Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1913-10-17
THE PROPOSED CHARTER

1phe proposed charter for the city OF
little Falls has been passed on favor
ably by the attorney general AS to Its
,onstitutionality and will therefore be
voted on on Tuesday, October %. We
zresume that nearly all, IT not all, nave
= draft of the charter, and it they
have not as yet read it. they should IN
last, = to themselves and the charter
con 7oission give it thorough persual
and also attend at least one OF the
tnee7lAgS held to explain the provisions
Of TIE charter.
VIII some, it might be immaterial
~ ha- the new charter proposes, as they
ave ~,ot attached to this particular
form of government. TO others the
Tro:,uSition is up to them as to whether
it PROMISES any particular advantage
ove- the present charter, in business
w;.v ar otherwise.
It should, however, be judged on its
n,r-1lS Personal feeling should not in
t,,fa.a with an intelligent vote on the
cha,- ar. whether for or against it.
4 synopsis of some Of the principal
provisions of the proposed charter fol-
lows.
+!
years instead of every year, the com
1,,;ss, ,Hcrs terms expiring all at the
sane time. They are to be elected at
l,tr1.: ward representation being abol-
i~Le;i Second choice voting.
E'1Ta commissioners to be paid 800
carr per year. They may select from
'aorg themselves. one commissioner
s,nG designate to him the title of mayor,
Wiz. however. has no rights above the
chr commissioners.
aeer-The commissioners select
tie 31anagrr. who may be a person not
q resident of the city. Salary is to be
ike? ,y commissioners. The manage"
idea :, the radical change, the manager
hcln-: granted great power by the
z.h;r,r.r and the commission. He is the
Eio4 executive and administrative Of
tt:er Of the city, appointing the police
syl.u theirs not provided for otherwise;
he an suspend liconsns pending the
acr;vu Of the council and is the city
chr. and assessor and may employ as
s:s7:x:1re in assessing; he shall have
;ei,y,'<2tv and charge over all public
7""E& ]Ee is not subject to recall, but
c~rs ;n: removed by the commissioners.
z>>""all-Elective Officers may be re-
800 "a at an election called for by 20
or "~nt Of the number Of voters at the
previous election. At the same time a
person must be named in opposition to
1he officer being recalled, and if the
REGAL! is successful the opposing candi-
Gatn IS duly elected. Commissioners
ca'.n9t be removed because Of some
IoGcv they might pursue, but must be
for things which constitute wrong do
lnc-nonfeasance or malfeasance i'm
lice. This is provided for in the state
constitution. Six months must elapse
Of c7i.ice-holding before the recall can
be lctitioned for.
ln'tiative-Any proposed ordinance
Heti1loned for by IS per cent of the
voters. at the previous election, shall be
PASSED by the council within 20 days
after the manager attachment of
shff:ciency, or within % days call a
special election for a vote on the or
d!narce, to occur not less than forty
nor more than fifty days after such
cal. If petition is signed by less than
- Fer cent but by ten per cent Of the
Voters council can pass such ordinance
without alteration or submit the same
at the next general election An or
dinance proposed by petition or adopted
~ vote Of the people cannot be ap-
realed or amended except by vote of
the people. There is to be only one
special election within the period Of
one year, but none is to occur within
SIX months prior to any general NUM-
cipal election.
Referendum-No ordinance passed
by the council go" into effect until
20 days after it's last publication. If
TN per cent of the voters protest
AGAINST the passage of the ordinance
Within the 80 days, it's operation shall
be suspended, and it shall either be re-
pcaled or submitted to vote at the
next general municipal election or at a
special election.
DR. local improvements the considera-
I'on Of matters by a board of public
works is done away with.
.Franchises-No franchise shall be
granted for a longer term than 25
YEARS, No increase in capital or bond
cd Indebtedness without permission of
she council, nor shall corporation is
SUE stock on account Of value of fran
''h'se. Controversies to be srhm;t+~
IT. arbitration.
Municipal court-Provides for :"
court in which civil cases involving
sum up to $500 can be tried. At present
limit is 500. Municipal judge is to be
paid $1,000 per year. A special NUM-
cipal judge, who acts in case of absence
or disability Of municipal judge, and
is paid 50 for each day by the municip-
al Judge for each day he acts, is also
provided for Does away with justices
of the peace.