The Minneapolis journal., 1903-12-12

s "a
people without material change, so
that If adopted the city would be
placed upon a home-rule basis, but
practically under it's present charter
Al the first meeting of the commits
sion the following resolution was
passed:
Resolved-First, that this board proceed
TO prepare a charter by oodifying existing
laws. making no changes other than those
embraced in the following classes:
(a)-Changes necessarily incident to
codifcation.
(b)-Changes required by the constitu-
tion and chapter 23s, laws 1908.
(c)-Changes In administrative detail
shown by the experience Of the different
departments to be clearly desirable.
(d)-Changes In time of holding city
elections, In matters pertaining to the APP
pointment and tenure of office Of sub
ordinate city officials and employees, and in
the system of assessment for local i'm
provements
seoond-That possible changes included
in classes &C. and "d' be deemed open
questions, for future discussion and deter
mination by the board.
After passing this resolution a num-
ber of meetings were devoted to hear
Ing the views of city officials and
others as to the advisability Of chang
ing the charter in certain particulars
Five subcommittee were then ap.
pointed; different portions Of the ole
charter were referred to them, and
the commission then took an adjourn
ment to the Gath Of September. Wher
the commission came together agar
a drafting committee was appointed
and as fast as subcommittee reported
their work was turned over to the
drafting committee.
Changes Enumerated.
There are Of course many changes
in arrangement and phraseolOgy ir
the new charter. 1T is unnecessary
to refer to these.
There are a number Of changes
which 1 will enumerate, but will no
discuss:
C) The new charter definitel,
fixes the salaries of all officers O.
the city and provides that ever,
officer and member Of any board
shall account for and pay owe
to the city treasurer all fees
moneys and emoluments received
by him during the preceding
month by reason of his office, and al
notarial fees received at his office, b.
him. his assistants, clerks or EN-
ployes.
(2) No officer or employe Q
the city, except the members and EN-
ployes Of the various boards, ma,
become interested in any contrac
with the city or any board or de
partment thereof.
No member or employe of an
board may become interested in an,
contract with such board.
This, understand, permits mem
ber of any board to become inter
ested in any contract with the cit
or with any board except the one o
which he is a member.
CD Whenever q vacancy occur
in the office of mayor, the new char
ter provides that the president of tn
council shall become mayor for tn
unexpired term.
Treasurer's Duties Defined.
(4) Very important changes ar
made in relation to the duties of cit
treasurer and city controller. A
the present time one office is nc
made a check upon the other. Th
new charter provides for daily report
by the treasurer and monthly eH
aninations Of the treasury by the cit
controller. At the end of the teri
Of any treasurer (whether he sue
ceeds himself or not) he must dis
close all money and property Of TIL
city in his hands to a committee cor
sisting Of the mayor, controller an
chairman of the ways and means con
mittee Of the council
The present charter provides tn;
the county treasurer shall pay to tt
city treasurer all city taxes collecte
but does not very definitely fix tt
time for such payment. The ne
charter makes it the duty Of the cit
treasurer to demand and receive fro
the county treasurer on the 10th bus
ness day Of each month all money
the county treasury belonging to tt
city.
Ing deposits of city funds must NAL
application therefor; must protect tt
city from loss; pay per cent on dai
balances and per cent on time ce
tif1cates The banks, Of course, do n
apply for funds on these terms TT
old charter leaves the handling Of ci
funds just where it has been for ma,
years; and recurrence of loss with
unreliable treasurer Is not an imposs
bility.
The new charter properly SAT
guards the city funds in the hands
the treasurer.
The Resolution Shorn of Power.
(5) Section II of Chapter w.
the present charter provides that:
If In any case any of the powers grant
to said city council, to be exercised
ordinances - can not we'll be e
ercised by the passage of ordinances, tn
said city council may exercise any Of sa
powers by means of the passage of res
1utions.
This rather dangerous provisi,
does not appear in the new charter
CO. The new charter provides tn
no ordinance under consideration !
the council shall be amended after q
meeting at which it receives It's seco1
reading. Its third reading and pa
sage shall not take place until at lea
one week after it's second reading al
final amendment.
Under the present charter an orc
nance may be amended on the date
It's final passage and radical
changed from the form in which
was introduced and in which its pr
visions had become known to t
people. The. new charter prever
this and affords the people fl
week to consider the ordinance
the shape in which 1t must be adopt
or defeated.
Cd Changes are made in the ma
ner of serving notices where the heal
commission finds it necessary to aba
or order the abatement of nuisances
(S) Under the new charter t
mayor is not a member of the board
charities and corrections. He a
points five members and the terms a