Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1913-10-24
CAMPAIGN FOR new CHARTER
CITIZENS GIVE TALKS TO EX-
PLAIN POINTS IN THE PRO-
POSED CHARTER

Speakers for the proposed charter
are holding number of meetings this
week for the purpose Of explaining
its provisions, as vote on the char
ter will be taken at special election
to be held on next Tuesday, the polls
being open from 6 a. m. to 8 ps IN. A
meeting was held at the court house
Sunday evening and was very poorly
attended, partly due to the inclement
weather and other attractions. On
Tuesday evening there was we'll at
tended meeting at the Seventh street
fire house. A meeting was also held
Oh the West side last evening and a
meeting will be held at the saw mill
today noon. There will also be an
other talk on the charter at the court
house Sunday evening.
At the court house last Sunday eve
ring the speakers were N. n. Berg
helm, D. NJ. Cameron and A. H. Yer
non, and they elaborated on the points
as presented in the synopsis of the
charter in our last week s issue.
Mr., Bergheim took up several phases
OF the charter including the manager
feature, especially pointing to the
provision for elections, it making A.
more stable government and saving bv
the elimination Of elections every four
Years and the elimination of the ward
system, which the speaker believed
would be an immense improvement
over the present system. The com.
m,ssioners would do the legislative
work Of the city while other duties.
executive and administrative, would
&c through appointive officials; that
1t has been proven that while mem
bers who would be good legislators
could be elected to the council, it
was generally impossible to elect
competent administrative officers by
vote, which is given as the reason the
commission chose the system of the
council appointing these officers. AS
to the manager, the speaker argued
that the office created was new. but
that the same system was included in
the old charter, that of an appointive
officer carrying out the orders of the
council. The manager being the as
SCISSOR, he thought, would have much r
d" with the finances of the city and
tue decrease and equalization Of tax
es The manager will have charge Of
all improvements, doing away with
thesred tape in the present charter.
Mr. Cameron spoke On the Initiative,
Referendum and Recall. features,
eh. hing cut the ollaMing points :=--.-..: -
ln'tative-Any proposed ordinance
Ietitioned for by Is. per cent of the.
voters at the previous election, shall be
passed by the council within 20 days
after the managers attachment of
srfficiency, or within 25 days call a
special election for vote on the or
d;nance, to occur not less than forty
nor more than fifty, days after such
call: If petition is signed by less than
10 per cent but by ten per cent Of the
voters council can pass such ordinance
will cut alteration or submit the same
at the next general election. An or
dinance proposed by petition or adopt
ed by a vote Of the people cannot be
appealed or amended except bv vote
of the people. There is to be only one
special election within the period of
ons year, but none is to occur within
six months prior to any general NUM-
c;pai election. -r
i. Extraordinarily ordinance nasse3
by the council can 60 into effect until
80 days after its last publication. If
ten per cent Of the voters protest
against the passage Of the ordinance
within the 30 days, it's operation shall
be suspended, and it shall either be re-
Pealed OF submitted to vote at the
next general municipal election or at a
special election.
Recal1-Elective Officers may, be re-
moved at an election called for bv 20
per cent Of the number of voters at
the previous election. At the same
time a person must be named in
opposition to the officer being recall
ed, and if the recall is successful the
opposing candidate is duly elected.
commissioners can be removed for
nsnfeasance or malfeasance in office
six months must elapse of office
holding before the recall can be
retitioned for. '...
The municipal court, which does
away with justice courts, and which
woul1 be put into use in Little Fails
III event Of the adoption of the pro.
posed charter, was explained by All.
vernon, city attorney. This court, az
used In other commission governed
cities, gives many of the civil cases to
tie city where without this court thev
would go to the district court. The
municipal court, he said, has proved to
oe self sustaining where it has been
II use, which is due greatly to the
fact that all civil cases up to the
amount Of $500 are under the inr;s.
a. ct'on Of the municipal court, whereas
the justice court has jurisdiction 81
evil cases only to the amount Of 800.
Those who have not attended
n Getting as yet, should avail them
selves OF the opportunity Sunday eve
KENNETH MARTIN DOING WELT.
]: Kenneth Martin, who was shot
through the body two weeks ago, the
outlet passing through the liver and
klHnoVa Qn1 .hokuaon ! 5s5s-.@.