The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-05-23
A Home Rule Bogey.

Since so much fear of home rule has
been expressed in certain quarters. now
that the new charter commission, is at
what are the so-called dangerous provi-
sions of the Tighe amendment for home
rule adopted by the last legislature. 'S,z
Section 8 of the amending law deals
with municipal debts and provides that
the outstanding bonded indebtedness of
any city to which this act is applicable
shall not exceed 10 per cent of the ass
sessed valuation Of the taxable property.
but it is provided that any bonds issued
in excess Of per cent of the total as
sessment shall first be submitted to the
voters at a general or special election and
receive the approval of "at least a major
ity'' voting on the proposition. But the
charter commission may, if 1t chooses, SO
draft the charter that it shall be lawful
for the city to issue certificates of in-
debtedness or bonds up to any limit for
the creation or maintenance of the per-
manent improvement revolving fund or for
the anticipation of a collection of general
taxes for the year in which they may be
issued, or for the purpose of extending or
purchasing municipal water and lighting
plants or for paying the floating indebted
mess. The bonds issued for these purposes
may not be accounted as part Of the OUT
standing Indebtedness for the purpose of
determining the municipality authority
to issue further bonds, and they may be
issued without reference to the voter.
These are the admittedly. wide limits
within which the charter: commission may
| operate The commission may, In It's wis
dom, limit the bonded indebtedness to
any percentage Of the assessed valuation
1 that it may choose in view of existing
conditions It may, if it sees fit, decline
to give the city council the maximum o.
power authorized by this act In respect
to the issuance Of bonds for certain
enumerated purposes without submitting
the propositions to the voters Moreover
once the charter is adopted, it is no cas-!
matter to amend it under the law and
is not likely that it will be amended un
!, less there is genuine demand for
, change. The law provides that an.
amendment must be accepted by three
ffths of the qualified voters of the cit
voting at the election. When 1t IS re
called that every one Of the several bon
propositions submitted to the people
Minneapolis at the election in November
!, 1902, was defeated because 1t did not hav
, a majority Of all votes cast at that cleo
t ton, it becomes apparent that no measur
8 that does not enlist the support Of a grea
: MANY Of the most conservative voter
;. will ever be able to secure the three
n fifths vote.
It is true that certain bonds may +
e issued in excess Of the 5 pei. cent valr
: alton with the approval Of only a majol
It ity of voters voting on the subject, b'
n this opportunity will be given only in cas-
q the charter commission sees fit so to pr
$ vide. That body may give us q, charte
n if it chooses, requiring that more than
1t majority vote shall be required for II
i authorization of bonds, and, as said abov
,e it may if it wishes, deny to the city coul
!" Gil any bond issuing powers except
granted by a referendum.
II On the whole it is safe to say that Il
]. 1charter commission can give US an Q
: ganic law under which it will be full
. as difficult as now to increase our bond
!, Indebtedness. It can scarcely be ma
=. any easier, for all that is necessary now
: to persuade. the members of the HenneI
delegation to vote us more bonds and !,
have them, the council concurr1ng. Z
legislature has merely given to the 4ho1
g rule cities of over $4,000 people in Q
NJ general grant certain financial author1
o. which any might get piecemeal, home r.
OF charter or no charter, the same being 6
O. tended to Minneapolis with or without
It wish. It is better to have general era
MS Of power than to be always under
re. necessity Of appealing to the legislat,
en- for help whenever the bonded indebtt
'es ness exceeds 5 per cent Of the assess
~ valuation.
- F l1.7..rr:-1. Cal. no1rSo% Eo.11$