the voters in the com
Ing election vote in favor of the amended
charter, the people are and will be with
out any substantial control over their
cwn organic local law, and the city will
continue, as it has been for years past,
to be the prey of the oficeholders and
officeseekers.
The principal grounds on which the
C 10 oe expresses the belief that the
Democratic and Independent voters of ST.