Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1920-02-27

Swanville, the committee on site for
the soldiers memorial park, met Wed
nesday afternoon. They looked over
the various sites proposed and decided
to recommend to the association, that
the site on the east bank of the Missis-
sippi river, near the Broadway bridge,
be. acquired for that purpose.
of this chapter, Mr.. Vernon pointed
out, was the provision for bond issues
for public improvements Under this
section, the city could issue bonds or
certificates Of Indebtedness, up to IS
per cent of the cost of the improve
ments proposed, the bonds to run +, ON
one to thirty years, as desired. Such
bond issues would not be a debt of the
city, but would be sort of mortgage
on the improvements, as the value Of
the improvements, would equal the
amount of the bonds. Under the re-
vised chapter, the board of equaliza-
tion is given one to three weeks to 20
over the assessments, instead of but
one week as at present.
. P. j. Vasaly, committee on the chap
ter for initiative, referendum and re-
call, explained same. This is an en-
tirely new feature proposed here, but
has been in use throughout the coun-
try for years and Mr.. Vasaly stated
that all modern charters ! contain this
feature. One object of fhe proposed
charter amendments, is to. give the
council more power in the matter Of in
itiative in different matters. But these
measures give the citizens "a proper lev
er in getting what they want and will
tend to stop abuses of power.
Owing to the fact that this chapter
was entirely new, Mr.. Vasaly read the
entire proposed chapter and explained
it. The first section contains the re-
call, by which the holder Sof any elec-
tive or appointive office, may be re-
moved at any time by: the electors
qualified to vote at municipal elections,
by submitting a petition, signed by
electors equal to 20 percent Of the to-
tai ballots cast at the last preceding
general municipal election, the petition
to be fled with the city clerk, stating
the grounds for seeking removal and
asking for a special election on the
question. Within ten days Of fling
such petition, the clerk shall examine
it as to qualifications of signers and if
they are sufficient, he shall submit
petition to the city council without de-
lay. Within ten days after the filing
of the petition, the council shall fix a
date for holding a special election, not
less than 20 nor more than 30 days
from date Of fling. In order to save
the expense Of two elections, the re-
call election and election Of a success
or are combined. Should the incum-
bent be recalled, the candidate receiv
ing the highest number of votes, would
bee elected, but should the official no;
be recalled, he would continue in office
and the vote on candidates would be
of no effect. A majority Of votes cast
at the election are necessary to recall
an official. No person can be recalled
until after the expiration Of at least
six months of the term Of office.
Under the Initiative, any proposed
ordinance of the city may be submit
ted to the council by petition, signed
by electors, equal to 20 per cent Of the
total ballots cast at the last general
election. The petition shall
contain a request that; dthe ordinance
be submitted to vote Of the people,
at a special election. The council may
pass said ordinance, without alteration,
within 20 days after the city clerk has
certified as to the sufficiency Of the
petition, or may within Is days after
such date proceed to cali a. special elec-
tion, to be held not less than 40 nor
more than so days after such call, to
vote on such ordinance. Should the
petition contain less than 20 per cent
but not less than Is per cent Of the to-
tai vote cast at the last general MUM
cipal election, then the council must
submit same to the people, for a vote
at the next general municipal election.
The council may pass an alternative
ordinance, covering the same subject
matter, but in such case, at least SO
per cent Of the signers Of the petition
must file another petition, withdrawing
their names from the original petition.
Otherwise, the alternative ordinance
shall become effective, but the council
will be required to submit the ordin-
ance petitioned for, to a vote of the
people and it may, at the same time,
submit the alternative ordinance and
the one receiving the highest number
of votes, shall become the ordinance of
the, city. Any number Of presented
ordinances, may be voted upon at the
same election. The council can submit
a proposition for repeal Of any such
ordinance at any general municipal
election, but any ordinance, proposed
and adopted by the people, cannot be
except by a vote of the peo-
pie. Not more than one special elec'
tion can be held for this purpose, in
any one year, nor may one be called
within six months prior to general
election. No ordinance,
passed by the city council, except emer-
gency ordinances, shall 60 into effect
before thirty days from the time of
except when otherwise re-
quired by the state laws or the pro-
visions Of the charter. All ordinances,
passed by the council, are subject to a
referendum, upon petition by electors,
equal to IS per cent of the total ballots
cast at theslast general municipal elec-
tion and in such case, the ordinance
shall not become effective, unless ma
jority vote in favor Of it at the cleo
tion. IAN emergency measure shall also
be subject~to referendum, but shall not
be suspended, pending referendum pro-