The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1909-04-02
TALK ON CITY RULE
DIES MONIES MEN TO ADDRESS SOL.
oNS WEDNESDAY NIGHT.
General Lafayette Young and John Mac
Vicar viii Tell Legislators How the
Commission Plan is Looked Upon in
That Community; Daley Measure is
Given a Boost; Resolutions Are Ad-
opted BY Both Houses
CFrom The st. Paul Dispatch

(FrOm The ST. Paul Dspatch)
The proposition to permit Minnesota
cities to elect whether they will adopt
the commission plan of government has
taken wonderful hold upon the peo-
pie.
1t is no part of the plan to force this
system upon any municipality, but to
give every city the chance If 1t desires
it,
AS now before the legislature, the bill
proposes to submit the plan for the gov
eminent of cities of not less than 10,
000 and not more than 10000 popula-
ton. This will be amended to give the
option of the commission plan to al
cities Of 10000 or over.
General Lafayette Young and John Mac
Vicar, prominent in the success achieved
i'm Des Moines. will tell the Legislature
all about it and answer questions con-
corning it.
Text of Resolutions.
The resolutions were as follows:
Resolved by the senate, the house
concmring, that invitations be hereby ex-
tended to General Lafayette Young, edi-
tor of the Des Mones Daily capital
and Hon. John Mac Vicar, also OF Des
MoineS. former president of the League
Of American Municipalities, to address a
joint session of the senate and house
"Wednesday evening, March 81, or at some
early date that would be convenient &c
them upon the nature and operation
of tile commission plan of city gov
ernment. now in force in Des Moines.
Resolved further. that copies OF this
resolution, suitably engroSSed and attest
ed 10y the officers of the senate and
house be sent TO General Young and
Mr.. Mac Vicar"
General Lafayette Young, editor of The
Des Moines Capital, and John Mac Vicar
former president of the League of Ameri-
can municipalities, both of Des MOnes
were invited today by the Minnesota
both houses, next week, upon 1.-The Com
mission Form of City Government"
Both have accepted.
Next Wednesday evening has been ten
tatiVey set for the OCCASION but day
on two earlier on later may be made the
date, as may be convenient to the speak
ers and to the legislature. General
Young and Mr.. MacVicar are en-
municipal system and are willing to sci
forth its advantages to all inquirers
The keen and growing interest i'm the
DeS MOneS or Galveston PLAN which
has been anayZed and explained i'm The
Dispatch, from time to time during the
past few months, was strikingly shown
by the prompt and unanimous adoption
of the resolutions of invitation i'm bOtl
Quickly Adopted in Senate.
Senator $. -. Works of Mankato of
fered the senate resolution, and. without
word of comment or objection il was
carried
Mr. Works had just previously drawn
attention to the general subject of com
that his bill permitting the cities OF
Mankato or saltwater TO adopt il, if de-
slider be taken from the general orders
and advanced to the calendar.
Senator y. S. Campbell of Austin was
Immediately on his feet to inquire
whether the privilege of amending the
bill would be extended after it was put
on the calendar.
The inquiry was stimulated by Mr.
Campbells earnest desire to have the
scope of the bill broadened, so as to
take i'm his own city of Austin. Austin
is only one of large number of Min
neSota cities which wish the opportunity
of adopting the commission plan given to
them before this session of the legisla-
turo is over
Mr. Works replied that he was willing
To have amendments considered and Mr..
Campbell expressed his satisfaction.
The Works bill was accordingly ad,
Vanccd considerably nearer to IA third
reading and final passage.
Similar Action in House.
The proceedings i'm the house on the
resolution inviting General Young and
teal in terms with that offered in the
senate and bore the name of Hans Jor-
Scnson, representative from Blue Earth
county
Mr.. Jorgensen explained that the pur-
pose of the resolution was to bring be-
fore the Legislature two men who were
thoroughly Nersed in the commission plan
of city government, who could enlighten
the members upon any point upon which
they might be in doubt
There was no dissenting vote when
the resolution was put to the house.
That seed sown by the Dispatch, i'm
its advocacy of the Des Moines plan, is
rapidly bearing fruit, was evidenced
from the pleasure with which the legis-
lators, in both bodies received the sug-
gestion that they hold an evening SEES
sion and listen to two men known to be
thoroughly informed upon the subject
Speakers Men of National Reputation
General Lafayette Young's coming is
also looked forward to with eager in
tereSt because of his reputation as n
captivating public speaker. He is adj
mitted to be Iowa's foremost orator and
TO have few equals in eoquence through
out the whole country.
He is editor of The Des MoineS Daily
Capital, the leading republican paper OF
his state, and has long been prominent
in state and national politics. He was
selected, nine years ago. to make the
address nominating Theodore Roosevelt
Tor vice president at the republican ma
lonal convention.
Mr. Mac Vicar has been student of
municipal government for many years
lie was formerly president of the League
of American Municipalities as above
stated. That organization is composed
OF representatives of city governments
throughout the country, and makes n
business of investigating city administra
lion and examining reforms actually i'm
operation or proposed for adoption
He is especially well qualified to dis
cuSS the DeS Moines system of govern
ment as he is member of the COM