The Saint Paul globe., 1905-04-09
OVERRIDING THE CHARTER


One of the worst bits of special leg
islation, as far as ST. Paul is con-
cerned, suggested at the present legis-
iative session is a bill passed by the
house limiting the number of assem-
blymen which either party may nom
| mate for office to one in each ward.
We are surprised that any member of
the legislative delegation should have
fathered this bill, and that the gov
ernor should have consented to use
his prerogative in favor of its intro
duction. 1t is utterly vicious in prin-
ciple and uncalled for by the situation.
While general In terms, this bill fol-
lows the practice of so many in being
actual special legislation. 1t applies
only to St Paul. and its purpose is
to override a particular and beneficial
provision Of the city charter. Under
that instrument, assemblymen in St
Paul are elected by general ticket
throughout the whole city. The board
of aldermen represents the aldermanic
districts, and the assembly represents
the municipality as a whole. This ar
rangement has been in effect since the
adoption of the charter of 1891, though
slightly modified when the present
charter was approved. It meets the
desires of all our people and has been
most satisfactory in operation. Under
II the assembly has maintained a high
standard of character and ability, and
1t would be a cruel misfortune to the
city to go back to the ward system.
This would give us two houses prac-
tically identical in their makeup and
their interests. and make the dual
chamber in the city council an alb
surdity.
This bill provides that assemblymen
may be voted for at the primary cleo
ton only in the ward where each can
didate resides, and that no candidates
for this place shall be voted for at
large. The excuse offered for its In
PRODUCTION is that the Seventh ward
has disproportionate representation
in the assembly. There are three men,
bers at present from that section, and
local jealousy is responsible for the
move to curtail representation. The
legislature is asked to step in and
save the people of ST. Paul from those
consequences which they themselves
have created and desire.
The last vestige of excuse for such
action is removed by the existence of
the direct primary. Why has the Sew
enth ward three representatives in the
assembly today? Because the entire
people of st. Paul desire it. The Sew
enth ward was utterly powerless to
name three men or one man on a ticket
except by the direct consent and order
Of the whole city. These candidates
were nominated by the direct action
of the people and by universal vote.
The people of st. Paul wanted these
men nominated or they would not have
received the necessary votes Because.
forsooth, a small number of people in
some one ward are dissatisfied with
this, they run to the legislature with a
bill intended to curtail and prevent
free action of the people; to override
and set aside the charter; to destroy
the fundamental character of our sys-
tenn of local government, without the
consent of the people themselves.
If such a proposition as this were
submitted as charter amendment to
the people of st. Paul it would not get
20 per cent of the entire vote. Yet it
is proposed to force this upon us
against the interests of good govern
ment, against our own previous action,
without the slightest popular demand,
for the sake of deteriorating the char
acter Of our local governing body and
smoothing way for the passage of
the political machine. In the name of
the people of st. Paul The Globe
protests against such action. Let the
legislature keep it's hands off our city
government, hold inviolate the home
rule principle, turn down this piece of
legislation that is actually, if not tech
nically. unconstitutional, and refuse to
abolish or einasculate city charters at
the motion of interested parties with
out the consent or approval of the peo-
pie most concerned.