St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1948-02-27
Howard Raps
Burgums Methods
Against Charter

Reports that Alderman Harry p.
Burgum is Openly soliciting anti
charter funds in the city hall" are
another good reason for adoption
Of the proposed new charter"
Charles B. Howard, chairman of
the Charter Commission, declared
today.
(The report Of Burgum's solicita-
ton Of funds for the anti-charter
organization headed by A. C. God
ward, engineering eonsultant, and
A. G. Bastis, Burgum's longtime
antagonist in the City Council, ap-
peared In the Minneapolis Star
Saturday,
"Burgum's high-handed activity
in soliciting funds at the City Hall
IL typical Of the Councils obstruc-
ZIONIST tactics ever since the Char
ter Commission first began It's
work." said Howard.
A number Of employees, inelud-
ing Nathan Harris, City Utilities
Engineer, were threatened with dis
missal by aldermen for having as
sisted the charter commission, he
asserted.
Employees Of the Board Of Pub
lie Welfare, who were asked to run
OF copies Of the first draft Of the
charter on the board multigraph
machine, were told that they would
lose their jobs II they finished the
job, Howard added.
Nov we have one Of the lead
ers Of the Council demanding con-
tributiOns from City Hall person.
mel over whom he will have no such
hold under the new charter" he
explained.
Provisions Of the new charter
which divorce administrative from
legislative functions, he said, will
make II impossible for aldermen
TO exert "just such pressure as
Burgum is reported to be applying
in collections for the fight against
better government for Minneapo-
lis"
He pointed out that Chapter z,
Section TIA specifically prohibits
political activity, as follows:
''No person about to be appoint
cd TO any position in the classified
service Of the city shall sign or
execute q resignation, dated or I'M
dated, in advance Of such appoint
msnt. No person in the service Of
the city shall discharge, suspend,
lay of, reduce in grade or in any
manner change the official rank or
compensation Of any person in such
service, or promise or threaten to
do 80, for Withholding or neglect
ing TO make any contribution Of
money or service or any valuable
thing for any political purpose. No
person in the service Of the city
shall use his official authority to
influence or cOerce the political ac-
ton Of any person or body or to
interfere with any nomination or
election TO public Office, nor, during
his hours Of duty, engage in any
political activities"
Facing the loss Of their present
administrative powers, "a Of the 20
aldermen care missing no bets that
will enable them to continue in
their present dual function" said
Howard.
at must be worth a lot to them
TO keep their hand in," he said, OBJ
serving that their opposition cob
viously means the status quo Is
worth more than the difference be-
tween their present $2,4OO a year
salary and the $4,000 a year they
will get under the new charter"
There's n $1,000 difference
there" he noted. 1.-THE question is
how much more than $1,000 II is
worth to them to keep their powers
Of hiring and firing employees and
deciding who Is entitled TO various
kinds Of licenses"
CHURCH FLASHES
Saturday, Feb. II, WAS hOspitaI