The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1902-03-20
THE NEW CHARTER.

it's readers the text of our proposed
new city charter upon which three
attorneys and a commission of tif-
teen citizens have expended a vast
amount of labor, thought and con-
sideration. 1t was hoped to have it
ready for submission at the city cleo
ton on April l, but it was impossi-
BILE to complete it in time, and it
will be voted upon later. Let ev-
eryone read and re-read it carefully,
give it close consideration, and then
file it away until it shall be submit
ted to the people. 1t will not again
be printed. If you have copy of
the old charter compare the two and
you will observe how UNNECESSARILY
superior is the new in detail. In
the main provisions there is much
common to both. There is, howev-
er, one very important and radical
difference which should be borne in
mind-the old charter, with all its
glaring defects, is special legisla-
tive act and cannot be amended no T
changed in any particular, even by
the legislature. The new is framed
under the ''home rule' act which
permits cities to frame their own
charter and amend it by vote of
the people whenever necessary. If
there be any provisions in this char
ter which are not good they can be
stricken out by the people; and if
there be anything omitted which
should be included it can be added.
Experience has shown us how
weak and monstrous the old charter
is, but the city was powerless to
make any change whatever. The
new charter divides the city into
two wards with Main-st. as the di-
viding line; the old charter divided
on Third-st. Seven aldermen in
stead of six are provided for, and
there can be no deadlock in the
council, as has frequently occurred;
a majority of the council goes out
every year, so the people can change
its governing body at will-not so
in the old; the mayor holds for two
years instead of one; the mayor has
exclusive control of the police, and
the responsibility is not divided
with the council as now; the coun-
Gil chooses all other appointive Off
GERS independently of the mayor, so
there can be no question as to who
is responsible for the city officers;
the council has practically all pow
ers conferred by the present charter
with others added, such as locating
stock yards, more careful supervis-
ION and health and safety of the
city; care of neglected horses in
humanity left on the streets.
The only additional power con-
ferred upon the mayor is that of We
toing any resolution for the pur-
chase of real estate-a power vested
in all mayors. The veto can be an
dulled by a two-third vote of the
city council.
In little matters, and yet many of
them important, the new charter is
clear and certain in it's provisions,
whereas the old is obscure and un-
certain. The old is full of incon-
slstencies. 1t provides in one place
hat the mayor shall appoint the
street commissioner, and in another
,SSst the council shall elect that Off
GER; one section says that bonds
nav be issued when authorized by a
majority of the voters, while anoth-
er SAYS it shall require two-third
vote of the people; it provides that
a tax shall be levied annually of
one mill for every thousand dollars
of bonded Indebtedness of the city,
for a sinking fund. If carried out
it would add twenty-five mills to the
usual rate, bringing it up to st or
per cent. every year-an alarming
proposition. The old charter pro-
vides for six or eight distinct funds
in the city treasury, any of which
may have surplus while others are
overdrawn, and the city have to Dor
row money and pay interest for one
fund while it has plenty of money
on hand in other funds. The new
charter provides, practically, for a
consolidation of funds-a great saw
ing of expense and trouble.
These are but few of the advan-
tages which the new charter presents
there are score of others.
The HERALD invites criticism of
the new charter, which it will glad
ly print to the end that a full dis
cussion will lead to a better under
standing of the proposed charter.