The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1909-10-01

my DeIOre Une cOIilHilSSlOH HAS HIS
say and the matter is decided promt-
lily. Each commissioner is supreme in
his own department, except that he
cannot create Indebtedness except on
his own responsibility. The whole
council must pass on expenditures.
Get Value Received.
The expenses of the city are some
wha greater, but far more is had for
the money. The mayor receives 3d.
500 and each commission 81 800
Under the old plan the council spent
money for various purposes, but had
very little to show for it. The fire
department fund was found to be
overdrawn, and everything was run
down and needed repairs. The COM
mission the first year paid a large
overdraft, reshingled their fire sta
tions, painted them all, bought six
new houses, rebuilt a wagon, eac., and
had $4,000 to 90 toward putting up a
new building. The police department
fines and fees had been bringing in
an average of 1871 year, and in the
last sixteen months, under the com
mission plan $9,6O2 was collected from
this source. This is simply what was
done in two departments. The first
year closed with every bill paid, and
money on hand, and still more paw
! ing, more street work, etc, was done
than ever before. The tax levy was
reduced one milk the first time in
years. This year still further re-
duction was made. This was done by
the application of business principles
to city affairs. owe applied the prin-
ciples that your business men do in
their own business" declared the
| speaker.
Mr.. Sherman told what the COM
mission did for the Bohemians. Things
| that they had long wanted were given
them. The members of the council
represent them as well as all other
parts of the city. Under the ward
system the speaker could vote but for
three aldermen, or less than a third
iof all; now he can vote for all. Bust
ness is now transacted rapidly and in
a businesslike way. Red tape is cut
out, as well as log rooling, of which
the speaker gave an instance under
the old system.
Schmitt Opens Joint Debate.
Fl. L. Schmitt opened the joint de-
bate, speaking against the proposed
new charter. He said that he would
not partake in a debate but would
present objections that had arisen in
his mind. 1t was true that the pres
ent charter is defective, as has been
disclosed by the meetings held. Is
the plan American, representative and
practicable and if so, is the proposed
charter better than the present one?
The speaker held that it was not
cable. The constitutional government
of this country is considered the sim
plest in the world. The legislature
should be kept separate from the eX
ecutive. 1t is important that repre-
sentatives and senator's be chosen ac-
icording to geographical divisions. The
state constitution provides for may
or and council and it was intended to
keep them separate. The commission
plan would raise a legal question as
to whether acts of the commission
would be legal, as he thought that
lit combined are legislative and ex-
ecutive powers.
Is Question or Policy.
This is a question of policy upon
which the Judgment of the people diff
fer. This plan of government is
very uncertain experiment. Out of
the large number of cities under the
old plan for years, only a few have
gotten restless and adopted d new
plan. There has not been time for
rings and politicians to get hold of
the city governments under the new
plan. No doubt the cities having the
plan are better governed than they
were before, Mr. Schmitt admitted.
The plan of electing the commits
sioners in Mankato was inexcusable.
The form of government is too ex-
pensive. One reason is the expense
Iof the annual examination of city's
books, which have amounted to moth
ing in the past. The charter could
provide to have the public examiner
make the examinations. The commits
sion should not have power to APP
point the city clerk and treasurer,
who ought to be elected by the peo-
pie. There is no reason why the
official paper should be daily paper.
Others should have the right to bid
for the public printing, so that com
binations may not be possible.
Frowned on the Initiative.
The initiative system for the start
ing of legislation is not practicable
in this city. People will not take
the time to put into practice this
cumbersome and expensive plan of leg
islation. The public is not qualified
to pass on ordinances, as the alder
men are who have the opinion of the
city attorney. The recall is another
Objectionable feature. The official
should not be in position to fear a
recall. This is one of the most vici-
Gus points in the new charter. 1t has
always been desired to make the Of
fieials as free as possible. Election
every three months is possible under
this charter.