The Saint Paul globe., 1904-09-24
Charter Commission Adopts. Is
.
Amendments Involving Total
Increase of $156,OOO

The charter commission adjourned
fifteen amendments for submission to
the voters at the fall election, the total
increased expenditure for the city gov
ernment being $156,000 ayear.
But one amendment In addition to
those that have been noted received the
approval of the commission, this pro-
viding for the raising of as much as
$4,000 a year for the benefit of the
Fairgrounds. The ten members of the
commission present signed the amend-
ments and ordered the secretary to
transmit the same to the mayor.
Mr.. Won der Weyer, in ignorance OF
the fact that. a petition calling for the
submission of the free text book
amendment had been handed in by Mr..
Ives, said that he would like to move
a reconsideration of the action hereto
fore taken, saying: s..''s =.
II suppose that all the members of
the commission have noticed in the
papers the claim that women are en-
titled to vote upon this question of
having free text books in the public
schools, and I believe that we should
further consider this matter
Opposes Free Text Books
tI contend that free books are un-
necessary, and would call the atten-
tion of the commission to the fact that
last year the school board spent on the
public schools total of something
like $750,000, and have today receiv-
ed notice from the city comptroller
that bonds to the amount of $4,000
for the schools are to be issued. 1t oc-
ours to me that there is a very large
proportion of the citizens of the city
who would receive no benefit from the
increased taxes necessary to install and
maintain free text books
At this point Mr.. Cannon called at
tention to the petition, whereupon it
was formally presented by Mr.. Ives and
filed. Mr.. Won der Weyer did not press
his motion. for reconsideration aud
the amendment will go on the ballot
as having been proposed by the COM
mission, and not by the petition.
Mr.. Ives explained that the petition
was being circulated before the COM
mission decided to submit the amend
ment. and that he had brought 1T In
merely to show that there was a strong;
sentiment in favor of free books He
said that the petition contained the
signatures of 1900 voters.
1t was decided to submit only the
city engineers proposition that the
street and sewer fund be increased
from $150,000 to 100000. Messrs.
Sanborn, Won der Weyer and Mark
ham were opposed to and voted
against this course, claiming that they
had been sufficiently liberal when they
voted to increase the allowance from
$150000 to $3.50 The other seven
members present voted to put only the
engineers proposal on the ballot.
Pleaded for Fairgrounds
DR.. A. w. Dunnfng and Mrs. w. E.
Brimhall spoke in favor of provision
permitting the city council to provide
for the public Fairgrounds. Mrs.
Brimhall said that $1,000 had been ap-
propriated by the city this year for
the Como avenue grounds, and that it
had been agreed by the Fairgrounds
committee to ask for $4,000 for next
year. Her idea was that part of the
amount could be retained from year to
year and grounds provided for other
sections of the city. Mr.. Gordon pro-
posed that a general provision be in
serted in the charter, allowing the city
council to appropriate 100000 a year
for Fairgrounds. The effort of Mr.. Won
. NSAS w Cy OA " HdfC[lulS ISQuCGu u
$4,000 was unsuccessful.
The amendment submitted that has
excited the greatest interest is the one
providing for free text books, which
Mr.. Ives contends will cost not more
than $4,000 year. 1t provides that
the school inspectors SHALL within one
year after the adoption of the amend
ment, install the books in all grade
schools. When the system is adopted
it becomes necessary for the pupils to
turn over to the city all the text
books then in their possession.
Mr.. Ives contends that this provision
would result in the first year costing
but little if any more than those fol-
lowing. It is made the duty Of the
school inspectors to keep on hand a
supply of the text books used, and to
sell them to private schools at cost
The provision making it possible for
the city council to pass an ordinance
making it unlawful to give out trading
stamps or resort to other premium
schemes is popular with many of the
merchants, and an active campaign is
being made to secure the adoptionh OF
the provision.
The control of the garbage fund
which remains at $4,000, is trans
ferred from the city engineer to- the
health commissioner; the health COM
missioner is given the right to fix the
salaries of his employees at will, as
long as the total expenditure does not
exceed the present allowance; the park
board is permitted to acquire land by
direct purchase from the regular
funds; if the property owners agree,
assessments for improvements OF
more than 25 per cent of the assessed
value of the property can be made, and
permitting the establishment of sbuild-
ing lines. s.