The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1903-08-28

meeting. Only the Hoso hoee"9y
changes should be made at the present
time. There are certain points about
which there is no dispute, these being
provisions for extending special assess
ments over a term of years, caring Tor
the floating debt, condemnation OF
land, and provision for a municipal light
ing plant. Mr.. Long said that 1T was
his opinion that the only charter that
would carry would be one that confined
itself to these four points of difference
from the present charter. If the COM
mission goes to work and fixes everyth-
ING as it thinks it ought to be fixed it
will have charter that will not be
adopted by the people.
Mr.. Young said that the changing OF
the ward boundaries was not matter
of principle, and there were many rea-
sons for it.
Mr.. Long declared that if the ward
boundaries were changed the charter
would not carry.
DIR. Andrews said that it would not
carry if members of the board go out
and fight it.
Mr. Long said that he would fight the
charter if it changed the ward boundaries
as proposed. The change took into con-
sideration population alone, whereas
both population and territory should be
taken into consideration. The popula-
ton of the first and sixth wards will
grow faster than that of the rest of the
city. He would stand by the sixth ward
until election.
Mr.. Young said that the sixth ward
would not be changed any by the pro-
posed redistricting. The sixth ward
would remain as it is and the rest of
the city would be divided into six
wards. The vote of the people of the
sixth ward would still be equal to that
of twice as many people in some of the
other wards.
DR.. Andrews said that the sixth ward
is very large one, and if territory was
to govern the redistricting, it would have
to be cut into two wards.
Mr.. Long said that the people do not
expect or want the commission to do
more than to prepare four amendments
to the present charter that will strength
en- its weak points.
Mr.. Schmitt said that if every men,
Der of the commission was to fight the
charter because some feature did not
please him, it might as well quit now.
DIR. Andrews said that the people of
the fourth ward want the boundaries
changed, and he thought that the peo-
pie of the city want it.
Mr.. Currier said that the redistricting
had been done by committee of six
Republicans and six Democrats, and they
had agreed to it unanimously. 1t was
thought desirable to make the change
because some of the wards have too
great voting population and to have
one more alderman in order to avoid there
being tie vote in the council.
Mr.. Monks said that he was in favor
of seven wards, but that he did not like
the division. He thought that the bluffs
were entitled to one ward. The three
outlying districts should comprise a
ward each, as two of them do now.
Mr.. Petersen favored this. Others
thought that the population of the bluff
would find it hardship to go to one
voting place, as some would have to
60 down the hill and go up again, as
for instance the Bunker hill to Agency
hill.
DR.. Andrews moved that the matter
of ward boundaries be postponed, and
that it be made a special order for the
next meeting, when an extra affort be
made to get out full attendance. This
was carried.
The chapter relative to elective Of
ficers was then considered. The time of
holding the election was left the same
as in the present charter.
After some discussion, it was decided
that the qualifications for office holders
shall be merely that they shall be resi-
dents and qualified electors of the city.
This was done on motion of DR.. Andrews.
Chapter three was partly completed,
the commission getting as far as the
duties of city recorder.
On motion of Mr.. Long, following a
suggestion from Mr. Schmitt, it was de-
cided to hold the meetings in the future
at the city hall and to invite all to at
tend who are interested. The first three
sections of chapter three were adopted,
and the board adjourned until Friday
night.