The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1901-04-19

Mr.. Young suggested that there
ought to be the right to appeal
II. L. Schmitt said that the assess
ments are now made by one man. He
did not think that there was work fol-
three men on the board of public
works. He thought that the assess,
ments should be made by others than
those who lay out the improvements.
He favored permanent assessment
commission. Where the owners OF
property could agree, tue expense oil
the commission might be saved. The
charter should provide for this.
Judge Severance said that the idea
of thirty or forty men being able tc
agree on their assessments was per-
fectly ridiculous. He said that some
body should be in the Office of the
board of public works all day, author
lied to do business.
Judge Severance suggested that the
president of the board of public works
be called the controller of public
works.
Mr.. Young thought that there had
been little cause for complaint over
the manner in which the board of
public works had made assessments
in the past.
Chairman Currier said that he did
not feel at all satisfied with the way
the matter had been left by the charter
commission. He did not think that
the special commissions would be at
all effective He would himself refuse
to serve if honored with an appoint
ment on such commission, because of
the enemies that he would make, and
the most of the citizens would do the
same. The sense of public duty would
not outweigh other considerations, but
all would cater to popular prejudice.
Mr.. Currier said that he was strongly
inclined to think that the charter com
mission could not do better than to
leave this part of the present charter
just as it is. There may be defects,
but the advantages outweigh the dis
advantages.
Prof. Koehler said. that he had not
been pleaseds.with his own relations
with the city in business way. He
did not think that the right thing had
been found yet. He favored the right
to appeal.
Judge Severance favored a more
general use of. water meters, as the
water consumers were not taxed
equally. Some use or waste much
more water than others and are charg,
ed no more. The consumers sswonld
never be equally taxed until each one
had meter. There is a terrible waste
of water all the time, he said. He
was opposed to granting free water
to. the hospital and the. Different
schools.
Prof. Koehler suggested that the
feeling of the people be reached by
means of correspondence.
Judge Severance said that there il
no time to do this. The charter com
mission would have to hurry matters,
as it was appointed early in December
and has but six months in which tc
complete it's work.
Mr.. Noe said that he had heard moth,
ing that would lead him to vote
against the board of public works.
He suggested that the board be chang
ed by dropping the city engineer from
it and substituting the treasurer in
his place. With special commissions
one man would always do the work
and the other members would simply
endorse it.
Prof. Koehler moved that the new
charter provide for board of public
works, to consist of president, who
shall be the responsible head, and the
treasurer and assessor.
Mr.. Young said that he would vote
for this if the assessor and treasurer
were only to assist in the assessing.
Mr.. Schmitt announced that he
would vote mo" at this meeting, as
he desired a larger number of members
present when the matter was finally
disposed of.
Only eight members were present,
bare quorum, and it requires eight
votes to adopt any portion of the char.
ter. This made it useless to proceed
further. An adjournment was tax en-
until Wednesday, when an endeavol
will be made to get a full attendance.