The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-02-06
The Charter Problem.

The Charter Problem.
There appears to be renewed interest
In the question of home rule charter
for Minneapolis. The Commercial Club
public affairs committee is taking the
subject up, we believe, and friends of a
new charter are showing signs of return
ing interest. We are getting far enough
away from the charter defeat at the
election of 1900 to have strong hopes
again Of ultimate success in this reform
movement
Those who are now considering the sub
dect Of ways and means Of getting a home
rule charter for Minneapolis, under the
legislative enabling act of 1899, find them
selves confronted by two propositions.
One is that the present city charter be
submitted with substantially no altera-
tions except providing for separate
municipal elections. ., ...:..:..
The other is that the charter commits
sion be called upon to give us a new char
ter, on the same general lines, probably
as the one that was rejected in 1900.
The argument for the first proposition
is that the people have shown themselves
SO conservative, that the first step should
be merely a change from legislative to
home rule government under the present
charter, and next remodel the charter by
successive amendments. This plan was
first advanced when it was deemed i'm
possible to have a special charter election,
1t being conceded that the chance Of
h.
election would be almost nil. AS the
charter would provide for separate NUM-
cipal elections, it was argued that amend
ments would not be impossible, since the
attention of the voters would not be so
scattered as at general elections with
presidents, governors, state, legislative,
city and county officers as well as amend
ments to the state constitution to pass on.
1.-THE omnibus (new) charter" said Mayor
Haynes in his inaugural address, will
never go through except at special cleo
ton or under some such special stress as
was the case in st. Paul. .
Since the suggestion of home rule with
the present charter to start with was
made, there have been some changes in
make it advisable to consider whether the
time is not now ripe for brand new
charter. The Ames scandal has vivified
public interest in municipal affairs, and
such opposition as he and his gang offered
to improved city government is no longer
existent. Our present mayor is firm be-
lever in a new charter, whether by the
direct or tho circuitous route On
entering his office he boldly proclaimed his
dissa tisfaction with the present charter,
which he declared to be an "antiquated
document that ought to be replaced by a
new charter at the very first oppor-
tunity." There is also a good new char
ter representation in the council the
: president of which, Mr.. D. p Jones, is a
new charter advocate. .. r 49, t.-..=..
1t is no longer an impossibility to get
the council to call special election on the
question Of adopting a charter a power
that was given by the legislature Of 1901.
The principal objection from members of
the council will be the absence of an
election expense fund provided by the
board of tax levy. But there is in the
city treasury to-day, subject to council
appropriation, a sum of money more than
adequate for the expenses of such an cleo
ton, which would not exceed SIS, OOO We
refer to the money reverting to the city
from the dissolution of the Police Relief
association It will THUS be seen that
the prospect is bright that earnest effort
may give us special election.
We have little doubt that special cleo
ton would result favorably to a new
charter. If, however, the result should
be adverse, then the old charter can be
offered to the people at the general cleo
ton Of 1904. In considering whether it
would be wise to adopt the old charter it
must be remembered that even the strife
for city Offices may be enough to divert
z attention at the separate city elections
from the amendments without the adop-
ton of which we shall be little better off
than now, especially as amendments re-
quire, to be adopted, three-f1fths of all
the votes cast at the election, as against
only ur-sevenths for the adoption Of a
charter as a whole.
AS to the manner Of getting the sub
ject before the people, the best legal opin.
ioll dSIecS Llldt the Clarler COMMISSION
that framed the last rejected charter is
s still in office. To eliminate the posi-
bilfty of error, however, Its members
agreed to resign, and let the judges Of the
district court appoint them or other per-
sons as new commission. Not all have
actually resigned. If the council Will
agree to call special election, the com
mission can meet and formulate a charter
and we can have a. special spring election
to adopt it; and the first city election UNI.
der it next November. Even if II beSde.
cided to attempt little more at first thar
the adoption of the present charter, q
special election may be desirable
At this time The Journal does
not wish to be understood as committed
to a new charter or to the old charter
with amendments as the preferable man.
ner of reforming our local constitution
Il It is simply urged upon those now takins
up the question that they give the fulles
Il consideration to both ways before
adopting either, though if the prospects b.
considered encouraging for the adoptio,
of a new charter at a special election
that is the course that should be fol
lowed.