The Saint Paul globe., 1902-01-11

COMMITTEE OF CHARTER COMMIs.
SION FAVORS THE
PLAN
AFFECT APPOINTMENTS ONLY
Heads of Departments Are Not 10
BE Restricted as to the
Dismissal of Amy
EmpIOye.

The civil service committee Of the char
ter commission. to which had been re-
ferred the matter of embodying a chap
ter on civil service in the city, last night
reported in favor of this amendment to
the present city charter.
Briefly summed up, the amendment pro
vides that the employees Of the city shah
be chosen TO fill their positions through
CIVIL service methods, but may be dis
charged by the head of the department
IN which they serve. The amendment IS
almost a copy of that contained in the
rejected charter submitted to the voters
of this city in 1898.
The following are the leading princi-
pies as presented by the committee last
night
service commission, which is TO classify
the civil service of the city, and which IS
to examine all applicants for positions
under the city government, with certain
exceptions. These exceptions consist Of
the chief clerks and private secretaries
of the departments of the city
The right of the head of a department
to discharge any employe is expressly
recognized.
Whenever an appointment is to be made
in any department the head must notify
to furnish him the names of three can
didates who have passed the best exam
nations, and the appointment must he
made from one of these.
The civil service commission Is to Ee
appointed by the mayor. and shall con-
stst of three members, serving one, two
and three years.
The report of the committee was not
rea0, but presented to the members of
the commission present. that they might
read it over. and it will be discussed at
tie next meeting which takes place Fri
day, Jan. 81.
F A. Donahower, Of the water board,
appeared before the commission with
some recommendations relating to the
water board.
He desired the commission to amend
the present clause relating to the pay Of
the members of the water board. For
the members of the board $50 year Was
asked, and 5000 for the president. Mr..
Donahower said that the members Of the
board really performed too much work
to receive no compensation. Under the old
charter the members of the board receiv-
ed salary, and the holdover members
are still receiving compensation from the
city.
He also asked for a special attorney for
the water board and his request led
to rather lengthy discussion, which the
corporation attorney was asked to
straighten out Mr. DonahoWer said that
the amount Of legal work devolving upon
ths board was such that it was necessary
for the board to have an attorney who
should devote all his time to the board
and its needs.
Opposed by Markham.
Corporation Attorney Markham ~q,~,
that he would be opposed to having an
attorney for the water board that was not
a member of the present legal depart
ment Of the city, and he quoted ordl-
nances that provided that no board shall
have an attorney other than one from
the city attorneys office He said the
present force of his office was being
worked to it's full capacity, and that he
would not be adverse to an addition. He
further stated that the work that re-
suited from the water board was small
in comparison with that Of other depart
ments of the city.
Mr.. Donahower also thought that the
city Should pay for the water used III
sprinkling the streets. and he desired the
clause in the present charter which
makes this exception, stricken out.
Commission Tighe cross-questiop FL
the member Of the water board and
brought the matter to the issue where
the taxpayers would have to pay $250,09G
more year than they are at present
This, he said, he would be opposed u.
The recommendations were all referred
to the different committees.
Judge Orr presented his plan for thu
redivision of the wards of the city. The
judge merely gave a brief outline Of the
wards as they would appear after the
division was made, and the estimated
registration of each He presented a
map Of the proposed changes to the
commission. The matter was referred t.
a committee
The following is the estimated registrL.
ton of the different wards, based upon
the changes submitted; First ward, 2,7S8;
Second 2,631; Third, isis; Fourth 1856;
Fifth, 3,003; Sixth. 2,807; Seventh, 2,5G7
Eighth, 2,G66; Ninth, 2,600; Eleventh, 949;
proposed Twelfth, S22.
The matter Of the board of conference
which was apparently settled by the old
charter commission, was revived last
night. Some of the members are of the
opinion that this board should have the
power to fix the maximum Of taxation,
above which the city council could not
go. while it would be allowed at all
times to lower the amount. After con
siderable discussion, the matter was re-
ferred to the corporation attorneys of
fee, from which it originally emanated