The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1921-11-18
TALKS ON CHARTER
PEPPER IS INJECTED
. Members of Commission
Held Their Meeting
0RATORY WAS IN PLENTY
Rules Were Adopted and the
Mode Of Procedure Fully
Mapped Out

GeAeTd- ulScuSSlOn OIL Clty govern
ment and city charters was heide i'll
the city council Chamber last evening
by the charter commission WATCH held
the first of the regular weekly meet
tngs for the purpose or making any
changes in the city's charter that
may be deemed necessary.
I he primary purpose Tor laSl nights
gathering was Tor the adoption OF
rules and that was tle first new bus
mess considered. II WAS agreed n
Inc acceptance OF the report OF the
luIes 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 or any measure. There are
now fourteen qualined members OF
the commission.
Roberts Rules of order were adopt.
ed Tor the government or parliamentary
questions in the commission and the
GATE OF meeting was SET at every
Wednesday evening in the city hall.
l.. L. Champlin was elected vice
president or the commission. Dr. }.
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
less informal discussion of city gov
eminent in general.
Discuss Ward Lines
\ brief discussion OF ward boun-
diaries and lines was held and it was
found that the number OF voters in
each precinct exceeds the 400 allowed
under the state law. There was
icff~ iOff
Oh the city and a possibility OF divid-
ing wards into voting precincts.
T.. V. Waters, member OF the
commission and an eX-mayor stated
that in his opinion many of Mankato's
CITY officers >te drawing too much pay
.or the work done. This was followed
by a discussion of whether or not 1t
Was advisable to take more officers
of tle appointiye list and make them
elective. Proposals andI counter pro 3
posals were made but nothing dennfte
was agreed upon.
Mr.. Waters stated that in case the
commission form now in effect is still
in effect when the body finishes, 1t
would he mis- proposal that there be a
commissioner from each Of the six
wards and that he be elected FIR 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
money that is spent for the work. He
said in part, There are cit" foremen
nowadays that are drawing $l50 per
month who couldn't % out and get
another Job in Mankato that would
pay them $40 per month 20 save
themselves"
Mr.. Waters criticized the practice
OF placing sand on the streets and
said that it is only matter OF the
oil 10
lodging i'll the sewers and has to he
removed al a high cost to the city.
Advocates Municipal Superintendent
Henry Zimmerman, d member Of
the commission, made some remarks
in which he advocated the advisability
OF getting some man elected who
would act as a superintendent OF city
work The state laws Go rot permit
of a city manager but the superinten
dent could be chosen from the reelected
board or commission and would be
. responsible for that work and with
direct responsibility, Mr.. Zimmerman
pointed out that more work could
probably be accomplished for less
w r. Hammett was OF tae opinion
that at the present tine all the city's
work was being too highly paid for
the returns that are received and said
that ne was in faVor OF any plan lnat
will get the city dollars worth Of
work for every dollar expended.
Will Study Charter
Each member of the commission
has been supplied with copy OF the
present city chatter and will make a
thorough study of 1t as well as the
charter number of other cities. Tho
public is invited to attend the gath
erings and suggestions from any cit
liens of Mankato will be welcomed by
the commission for sincere consider
alton.
\ Mr.. Waters, in commenting on
the commission form OF government
stated that there Is not city in the
United States that has had commits
sion government that Is not already
returned toward representation or Is
contemplating such change.
1t was the intention OF Judge w.
L. Comstock of the district court that
there were to be fifteen members IN
the commission but George b. Atchl-
son, one of the men named by the
court failed to qualify. IL is probable
that before the next gathering there
will be a man appointed in Mr.. Atchi-
sons place.