The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1903-07-10

non partisan committee of one Republi-
can and one Democrat from each ward.
Mr.. Long said that this feature stirred
up much opposition to the last new char
ter, and he thought it i'll advised for the
commission to start out now by making
such radical change, and seven wards
would leave the city no better off. Six
aldermen can do the work as well as
seven. The mayor should be given the
right to vote in case of a tie.
DIR. Andrews thought it unconstution-
al to compel one man to disclose his vote,
while the rest voted secretly.
Mr.. Young said that the state has to
be redistricted as population changes,
and so with the city. If the mayor has
vote in case of tie, it is like giving
two aldermen to one ward. The new di-
vision had been made equitably and there
was no politics in it.
DR.. Andrews asked whether there was
any Justice in the sixth ward with its
200 voters having as much influence in
the council as the fifth ward with its
450 voters.
Mr.. Long said that the state redis-
tricts in order to get more congressman,
while there is no such reason for this in
the city.
Judge Severance advised that the
wards be made as nearly equal as posi-
BILE, but that probable future growth
should be taken into consideration.
Mr. Martin thought that the wards
should be made exactly equal in terri
tory, without regard to population, but
this idea did not receive much support.
Mr.. Petersen said that some people
favored having one ward in East Man
kato, but this suggestion did not meet
with favor.
Mr.. Long moved that DIR. Andrews
motion be laid on the table for the pres
ent, to be taken up later, and this was
carried. He said that public opinion
could in the meantime be tested on the
subject.
The subject of elective officers and
elections was then taken up, and some
disposition to quit for the evening was
shown. This led Mr.. Currier to re-
mark that he had not time nor inclina-
ton to give as much time to the work
as he did last winter. He knew what he
wanted, and did not think it necessary to
hold many meetings. 1t would be hard to
get quorum out, and those who are at
one meeting will not be at the next, in
instances, and irregular attend
ance causes delay in the work. He would
resign from the commission before he
would give the matter as much work as
he did last winter.
On motion of Mr.. Young, the section
about city elections was left the same as
in the present charter.
DIR. Andrews moved that the elective
officers be those now elective, and the as
SCISSOR and city attorney in addition.
This is the same as provided in the chart
er that was voted down last fall. The
motion was carried.
The provision fixing the terms of the
officers and that one about their removal
were left the same as in the present
charter.
Mr. Bashaw moved that in addition to
being citizens and otherwise qualified, all
elective officers must be free holders in
the city. This was carried. This provis-
ion was also taken from the new charter.
Judge Severance did ont see the need
of their being freeholders. He said that
the president of the United States is not
required to be freeholder. 1t was not
democratic. There was no necessity for
the city attorney, especially, to be free
holder.
Chapter III, relating to duties of Of