The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1921-11-25
TALKS ON CHARTER
PEPPER IS INJECTED
Members of Commission
Held Their Meeting
ORAT0RY WASIN PLENTY
Rules Were Adopted and the
Mode of Procedure Fully
Mapped Out

General discussion of city govern
ment and city charters was 'nelde in
the city council chamber last evening
by the charter commission which held
the first Of the regular weekly meet
ings Tor the purpose or making any
changes In the city's cnarter that
may be deemed necessary.
The primary purpose Tor last nights
gathering was Tor the adoption OF
rules and that was the first new bus
mess considered. 1t was agreed n
the acceptance Of the report of the
rules committee that no business may
be transacted by the commission with
out the presence Of ten members, that
eight votes shall be necessary for the
passage OF any measure. There are
now fourteen Qualitied members OF
the commission. .
Roberts Rules of order were adopt.
ed Tor the government or parliamentary
questions in the commission and Lac
Gate vi meeting was set at every
| Wednesday evening in the city hall.
l. L. Champlin was elected vice.
president OF the commission. DR.. j.
W. ANDREWS is president and presided
at the meeting last night.
1t was decided that to work effec-
lively, the commission must have the
services of an attorney to settle le-
gal questions as they arise Pending
the appointment of such officer, The
commission members leld a more or
less informal discussion of city gov
eminent in general.
Discuss Ward Lines
A brief discussion Of ward boun-
diaries and lines was held and 1t was
found that the number of voters in
each precinct exceeds the 400 allowed
under the state law. There was
some talk of a possible redistrictlng
of the city and q possibility OF divid-
ing wards into voting precincts.
e. V. Waters, a member of the
commission and an ex mayor stated
that in his opinion many Of Mankato s
city officers .6e drawing too lnucn pay
FOR the work zone. TINS was followed
by a discussion OF whether or not il
was advisable to take more officers
off the appointive list and make them
elective. Proposals and counter pro
posals were made but nothing definite
was agreed upon.
Mr.. Waters stated that in case the
commission form now in effect is still
in effect when the body finishes, II
would be mis- proposal that there be q
commissioner from each OF the six
wards and that he be elected fl I'm
within the ward instead OF at large
Mr.. Waters also found some fault
with the work that is now done for the
city compared with The amount OF
said in part, There are cit- foremen
nowadays that are drawing S150 per
month who couldn't go out ami get
another Job In Mankato that would
pay them $40 per month 70 cave
themselves"
Mr.. Waters criticized the practice
of placing sand on the streets and
said that it is only a matter of the
first train before all the sand finds
lodging in the sewers and has to be
removed at high cost to the city.
Advocates Municipal Superintendent
Henry Zimmerman, a member OF
the commission, made some -emarks
in which he advocated the ACCESSIBILITY
of getting some man elected who
would act as superintendent of city
work The state laws do rot permit
of city manager but the superinten-
dent could be chosen from the elected
board or commission and would be
responsible for that work and with
pointed out that more work could
money. Gag.
probably be accomplished for less
money. -a....
w. R. Hammett was OF the opinion
that at the present tine all the city's
work was being too highly paid fol
the returns that are received and said
that ne was in favor of any plan thai
will get the city dollars worth Of
work for every dollar expended.
Will Study Charter
has been supplied with COPY Of I'll,
present CITY, charter and will make +;
thorough study of it as well as tn,
charter number Of other cities. TIL,
public Is invited to attend the gath
erings and suggestions from any cit
liens of Mankato will be welcomed b.
the commission for sincere consider
alton.
Mr.. Waters, in commenting OF
the commission form of government
stated that there is not city in tn,
United States that has had commits
sion government that Is not alread!
returned toward representation or Il
contemplating such change.
1t was the intention of Judge W
L. Comstock of the district court tina
there were to be fifteen members II
the commission but George b. Atchi
son, one of the men named by tn
court failed to qualify. 1t is probabl,
that before the next gathering Their
will be a man appointed in Mr.. Atchi
sons Mace