The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1922-09-29

'SihnOAt Is that IL CenCerS the re-
sponsibility in a few men and gives
q more business like administration
with less chance for graft. The sub
orolnates are not elected by the peo-
pie, where, In the case of election Of
ineinclent or corrupt men, 1t might
De difficult to dislodge them for
some time, and thus cripple real
progress along efficient lines. Under
this form of commission city gov
eminent the council hires and fires
the subordinates, which is suppose
to give the people more efficient
service. Mankato has this form of
commission city government. Some
argue that this form is not demo
cratic; others say that it is real
democracy spelled with a little 3D."
that 1t is permatated with the gen
uine American spirit Of progress
and public welfare.
Another Form of Government
There is another form of COM
mission city government known as
Missile under the home rule amend
ment. Under this mixed form Of
government, cities have each ward
represented on the council by a
man of its own choosing, chosen by
and resident of the ward. I use
man" in the broad sense of en-
| bracing women" And under this
system more offices are filled by
election than under the pure form
of commission government. This
aldermanic or federal plan is what
the Board of Freeholders of Man
kato are seeking to have written
into our city charter through a vote
of the electors of Mankate. .
tGTo1 rfnn the 1rty Nf fha no ~
ter commission, l wish to report to
you as follows, to-wit:
1.-THE charter commission has pro-
posed changes in our city charter
for submission to the electors of the
city, which more important propo-
sails may be grouped under six
| heads, to wit:
One. A return to the aldermanic
form Of city government, with more
of the city officials elective.
Two. A reduction in the salary Of
certain city officials. .
Three. A change in the date of
April to December, with a change in
-Four. A change in handling
contract work of the city. -
Five. A provision making the
appointment of police woman man
datory on the mayor and council.
"Six. And a provision making
special assessments for water mains
assessable according to benefits in.
stead of fiat rate as it now stands
In the charter. e.
"As to a return to the aldermanic
form OF city government: The char
ter commission proposes number
of amendments TO the sections Of
the charter to accomplish this pur-
pose. It, is proposed to have six
now have. AS to the election unit
and the method of electing these
six councilmen, the charter commits
sion proposes to amend sections z,
20 and "a of the charter by the fol-
lowing words, to-wit: But the six
councilmen shall be elected by the
electors of said city from their re-
spective wards Section Z: Follow
ing thes names likewise arranged
shall appear the names of the can
didates for councilmen, in their re-
spectiye wards Section 20; and the
two candidates receiving the high.
est number of votes for councilmen
in their respective wards.
"The quoted statements do not
sufficiently direct any method of
election of councilmen by wards:
we are not advised as to the cleo
ton unit, the allotment OF council
men to the wards, or the residence
qualification of the respective coun-
cilmen.
sThe proposed amendment to
Section 10 of the city charter leaves
the form of the affidavit of candi Z
dates for office and the form OF pc
tition for the placing of names on
the ballot substantially the. same as
before; surely, if the aldermanic
plan is to be submitted to the peo-
Pile for vote, these form must be
changed to meet the aldermanlc
plan Of city government.
Should Not Be Submitted
| .>"I am of the opinion that this
amendment should not be submitted
to the vote OF the people until it is
put into proper shape to convey a
definite plan; the submitted plan
would only lead to confusion II
adopted by the people and would
get nowhere, not even where its
| trainers desire.
"As to reduction of salaries of
certain city officials.
This amendment is so interwov-
en- with the amendment Just dis
cussed that it must stand or fall
with it.
"As to change in the date of hold
ing general city elections: The first
sentence in the proposed amend
ment to Section Of the city char
ter reads as follows, wit: The
official year for the City of Mankato
shall begin on the first Monday in
January and the terms of office OF
the mayor and four councilmen;
and all other officers and appointees
in office in said city. ION the first
Monday in January, 1928, shall cease
and terminated on the election and
qualification Of the council and cleo
tive officers elected at said time.
This is decidedly ambiguous, and a
round about way of providing for
the cutting short the present terms
of city officials.
I'm the proposed amendment to
Section 10 of the city charter the
Judge and special judge of the mu.
nicfpal court have been omitted
from the list of officers to be nom
mated by a primary election; but
no other provision is made for their
nomination. -
This amendment is so interviewer
with the said amendments and its
present form is so faulty that the
submission of the same to the vot-
ers is not warranted.
AS to changing the method OF
handling contract work of the city.
To accomplish this the charter COM
mission has submitted amendments
tn Sections 50. 80. 95 and 81 of the