The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1901-01-04
EXCHANGE OF VIEWS.
Charter Commissioners Have
Ideas on Revision.
The Members State What They Think
Are the Most Important
Changes Needed.

1ney were Mayor +. M. Currler, w.
M. Farr, w. E. Young. S. B. Martin,
Alex Bashaw, Geo. NJ. Phillips, Prof.
G. f. Koehler, Judge J. B. Ogle,
Frank Halstead, FL. L. Schmitt and T.
r. Coughlan Those who were not
present were Judge NJ. J. Severance
ana DR.. j. W. Andrews
Mayor Currier called the meeting to
order, saying that he had assumed the
responsibility of calling the commits
sioners together as someone had to do
it.
Mr.. Currier was chosen temporary
chairman and H L. Schmitt temper
airy secretary.
The chairman asked what was the
pleasure of the meeting, and Judge
Ogle arose and questioned the pro-
priety and possibly the legality of pro
ceeding further at this time. He quot
ed the law to the effect that the board
should at all times have its full COM
plement of fifteen members. Only
eleven were present.
Mr. Currier said that Judge Cray
would like to know how many of those
present were qualified and would serve
on the commission.
An oath was psesented that had
been passed upon by Judge
Cray. The point was raised that there
is no provision in the law requiring
that an oath be taken, but this was
waived and all present took the oath
after the order of the court appointing
the commission had been read.
The following is the form of oath
that was taken, duly INSCRIBED and
sworn to before City Recorder Will
iams, who was present at the meet
ing:
State of Minnesota, County of Blue
Earth-ss. City of Mankato.
/, ------ do solemnly swear
that l will support the constitution of
the United States ard state of Mime.
sofa and particularly the laws of the
state of Minnesota providing for the
drafting ard subn ission of a new
charter for said city of Mankato under
chapter 351 of the general laws of the
state of Minnesota for the year 1899 !;
that I am now, and for the last five
years past have been a qualified voter
in said city; and that l am now a
freeholder in said city; and that will
faithfully discharge the duties of
member of the charter board appoint
ed to draft charter for said city of
Mankato, to the best of my ability so
help me God.
Mr.. Schmitt moved that committee
of three on rules be appointed, to pre-
sent report at the next meeting. This
was adopted after some discussion as,
to the legality of doing this at the pre-
sent time, and the chairman named as
the committee Messrs. Schmitt. Ogle
and Farr. This committee will report
upon times for holding meetings ETC.
1t is likely that the work will be di-
vided up among committees to facili-
tate matters.
The meeting was about to adjourn
when Mr.. Young suggested that the
members present have an exchange of
ideas on charter revision, and to reach
this he suggested that each express
his ideas on the defects of the present
charter. This suggestion was adopted
and the roll was called each member
speaking in his turn, and the result
was very interesting interchange of
thoughts.
Mr.. Bashaw was the first called up
on, and said that he was not sufficient
ly posted on the present charter to ex-
press an opinion. He desired to study
it first. He believed that it had many
weak points. He was opposed to any
change in the number of aldermen,
not favoring one at large as was pro-
vided in the charter that was defeated
two years ago. He believed that the
board of public works should be re-
duced to two members by taking the
assessor from it.
Mr.. Martin was not prepared to offer
any thoughts on the subject.
Mr.. Coughlan said that he did not
feel like expressing himself at this
meeting. He would change the name
of the board of public works to some
other name, as there were lot of
other names that would take better.
Mr.. Schmitt thought that it was
little premature to call for expressions
at this time. but said that it was the
general belief that the present charter
is the worst that the city could have.
While this was SO, it was not so easy
to point out any particular objection.
There are complaints of the method of
1evying special assessments, and of the
board of public works in this connec-
ton. Some one person should do the
work of the board of public works,
but whether it should be the city en-
gineer or other person he did not
know. Theoretically it should be an
expert such as the city engineer, with
an assistant The charter should be
such that it would give people who
have been unjustly assessed cheap
and certain remedy. The assessor
should be provided for carefully, and
special qualifications for the Office
should be insisted upon to the end that
all property be justly assessed. The
method of appointment and the term
of Office were matters to be looked
after. The police officers should be paid
good salary and be held responsible
to one person. The service of civil
papers should be taken out of the hands
of the police except the chief, who
should turn all fees over to the city.
Careful attention should be paid to-
the fire department that il be efficient