The Minneapolis journal., 1903-12-12

ceeding ten years and per cent tor
the next ten years. The gross earn
ings tax Is In addition to all other
taxes.
Any franchise granted may provide
that upon the termination of the
franchise, the franchise and plant shall
become the property of the city with
out any payment; or 1t may provide.
for purchase; the price to be fixed by
three appraisers, appointed by the dis
trict court.
Any franchise shall be in force from
and after the expiration Of
sixty days from its signing
by the mayor or it's passage
over his veto unless petition for sub
mission to vote of the people Is filed
within that time by 10 per cent of the
voters. Ii such petition is filed the
question of approving or rejecting the
franchise shall be submitted to vote
of the people at the next election. A
majority vote on the franchise Is
necessary for its approval.
The gross earnings tax must be paid
monthly.
Provision is made for inspection of
books of the holder of the franchise,
and for penalty of 500 a day for
failure to pay the gross earnings tax
or file the required statement showing
receipts.
The city council is given the right
| W leg uldllOHS IOE use Ols. Illc
franchise and may fix maximum
| rates to be charged by the user of the
| franchise.
Ihese are the main features of the
franchise chapter. The provisions are
| not unreasonable and probably no
council would at this time grant a
franchise upon more liberal terms
even If the charter were entirely
silent upon the subject.
As ito Separate Elections.
| Perhaps I ought to say a word
about the question of separate mu-
nicipal elections. Many friends Of
charter revision were anxious that the
new charter should provide for sep
arate municipal elections. The COM
mission divided upon this subject 8
to Z, and separate municipal elections
were not provided for.
The only argument advanced for
separate elections was that it would
take the municipal elections out of
party politics; that voters would vote
for the best men instead Of voting
straight.
The answer is that separate cleo
tiOns do not take. municipal elections
out Of party politics. If they do,
fail to see it. They certainly do not
in ST. Paul or any other city with
which I am familiar.
While there may be something in
the argument that people are more
system, do not think this is seri-
Gus matter in Minneapolis. At least
| 10000 republicans voted in the last
election for the democratic candidate
| for mayor, and some have in the last
two elections not only voted for the
democratic candidate for mayor, but
1 have openly worked for him in the
campaign. I believe that in Mime.
apolis at least there is not much dan.
ger that the people will not vote theil
preferences on account Of party
feeling.
Charter Should Pass
see no reason why this charter
should not be adopted.
The only people who should vote
against it are those who do not wan
g, new charter at all those that prefer
to govern the city thru the legisla
ture; and those who are opposed tt
civil service. The changes in tn,
chapters on taxation and finance ant
. local improvements and assessment
: will save the taxpayers thousands o
dollars annually.
The public service corporations cal
make no serious objections to tn
J franchise chapter. The conditions ar
) not more. burdensome than those of
fered by the ST. Paul Gas compan,
for, a renewal of it's charter. TIL
time is, past when frarchis are !, t
:. be given away sThose} who wan
separate municipal elections can sub
nit that question to the people a
the first election after the charter
adoption. They are no worse off un
der the new charter than they ar
under the present one
I am of opinion that the char
ter presents a great! improvement
over the present one, and believ
should be supported by everyone VIII
desires honest home rule in Mime
| ano1is "A O. Paul