The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-09-11
VOTERS LEAGUE
REPORT ISSUED
Conditions in City Council Are
Passed Upon by Organ
ization.
DISCUSSES FITNESS
OF THE CANDIDATES
Public Records and Qualifications
of the Men Are Set
b.. Forth.

The following is the report Of the
Voters league, issued today:
This report of the Voters league
deals with conditions in the city coun-
Gil and the qualifications of candidates
for aldermen. The report on the cam
didates for county commissioner will
be out in: a few days.
The City Council.
The city council is still unsatisfac-
disfnterestedness Of many of its mem
bers. The drones, deadweights and
gangsters are too many. Men Of posi-
tive convictions and the courage to
fight for them are too few.
mo one not in touch with the situ-
alton can appreciate the influences, de
rect and indirect, proper and improper,
brought to bear on aldermen by those
selfshly interested in the action of the
council. Nevertheless, the past two
years have shown some improvements,
"a small reduction in the price Of
gas, both for the city and the citizen;
also in the cost of electric light and
power service.
can up-to-date franchise ordinance
with the Minnesota Power & Trolley
company safeguarding public interests.
Preliminary action looking to an
advantageous franchise with the Gener-
al Electric company, promising cheaper
lights for. the city and lower rates for
light and power for the general con-
sumner.
can effective, ordinance regulating
the construction and inspection of over.
head wires. H.. s
Extensions Of the underground wire
district
-" An agreement with the telephone
companies, waving their former claims
Of exemption from special assessments.
important amendments to the
building ordinance governing the con-
structiOn of hotels, which assure better
protection to the public.
A cheaper and more efficient gar
bage collection service.
"1mproved business methods in the
lighting supplies.
:" The passage of the Clark liquor or
dinance, and the defeat of the Rand
liquor ordinance.
The Patterson Lighting Contract.
Prominent on the reverse side ap-
, pears Pc the Patterson lighting contract.
eds suggestive Of improper influenae
There was involved in. this the vital
review city contracts. Sound munich
pal policy requires this measure Of ex-
ecutive cooperation.
Needs housekeeping.
"The city clerk s office has become
q social center for contractors and lob
6y1sts: The, city clerk has shown a
tain contracts, whereas he should be
absolutely neutral. This office should
be made elective. . -'-
Public Service Corporations.
"The Minneapolis Street Railway
company is the original. ,corrupting in
f1uence in our city council, and still
continues its persuasive attentions to
aldermen. This company might con-
tinue its excellent service even if It
should abandon its reprehensible con-
nections with the council. ....z
1.-The Northwestern Telephone com.
pany also does far too many favors for
aldermen. ~. -
"The franchise of the Minneapolis
the next city council. It Is important
that the aldermen to be elected this
year should be free to fully protect the
| public interests in this regard.
"The Minneapolis General Electric
| company is a conspicuous example of
public-service corporation that has re-
! Gently changed it's methods and now
does business with the city on the
| square.
What Is Needed.
"Oompel public-service corporations
to base their transactions with the CITY
on business principles only; make the
office of city clerk elective; send
strong, courageous, straightforward men
| &ha,,
permanently bettered.
Eliminate City Contracts.
=" AS far as possible. the city should
do its work by day labor, under the
supervision of department heads.
Time has proved the wisdom Of this.
and the system should be extended to
include at least facilities for incandes-
cent lighting and all paving repairs and
construction. including the preservative
| treatment of creosote blocks.
Contractors for public work often
have influence with the council, and
use it to obtain favorable contracts.
When they combine among themselves.
or with other interests, they become
particularly formidable.
The s'Ward'' Alderman.
"The ward alderman, who considers
MS own ward and constituents to the
exclusion of the larger and more i'm
portant interests Of the city at large, is
mischiefmaker.
There is nothing that ward is en-
titled to in the way of local improve
ments that an honest and capable repre-
sentative cannot obtain without trad
ing away his vote on general city cues
| tions.
/ The Ward System.
The ward alderman is logical
product of the wretched, extravagant
and wholly unnecessary system of ward
improvements with which Minneapolis.
Of all cities Of her type and class, is
alone afflicted.
It is within the power OF, the city
council, under the existing charter, to
place street construction and repairs.
sidewalk grading and street sprinklinc
and. cleaning in the hands of the city
engineer, or some other competent cens
trail authority. This change would re-
suit in better streets and lower ward
i taxes. The present system Is unbusi-
nesslike, usually inefficient, always po-
i litically obnoxious. 80
II ~. II Calf IL