The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-01-05

o.
be mperatively needed; and so long as it
continues, the people are certainly de-
prived of the benefit Of separate municipal
elections and local sefgovernment.
THE difficulty may be renledied in any
one Of three ways: =
''First--The legislature might amend the
law that it would require a small pro-
portion of the total vote to pass any pro-
posed charter. '
''second-The council might order a
special slection at which the proposed
charter would be the sole subject for con-
,sideration and it's provisions could be
fully discussed and passed upon.
"Tnird--'rhe charter commission might
propose the present charter with few
simple amendments which would be easily
understood and readily assented to, and
could be embodied by the commission in
separate cha piers and submitted to the
people. one at a time, and would thus
stand or fall on their merits.
? THE omnibus charter will never go
through except at special election or
under some special stress, as was the case
in ST. Paul.
Duties Of the Council.
But the present council of this city
and it's other officials are acting and must
continue to act under the existing charter
and it is important for us to note what
that means to each branch of our city
government.
Upon this body it confers large powers
and a correspondingly important respon:
sbility. !. =
Il am not aware Of another city in the
country Of our class. wherein such extern
slve authority is vested in a single body,
as Is done under our present charter.
I'm a majority Of American cities, the
municipal business proper is largely trans
acted through the medium of separate
commissions or boards selected with ref
erence to their especial fitness to do the
particular thing required, while the pow
ers Of the council are chiefly limited to
matters of mere legisla tion-but here the
council not only legislates, but has entire
charge Of all municipal contracts and ex-
penditures. save only those pertaining to
the schools, library board. park board and
board of charities and corrections: it; also
has sole. control over all funds which come
into the treasury from every source what
&soever.
This IS certainly a grave responsibilities
especially when we consider that the
amount runs into the millions and that
large proportion of the money is expended
for purposes wholly within the discretion
OF the council.
We reached the bond limit several
years ago, and since then have had an
available margin of only: about 5000 900
per annum for all extra ordinary require
ments.
There is constantly increasing de-
mand for more school buildings and ia
clnt1es, an urgent request for more
bridges, all imperative necessity for i'm :
,provements in our water plant, a pressing
need OF pavements and other street i'm
provements. all Of which are essential to
the we'll being Of the people and proper
municipal development
We have gradually advanced our an
nual general tax rate until the limit OF
prudence mas about been reached; as a
matter OF TACT. the taxes upon a. given
piece OF property have not ordinarily been
materially increased. for the reason tina t
1he advanced rate was largely due to a
corresponding reduction in the assessed
valuation.
AT the same time, the taxpayers are
not IN a MOOD to accept any mere fanci-
ful increases In valuations.
Under these conditions if cer+ai nl,,
behooves this body to exercise great care
and good judgment in the matter of con.
tract and disbursements to the end that
they are. getting value received for their
money.
Il believe that the average taxpayer is
reasonable and public-s spirited. citizen.
who does not object to a liberal rate Of
taxation. if satisfied that his money will
be honestly and wisely invested in need
ed public improvements. What he does
resent. Is the wasteful and sometimes
dishonest use Of public funds
Powers and Duties OF the Mayor,
Under the charter of this city, the
mayor has full control Of only one branch
of Its government namely, the police de-
partment; and he is thereby held re-
sponsibie for the peace and good order of
the city. '. -
True, he is ex-officio a member of the
library and park boards respectively, also
the health committee; but legally, he has
= no more control over these bodies than
any other member. He likewise appoints
v two, members Of the board of charities
and corrections and Is himself ex -officio
also member Of the board; since there
are but five members in all. it seems to
have been generally assumed that this
gives him absolute control over the vari-
GUS appointments in the gift of that body
{ this Is a wrong assumption, at least
so far as I am concerned.
1.-THE spirit of the law under which this
n board Is created and operates, presup-
poses that only competent and honest
men shall be appointed thereto and thai
they shall take their places, feeling free
to exercise their best judgments indie.
pendent1y Of any dictation on the part o.
the appointing power. It is only on thi,
d theory that representative men can be in
81 duced to accept a mere honorary position
& solely for the satisfaction of dischargins
a patriotic duty to the community.
cit Is generally conceded that the twt
members whose terms expire next Jul,
have shown themselves thoroughly eff
cient and unouestionably honest in tn
5T discharge Of their duties; but it is, ex