The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1912-01-05

entered in the minutes, such con
/ tention would not be valid.
ut will be observed that Section
As of the charter in part reads
Provided, no superintendent of any
of the departments Of the city shall
have any power to contract debts tc
bind the city, or make improvements
in said city, unless authorized by 6
majority of the council 49, {
An Important Provision.
"This is an important provision
and does not mean, majority OF
the individual members of thu
council, but means majority of the
council as body in a regular meet
ing.
1--WE have adopted a form OF
government very much superior to
that under which this city has here
tofore conducted its affairs. Our
present charter is clear and concise
1t defines duties and places RESPONSE
bility. But we must not forget that
| Jul pl CoChI III III vi SOtSl IL
comparatively new to all of us. II
is to some extent forest of duties
and responsibilities, through which
the present administration has been
compelled to cruise on an unblazed
trail, and they and we must live and
learn by experience.
But we think that with study, and
a close compliance with - its pro,
visions, the unsatisfactory financial
condition in which the city; has
found when the new form of govern,
ment was adopted can be relieved
and the burden of taxation neces.
sarily resulting therefrom can be
very much lessened.
Suggests More Accurate Accounts
1--WE suggest diligent and active
supervision of all of the subordinate
departments of the city, and that a
more accurate account, by means OF
cards or otherwise, be kept in the
labor department., so that ethe exact
cost of each and every piece, of
work may be easily ascertained,
and that in all DEPARTMENTS where
possible, the payroll be reduced. In
subordinate departments it is some
times pleasant, but never profitable,
to assign to others, work which We
should ourselves do. .
I'VE think that the provisions Of
the charter as to borrowing money.
issuing certificates Or other evil
dences of Indebtedness should be
strictly complied with. ~ ...,-
Section So, subdivision provides
that the city may borrow money
and issue bonds, but this power is
safeguarded by other provisions OF
the charter. ....a ... S.....
Section 73 provides that the debt
of the city shall not be increased,
nor new bonds be issued except as
provided in the charter and Section
rs subdivision 5, provides that the
city debts shall not exceed S per
cent of the taxable property, but with
the bonds issued may be per cent.
Section Is provides that no order
shall be drawn on any fund unless
there is money to the credit of the
fund sufficient to pay such order
and all outstanding orders.
Section 76, subdivision 16. pro.
vides that for the use OF other funds,
money may be borrowed from the
general fund Only. ..--
Section rs, provides for what pur-
pose bonds may be issued, and that
they, may be issued only by four
'fifths vote of the council. Is r'-#r.
THE same Section Subdivision 81
provides that the council may issue
certificates, or other evidences of
inn tnInncc in nj ntn Dc 10
or assessments levied.
Council May Anticipate.
This means that the council may
anticipate funds actually in sight
only, that is funds for which the
tax has been actually levied against
property. If a special assessment,
then, against such property as is
taxable therefor. If general assess
ment, then against the whole prop.
erty of the city. But in no other
case may certificates of indebted
ness be issued.
Section 81 provides that certifi.
Gates of indebtedness payable from
general funds shall not exceed SO
per cent of the amount named in the
tax estimate for that fund, and actu-
ally lSVleu.
ITO illustrate: There is either in
process OF collection, OF, was levied
about October 10th of this year a
fund for paying for paving street
intersections, of about, say $4,000.
The actual cost of this work was
about $4,000.
eff we were correct as to the
amount in process of collection, and
recently levied. then certificates of
Indebtedness against that fund could
be issued only to the amount Of
$4,000.
eve hope that the necessity for
borrowing or pledging the credit of
the city, will not long exist, and if
this necessity cannot be. otherwise