The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1901-01-04
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The matter of finances has caused the
city much trouble, and the charter
should be so drawn as to have no more
such trouble. But no matter how good
charter is, it will not give satisfac-
tion unless lived up to, and a poor
charter with good officers may be much
more endurable. Mr.. Schmitt favored
making the new charter SO simple in
it's provisions that it would be next to
impossible to evade it. He favored
providing for the municipal court if it
can be done by the charter, so as to
make it something more than the
laughing stock of the city and county.
Mayor Curriers' name was next on
the list, and he endorsed much that
had been said by Mr.. Schmitt. Under
the present city charter the city is
bound to be always in debt. The city
had started year behind and cannot
catch up without high taxes for there
is always certain amount of delin-
quent taxes. The policy of the present
administration, supported by the coun-
Gil, had been to get rid of the floating
debt as soon as possible. The special
assessment system causes much trouble
and always will. The city is paying
off the floating indebtedness from the
sinking fund contrary to law. The city
has bonded Indebtedness of about
$500, 900 that ought to be paid, and a
sinking fund should be established to
do this There are improvements that
ought to be made about the police sys-
tenn The mayor should be more or
less of an autocrat, although Mr.. Cur
rier said he believed in the voice of
the people and the doctrine of the
greatest possible liberty. He would
give the mayor much power and hold
him strictly accountable to the people.
1t has been said that the despotic form
of government is the best, provided
there be a good despot. There was
mucn truth in this, said Mr.. Currier.
He would make some of the provisions
in the charter palmer.
Mr.. Farr said that he was not pre-
pared to offer any suggestions as he de-
sired to read the present charter and
the one of two year ago and those of
some cities having population of 49,
900 to 25, 000
Mr.. Halstead said that he wanted to
look over the present charter again
before expressing an opinion on any
matter whatever.
Mr.. Young said that the theory of
the present charter is that one depart
ment should check another. He had
attended all of the meetings of the
commission that drew up the present
charter, although not member of it,
and while it was thought that the
charter would work admirably many
bad fea lures have developed. The
present commission should decide fir st
whether it wants to make one-man
power or not. If it does, it should
have the mayor appoint the heads of
departments, who should be respon-
sible to him. If the city has bad
mayor it will have a very bad govern
ment until the next election. The
council should be left in charge of the
finances of the city as a legislative
body. There ought to be some restric-
ton placed upon the floating debt. If
the present charter had been lived up
to, ne aid not see now the city could
have had such debt. However, a
better system can be devised.
Judge Ogle said that the ideas of the
members were too chaotic to definitely
express their opinions at this time.
In his talk with tine citizens he had
noted much discomfort with the pres
ent charter. There are murmurs
against the board of public works,
some people thinking it too burden
some. They feel that it should be mar
rowed down to one man. Mr. Ogle
said that he favored a one man power
with some restrictions He would most
jealousy guard the financial depart
ment. The city recorder should be the
comptroller, and the council should be
restricted from handling the funds
indiscriminately. Money paid by the
people for a defnate purpose should
be used for that purpose only, or if
borrowed for another fund should be
returned within limited time.
There should be a strong provision
limiting the floating debt. He be-
lieved that the police department is
not adequately salaried. He would
adopt some other than the present
plan, giving better salaries to the Off
GERS and having the fees turned into
the treasury.
Prof. Koehler said that this is not
the only city that blunders fearfully. It
was not Mankato's fault, for it had
copied after other cities and adopted
their faults. There is not we'll gov
erned city in the UnitedStates outside
of few. This is to some extent due
to the rapid growth of our cities, and
it can to some extent be cured by the
people. The national municipal league
has been discussing the failures of city
governments. Divided authority is
one of the fundamental defects of city
government. In Boston there are forty
nine departments, making an Intricate
maze. We suffer in Mankato from the
same cause. Mr.. Koehler said that
when he built his house he was obliged
to see five city officials before he could
locate who was the one to blame for a
trifing trouble. He favored centraliza-
ton of power. He would have a strong
mayor for short term and if he was
bad then turn him out at the end of
his first term. He would give the
mayor much power, making the heads
OF departments responsible to him.
The city recorder was directed to
procure six copies of the present city
charter from the secretary of state,
and also charters of other cities for
the use of the commissioners
An adjournment was taken subject
to the call of the chairman.