The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-08-18

propositions submitted With the city
engineer frankly admitting that ne
knew nothing of creosoting methods,
and the aldermen knowing less, here
was a place for disinterested expert
Judgment. Especially is this so IN
view OF the fact that there was much
defective creosote block paving laid
last year. There was certainly lack
Of zeal here on the part of the coun-
Gil to protect the city's interests. The
city pays the high price and has the
Republic companys say-so that the
public will get It's moneys worth in
improved quality
It is Of vital moment in connection
with this creosote paving matter that
the contract was awarded by motion,
instead of by resolution, thus pre-
Guiding the Mayors veto privilege.
This practice of awarding contracts
by motion has grown upon the coun-
Gil in recent years. There is no suff1-
cient excuse for it. Mayor Haynes
has well called attention to it's per-
niciouS features.
The North Side bridge deal was in
defensible from any standpoint Of
proper business methods. In this case
the council had the expert advice of
the city engineer right at hand, and
coolly ignored it. It is impossible to
square this action of the council by
proper regard for the city's interests.
| Personal and political pressure
marked every stage of the proceedings
leading UP to the award Of the con-
tract.
In calling attention to the present
councils shortcomings, one should not
omit plain statement Of fact that
has shown up strongly all thru-that
| it has shown too much regard for the
welfare Of special and corporate inter-
ests and too little for the city's. The
public service corporations are the
great, pernicious, debauching influence
! Of all large cities, and this is just as
true in Minneapolis as in any other
| city.
Present Needs Summarized.
In summing up the crying needs of
the Minneapolis city council, they can
be stated as these:
! Less SubServiency to ward interests,
! a most positive evil from the stand
/ point of the general city's interest in
! our local scheme Of government; a
! higher standard of official duty on the
| part of the aldermen; more aggressive
| honesty; more practical efficiency; less
! log-rolling and a keener purpose to
/ decide matters of public import on
! their merits; less devotion to the pat
| rOnage feature Of aldermanic life;
i strict enforcement Of the charter pro-
vision that aldermen shall not do bust
ness with the city. Seven of the
i twenty-six aldermen in the council
either sell supplies or do service for
/ the municipality. In several instances
aldermen have built up quite an ex-
tensive business with the city.
! Several important issues await the
attention Of the council Of 19O5-19O6
The General Electric ordinance may be
one of them. The downtown loop or
dinance possibly another. The coun-
Gil should see to it that this loop ordi-
nance is not made a means of the
street railway company gobbling up al
the business district with the object OF
}, forestalling a possible future com
petitor. The company is entitled only
to such streets as are needed to re.
!, lieve the present congestion and afford
it adequate facilities for serving The
public in the future.
There will probably be some i'm
portant street railway extensions dur.
ing the life of the next council. Pos
sibly competing company will wan
to get into the city. Then there i
the proper disposition Of now useless
downtown pumping stations; alst
) the extension of the new accounting
system to all Of the city departments
And, most important of all, there viii
2 devolve upon the next council tn
' task of working out the details of
4 modern naturalization system.
The point should be made, in con
clusion, that under the Minneapoli
1 system of government the city coun
9 Gil must bear almost the entire re
sponsibility for the conduct Of tn
city's business, as well as handle tn
r legislative features. This situatio
y emphasizes the necessity for men G
7 integrity and capacity in the council
r and should awaken the community t
Y the Importance Of taking an activ
c interest in the selection of the men t
It represent them in that body.