The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-03-18
LEGISLATIVE POWER.

Every qualified voter of this city is stockholde
in the corporation of the City of St Louis, whether
he be property owner or not. The resident who mas
had opportunity to register and has not done so cal
scarcely be classed citizen; he has no civic
conscience; he is civic well, ard for all tina
he cares public property might be barered and sold
by loot-legislators for a mess of pottage
The legislative business Of the City of st. Louis is
managed by the Municipal Assembly consisting OF
the City Council and the House of Delegates. This
body not only makes restrictive laws TO govern the
citizens but it makes laws for public improvements
grants franchises and special privileges to private in
stitutions approprates money for the various depart
mcnts of the municipality and for public work ana
has large power in all directions.
What men are qualified to belong the legislative
body Of the municipal corporation? Is Edward koen
of the kind? Is John r. Fontana? Is Thomas e.
Kinney? Is Charles II. Wirthoeft? Is Henry
Pfetfe? Is Henry l.. Weeke, Jr? Or John b. VIII
liarns? Or Andrew Gazzolo? Or Charles L. Ger
agility? Are several more nominees for the House OF
Delegates on the Democratic and Republican tickets,
fit assist in managing the affairs of the City of St
Louis:
The qualified voters ought to consider this matter
from the proper standpoint The men who will be
elected the House of Delegates do the city IT.
reparable injury. Their combined power will be as
great the beneficial power of the City Council.
They will be able by combining. in the past, to
block legislation intended to benefit the public. They
will be able hold up appropriation bills in order to
gain patronage They will be able to do divers acts
antagonistic to the public good.
The city's financial transactions of all kinds, go
well into the millions every year. General and spe-
cial laws enacted every year.. Problems fire.
quently presented to the Municipal Assembly. 1t is
clear, therefore, that member of that body must
possess honesty, Judgment experience and more than
ordinary ability.
Scan the Democratic and Republican tickets for
the House of Delegates You will be surprised at the
that is in prospect for most of the
rwenty-eght wards. The names above stated not
alone in their class The least that can be said of
most of the men on both tickets that these nomi
nees not highly qualified for the positions which
they seek. The list could be SO augmented jus
tify almost general Independent movement.
When we consider each member of the House
corporation, which he really is realize the
imperative necessity of nominating Delegates men
as clean and able are now in the City Council If
you stakeholder in private concern you
would not vote to elect directors such as are
running for the House in many wards And if they
were nevertheless elected you would sell your stock
But your stock in the municipal corporation can
not be disposed of, and respectable citizen and
taxpayer, 1t is your duty, to yourself and the public
that your ward is properly represented in the
lower branch of the Municipal Assembly. This result
can be attained in only way, and that is by in
dependent movements in the wards. But the move
ment must be started at once as nominations must
be filed not later than March %. Three wards have
naugurated Independent action. The respectable
people Of many other wards have the same duty.