The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1909-03-05
PLANS MEET FAVOR
GALVESTON AND DES MONIES SYS.
TENS STRONGLY ENDORSED.
Number of Mankato Citizens Express
Themselves on the Commission
Form of Municipal Government;
The Free Press Presents Their
Views! Not an Director Found.
From Mondays Daily.

From Mondays Daily.
In view of the fact that a COM
mission is at work preparing new
charter for the guidance of this MUM
cipality-this charter to follow the
lines of government which prevail in
Galveston and Des Moines, The Free
Press has had number of Mankato
prominent citizens interviewed with Il
view to securing their views on the
latest and, what is considered in many
quarters, the more improved system
of city government. This is but a
partial list Others will be asked to
express their views on this import
tan subject.
This matter is one of the most
prominent that has come before Man
katO citizens for consideration in a
long time, and is a vital issue. The
newspapers in Mankato and all over
the country are, and have been, pub
fishing not only valuable but instruc-
tive and interesting articles on the
subject and still it. is not uncommon
to find a voter here who knows practi-
cally nothing about the commission
plan, as to what it has done, what it
can do for Mankato, or where and
with what results it has been carried
out in other cities.
Mayor Andrews Views.
Mayor Andrews was much interested
in the Des N1oines Galveston com
mission plan and said he was decidedly
in favor of it. He said: Il feel that
the present ward system has been thor,
oughly tried and found wanting. Those
who would serve the city best are
never willing to enter into political
ward contest for the position of alder
man. If | understand the Galveston
system of municipal government, the
government of the city would bc large
ly taken out of politics, and while the
salaries necessary to secure competent
commissioners would at first appear
large to some, yet | am sure that the
city will save hundreds of dollars an
nually. Then again, those in power
will serve the whole city to the best
advantage, instead of trying to build
up one ward by pulling down another.
/ am sure, by painful experience and
close observation that incompetency in
the administration of the municipality
of Mankato is expensive and i'll adj
vised.
George M. Palmer, chairman of the
charter commission, said, 81 believe in
the Galveston plan, because / believe
in the theory of city business being
handled in practically the same way
that any first class firm or corporation
handles its business. The affairs of a
city should be handled as business
proposition. Politics should be en-
tirely eliminated. Aldermen and Off
GERS should lie chosen only for their fit
ness for the position. A thorough go
ing business administration would save
the city much more than we would
pay out in the increased salaries"
Opinion of Judge Cray.
Judge Cray, president of the Nation
al Citizens bank, was keenly inter
ested in the proposed change in MUM
cipal organization. In speaking OF the
Galveston plan, he said: Il think it is
a good one and | would like to see it
adopted, but l doubt whether We would
get good results unless we have COM
missioners who are men experienced i'll