The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1909-11-26
LIKE MANkAT0 PLAN
SALTWATER TO TAKE ON NEW
SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT.
Many Features of Local Charter Fa-
vored BY Gentlemen Who Will
Draft New Law For Guidance of
Prison City; Mayor Foley Feels
Kindly Toward the Up-to-Date
Mode of Running Municipality.

commission of the city of saltwater
has declared in favor or the commission
form of government and named sub
committee to prepare draft of fea-
the main commission. The scheme
will be peculiarly Saltwater one, not
so broad as the plans of Galveston
Des Moines or the proposed one for
Manllato.
The scheme will preserve distinc-
ton between the executive and legisla-
tive branches of government. The
mayor, will have reserved the veto
right although he may have voice in
the legislative deliberations. The prob
abilities are that the commissioners
will consist of three or five and be
elected at large.
All but one OF the members attended
the meeting to determine the form of
charter framing. There was long and
dispassionate discussion of phases lead
ing up to the decision of the all i'm
pOrtant point. Judge F. T. Wilson
and Charles Z. Mosier, the most pro-
nounced of the members in favor of
the commission plan, made propositions
TO 90 on record in that direction and
to proceed with speed. The main ques-
ton, however, was deferred until rules
for procedure We're adopted. There was
a long discussion over one of the rules
that provided for a branch committee
of five to prepare a charter Judge
Wilson feared snap judgment of the
old constructionists in naming such
committee.
Mankato Plan Is Discussed.
At this juncture Mayor j. w. Foley
alluded to the prospect of annexing
Oak Park and the new prison, and ad-
vised that the completion of charter
drafting be deferred until the Booster
club could take up and have annexa-
ton determined according to law, so
that Oak Park may share in charter
building. 1t was pointed out in full
discussion that the law provides that
new charter must be prepared after
annexing Oak Park, as laid down in a
law adopted by the legislature last Win
ter. General sentiment prevailed that
the charter shall be delayed in COM
pletion until the annexation question
is settled. In the meantime features
of the charter will be worked out.
Charles Z. Mosier offered a resolu-
ton favoring the appointment of a
commit too of Hxya 10 lDo
proposed Mankato charter lines. This
involved a discussion in which Judge
l.. L. Manwaring the city, attorney,
Judge j. c. Nethaway, county attor-
ney, and others, pointed out that there
were features in the Mankato scheme
that are Objectionable They argued
in favor of preserving the veto power
of the mayor
The resolution of Mr.. Mosier was
amended so as TO provide that sub
committee shall prepare for approval
of the commission some features of
the Mankato scheme, it being conceded
that the present charter of Saltwater
and the bulk of the Mankato draft are
IDENTICAL in character.
The features of the Mankato scheme
to be revised by the subcommittee are
contained i'll Chapters 4, 5, 6, IL and Is.
They treat of the recall scheme. the
duties and powers of the mayor, the
administrative features, the initiative
and the referendum. The subcommit-
tee was given power to engage legal
advice and stenographer, but limited
to the expense provided by law for
framing new charter.
Name the Committees.
The proceedings up to this point were
agreed upon without discussion of the
votes and there was apparent har-
mony. Then came the test vote on Sc
lecting the committee to make a draft
OF the provisions proposed as new to
the city, the form of the commission
scheme. This was decided by ballot.
The men selected to prepare the re-
vIsed provisions along the Mankato
charter were Charles E. Mosier, F. T
Wilson, Mayor j. w. Foley, Judge L
L.. Manwaring and Judge j. G. Netha-
way. Of the committee Moser and
Wilson are very pronounced in favor
OF the Mankato plan. Judge Manwar.
ing favors the old scheme with some
new features desirable to bring the
charter under the home rule plan until
1T becomes more apparent that the
strict commission plan has been dem
onstrated as desirable. Judge Netha.
way is inclined to the commission plan
but opposed to some features of the
Mankato draft; Mayor Foley is per
sonally favorable to the commission
plan, but is disposed to let radical fea
lures of it be deferred at present. II
selecting the committee Judge H. H
Gillen of the municipal court, was not
chosen. He is an advocate of tn,
present form, with such notification
as may be desired to perfect the man
agement of public utilities. j. j. Eich
ten, another present charter advocate
was also left off. Each of the two lat
ter got five out of fourteen votes. Mr.
Mosier received ten votes. Foley ant
Nethaway nine each, Manwaring and
Wilson eight each.
Card of Thanks.
Mrs John Mahowald and famil,