The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1913-04-26
.HA[BERT WRITES IN
DEFENSE OF St. PAUL
Well Known Progressive Com,
mends Labor World Editorial
On Gov. Eberhart's Veto.

In the last issue Of The. Labor
World We inadvertently failed to re-
fer to the fact that st. Paul had q
HON rule charter and has adopted the
commission form of government to
80 in effect January /. 1914.
The following letter from Hugh r.
Halbert, commencing our editorial
on Governor Eberhart's veto of the
Nolan Bill" and at the same time de-
Tending the progressive attitude Of
the people of st. aPul, indicates that
the three large cities of the state are
perfectly capable of managing their
own affairs without the Interference
of any state commission appointed by
the governor to do so. MIR. Halbert
writes as follows:
Boost for the Labor World.
"You made a splendid argument
against the Public Utilities bill in your
editorial, entitled Governors Veto
Of Nolan Bill" Your analysis and
reasons for the opposition to the bill
are keen and true. You hit the nail
on the head when you stated that the
distinction between the cities in
Wisconsin and New Jersey and those
that what was Progressive legisla-
ton in the two former states would
not be backward legislation in Min
nesota.
I'm following up this argument, you
speak of the city government of the
three large cities of Minnesota, and
emphasize the fact that two of these
cities are pronouncedly i'll favor OF
the Municipal Ownership of Public
Utilities. You then refer to Duluth
and Minneapolis.
You Bet, We Apologize.
"You left the impression whether
Intentionally or otherwise that st.
Paul was not nearly as Progressive i'll
this respect as Minneapolis and Du-
luth. In doing SO, you do this city
a grave injustice. You may have for
gotten that st. Paul adopted, the
Commission Form of Government in
May, 1912; that this new form Of
government will go into effect here on
January 1, 1914. Those of us who
fought for it are justly proud of It's
recognition as the most improved up
to-date form of government for
large city that has even oecn adopted
in the United States.
THE chapter On franchises limits
their existence to 20 years, prevents
their renewal at any time prior to
one year before they expire and SUBJ
mits all franchises to the approval
of the people. The Initiative, Refer
endum and Recall safeguards the in
terests Of the people. 1t is perfectly
possibly for st. Paul to own all of
its utilities in the future, provided a
state public utilities commission is
not created which will interfere with
our home rule form Of government
and take away the duties of our pub
lie utilities commissioner.
St. Paul Deserves Recognition.
"Win you kindly give recognition
to this City for it's advanced progress
sive form Of government? The bat
tie was won too mainly through the
aid Of all of our newspapers that
worked unitedly with those of us in
terested in good government.
II closing, let me congratulate you
upon the Ccgent reasons you have ad-
vanced against a public utilities bill
and which to my mind is the best
statement that has yet appeared up
on the subject. The people of this
state should not for one moment
stand for this attempt on the part of
Governor Eberhart to pull the wool
over their eyes. His invoking the ut
terances of President Wilson and
Senator La Toilette to his aid consti-
tutes a real political travesty.
1.-The present public utilities bill is
utterly bad and I believe unconstitu-
tional, and instead of being progress
sive, it is truly retrogressive meas
ure."