The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1901-01-18
CHARTER BUILDING
The Committee Fails to Get a
Quorum Out.
Members Present Talk Over Different
Phases, But the Charter as Yet
Seems TO Be in the Air.

luo CudTlei .COuul5olOu ldilcO- W
have quorum Monday and con-
sequently no business was transacted.
Those present were somewhat inclined
to grumble at this, and thought mem
bers ought to make an endeavor to be
present if possible so that the work of
the commission can move forward.
Those present took occasion TO become
acquainted with each others views
upon certain features of city matters
and how they should be taken care of
in the proposed new charter. As we
have heretofore stated the two points
giving the commission the most
trouble at this time are those of spe-
cial assessments and the board of pub
lie works. The proposal to make the
present provision of the charter pro-
viding for five equal annual INSTALL
ments in the payment of special assess
ments, operative is quite generally
favored, but the question of how to
dispose of said assessments when they
become delinquent is still an object of
study Some favor their being re-
turned to the county auditor to be in
cluded in the regular taxes the same
as the sidewalk and sprinkling tax is.
Others thought this might cause more
or less trouble, but were willing to
agree to it if it could be made to APP
pear to work smoothly. One legal
member of the commission remarked
that he was not fully satisfied with
the scheme. yet thought if it could be
legally safeguarded it might be the
best and easiest way out of the diff
Guilty.
The board of public works matter,
seems to be all in the air yet, if the
casual remarks of different members
can be taken as criterion. Many
suggestions have been made, and the
Judiciary committee w as in hopes of
having meeting of the commission
last evening with good attendance of
members SO as to learn their views.
There are suggestions which look to
the adjustment of the board entirely,
and dividing up the duties among
the city treasurer, assessor, and en-
gineer Another that the city treas
urer be made member of the board
and look after the duties that now
devolve upon the president of the
board. One member stated to the
writer that he was not sure but that he
would favor putting the city engineer
in charge of the streets and make the
assessor water commissioner and
transfer what other duties there might
be to the city treasurer, and then
make each responsible for his depart
ment. There would then be no evading
of esponsibility, he remarked But
all these matters are as yet in the,
air, and what will be the outcome is
hard to say.
The police department was also COM
mented upon by those present and the
views of the several members present
asked as to whether the numbers
should be limited or not, what they
should be paid, and whether fees
should be turned into the city treasury.
A suggestion was made by a gentle
man outside the commission that the
papers in civil suits ought not to be
served by the police, and when asked
by one of the commission who should
serve them replied the sheriff and his
deputies. 1t was then brought out to
the establishment of some of the lawyers
who had not paid much attention to
the matter, that the fees were the same
as in district court cases, that rules of
procedure were the same, and.that
lawyers would serve their own papers
as in the district court. This will
doubtless revolutionize matters some
what, and tend to solve this problem
the police and fees.
When it comes right down to the
matter Of charter building the COM
mission can get plenty of advice as to
what should be done on different ques-
tions, the trouble will be, how to work
even what is practical in, SO that it
will work smoothly and the different
work harmoniously.