The Irish standard., 1913-08-02
THE NEW CHARTER
AND ITS PROVISIONS
Numerous Defects Pointed Out by
Members of Special Charter
Commission.
Should Not be. Adopted Unless it
Will be an Improvement on
Present Government.
Proposal of Special Election Sep
tember Leaves Time Too
Short for Consideration.

Would it be wise for Minneapolis
to adopt the commission form of gov
ern1nent as provided for by the pro-
posed charter which a bare majority
of the members OF the special char
ter commission saw fit to sign?
This is an important question to
the citizens of Minneapolis since the
special committee has recommended
that special charter election be set
for Sept. 30. 1t is time to examine it
seriously, and particularly its defects,
for our present form of government is
not SO bad that it should be called a
failure. If the city is to change, it
should be certain that the change is
for the better.
The charter provides that the gov
ernment of the, city shall be vested in
seven commissioners. Each commits
sioner is to be elected to certain
office. TO illustrate: One will have
charge of all the work that is now
handled by the park board, another
will have charge of the finances Of
the city, etc. The seven would con-
duct the affairs of the city, legislating
and administering the laws Each
commissioner would select an expert
to attend to the technical business Of
the department over which he pre-
sides.
This would appear like an ideal
form of government if the city could
be sure that seven honest and capable
men would always be at the head of
its affairs. And ability is no less i'm
portant a qualification than honesty
An honest man without ability would
make a poor legislator. Now can the
always be kept in office? And If not,
can it be sure that it can get rid of
a corrupt administration easily. The
proposed charter doesn't seem to offer
sufficient guarantee that it can be
sure Of either.
Take, for example, the Office of
! mayor. He would control the fire de-
partment, the police department, the
building inspection department. The
positions in these departments would
be filled through the civil service
bureau, but none the less, the mayor
would be an individual whose favor
would be courted by many people. He
would have strong. influence. If he
proved satisfactory official for a
number of years and then allowed his
ambition to get the better of him, who
will say that he> could be easily dis
, placed?
There are fifteen members on the
present park board. Under the new
charter one man would control the
department The park system Of
Minneapolis is vast in its extent. The
board is constantly petitioned for fa-
vors from every part of the city.
Could one man spend the thousands
of dollars that is handled by the pres
ent board as wisely and with as little
discrimination as fifteen men could ?
Suppose the park commissioner had a
number Of close friends in one part
of the city. He would have to be a
man of exceptional character to deny
that part of the city Improvements
and spend the money on some other
parts where he was less Interested.
There are, 1t is true. provisions for
the recall of commissioner who
would be found wanting in his posi-
ton. But the recall, while good in
| theory, is unwieldy in practice. 1t
has another disadvantage. The de-
feated candidate who took his defeat
to heart could use it to make endless
trouble
1t has been pointed out by one of
under the charter the city would be
practically forced to municipal own
ership of public utilities. The char
ter provides that at intervals of not
more than five years the city will have
the right to purchase the plant Of any
public service corporation. In fixing
the value nothing would be allowed
for the good will or the earning