The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1909-09-17

thing. The city should get together
on the charter and push the city for
ward and set it where it belongs in
this state.
Called For the Critics.
President Nyquist said that now was
the time for those who criticise the
new charter to discuss it. When the
charter commission was holding meet
| ings the public was invited to attend,
but few appeared, but now those who
did not go are criticising it.
Postmaster A. j. Veigel moved that
secret ballot be taken, to see how
those present stood, and so that they
could vote as they really felt.
Talk BY Labor Man.
c. f. Keith was called upon as a
labor representative, and said that he
was, personally, heartily in favor of the
new charter. When he read it the
first time, he had made up his mind
that no hall would be big enough to
hold the laboring men who would turn
out to the meetings, but from the
size of the crowds evidently the work
ing men had not read the charter. He
had read it again to see whether he
had been mistaken in his opinion of it
and to be sure that he understood it
he wished to ask a few questions
He said that there were just two ways
for laboring man to improve his con-
dition. One was through an increase
of wages, and the other was by a
reduction of the cost of living, so that
his money would 60 further. He asked
whether the charter did not provide
for the city taking over municipal
utilities if it wished to, such as light
ing, street railway service, etc. Wa
terloo, Iowa, has heating plant con-
Quoted by the municipality.
Can Take Over Public Utilities.
Mr.. Palmer said that the new char
ter provides that the city can take over
any public utility.
Mr.. Keith asked whether the city
could build new city hall, by days
labor, with the eight hour plan.
Mr.. Palmer said that there was
nothing to prevent this.
Mr.. Keith asked whether public
wood and coal yard could be conducted
by the city.
Mr.. Palmer replied that it could if
it was public utility. If this was
the case, then the city could run a
public grocery store or public dry
goods store.
Mr. Keith said that he did not see
why the working men were not boost
ing the new charter.
Mayor Meyer questioned some state
ments alleged to have been made at
the two ward meetings thus far held.
regarding the bookkeeping of the city.
He had not said anything for or
against the new charter. If it was as
good as it was thought to be he
would not be against it. He said that
the expert whose report was quoted
charged the city $500, and wanted
more, but that the work could have
been done for 500. This was good
point in favor of the commission plan,
few changes in their bookkeeping, but
had decided that it was not worth
while to start new system until it
was decided whether the commission
plan would carry. He said that the
city's vouchers were being drawn COR
rectly now, and it was not true that
there were almost unlimited opportu-
mites for peculation, as the expert had
reported.
City Treasurer D. G. Davies said that
there are four or five principal sources
of income for the city, and that each
can be checked up with some other
official.
Expert Sought Sensation.
Mayor Meyer produced several of the
city books, used by the board of pub
lie works, to show that careful rec
ord is kept of expenditures. He said
that the examiner had rushed through
the books and wanted to make a SEN
sation and show that he had earned
his money. The present administra-
ton had narrowed $4,000 and had
repaid it, and had paid off $1,000 in
certificates of Indebtedness. 1t had
tax levy to 60 on that was $4,000
less than before, but at the time Of
the last council meeting had $4,000 on
hand, and with care it would have
enough to go on until the November
taxes come in. The streets had been
kept in fairly good condition, and
much other work had been done. The
new suction mains had beer laid, and
the electric motors and sewer pump
installed. He did not know that Mr..
Palmer or others could have run the
city any more economically.
One Blunder Reported.
Judge Cray said that he thought
that the report of the examiner was
altogether too drastic, but the system
had been an unsafe one. A voucher
that was drawn in his favor had
gone through three departments OF the
city, containing an egregious blunder,
and he could have swindled the city
out of $40 and nobody would have
known it. This was before the pres
ent administration came in. 1t was an
order drawn by the recorder to pay a
debt that had already been paid, and
was signed by the mayor and paid by
the city treasurer This reflected upon