Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1901-03-15

r against incorporation under the gen.
tn and advance many reasons to back
matters entirely in the control of our
,elves unaffected by conditions in other
cities. I can see many objections un-
ler the General Law. In the first
place, all our ordinances have been
drafted with reference to the Special
Charter and if we should organize
under the General law, the Special
Charter would necessarily have 10 re-
main in force so long as the present
were the laws of the CITY,
so that organizing under the General
Law would not apply to us as far as the
ordinances were concerned unless we
reenacted them. To do this it would
require republication of all the ordi-
nances and which would involve the
city in an expense of several thousand
dollars. Under the Special Charter the
mayor of the city has no power to ap-
point subordinate officers. Under the
General Law he appoints nearly all the
other officers except the council. This
places too much power in the hands of
the mayor. Again the General Law
enables the council and the mayor to
draw salaries, while under the char
ter they can draw none and there has
never been any difficulty in finding
men able and willing to serve the city
in this capacity without pay. In my
judgment, it would be grave mistake
to throw up our Special Charter as no
other Special Charter could be procured
in the future and we would always be
subject to the designs of other cities in
their law go as to comply
with their conditions under the consti-
tuition these amendments would neces-
sarily apply 10 us. I can't see one
single good reason why the change
should be made, and there being 90
many objections to 1t. every citizen
interested in q democratic form Of
careful administration Of
the finances Of the city, and keeping
the power ont Of the hands OF the few,
should vote against it.
Ill
a. B. CARLSON: Under the present
charter the validity Of city ordinances
y continually oppen to attack. Gratu-
itous service on the part OF officials
has long been proven unadvisiable
Responsibility for enforcement Of the
cannot be laid ut the door
Of any particular official. for no one can
be said to be under the supervision
Of any other. The mayor as law en-
forcing officer, hence. is mere figure
head. All this would be remedied if
the city were incorporated under the
general law Yes, certainly, believe
1t should be done.
ARTHUR R. BROWN: am uncondi.
tionally opposed to incorporating under
the general law. There are one hundred
reasons why we should not do 80 to one
that wo should. e
JUDGE GIFFORD: I am in favor of
under the general
law.
NJ. E. RUDOLPH: In regard to the
question of re-incorporating our city
under the general Incorporation law Of
the state. am inclined to think that IL
is the proper thing to do. The old
charter was good enough in its. day; ;
but it is no longer up to date. For in-
the power given in the char, er
to license or prohibit the sale Of iutoxi-
eating liquor, within the city was
taken away by the special repealiny
clauses Of the prohibitory laws of 1890
IS, and the subsequent repeal Of those
laws by the present 10, al option law,
cense or prohibit the sale of intoxicat-
ing liquors within our city under
the Charter. Canton onght certainly
to possess this right the same rs other
cities of like class within the s'ate, to
pass and enforce stringent regulations
against selling Intoxicating liquors
without a license. The present state of
affairs in this regard is disgrace to
our city. The general incorporation
law makes the city marshal. city at
torney, street commissioner, clerk and
assessor appoin'ive officers by the may
Dr. and council, with the right on the
part OF the mayor t" remove any of
Ihem ut pleasure if they did not per-
form their duties This is as it should
be, and the only way that the admins
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