Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-07-02
CHAMBER OF C0MMERcE.


CHAMBER OF COMMERCE..
The Boom Question--Why the High School
Was Not Submitted to the People--Not
Favorable to the Construction of a New
Court House.
At the meeting of the chamber of commerce
yesterday morning NJ. D. Miller was elected
director to fill vacancy.
Mr.. McClung, from the committe appointed
to ascertain the feasibility of establishing
boom at st. Paul reported that the committee
had examined the river from the city for mile
above Fort Smelling. They found satisfac-
tory site above the old boom, where they esti-
mated that boom could be built for 81 900.
Ihe only question now was whether the log
men above the falls would CO. operate with the
movement
The committee was granted further time to
complete their report.
THE HIGH SCHOOL.
Mr.. Banning from the committee appointed
to ascertain why the bill providing for high
school was not submitted to the people, pre-
sented the following report:
On the eighth day of March, 1875 the fol-
lowing recited act was passed by the legsla-
ture.
Here follows a copy of the BILL
AS will be seen by the provisions of the law
above quoted, the question rs to whether the
bonds were to be issued should have been sub
mltted to the voters of the county at the late
spring election. As this was not done, they
have been deprived of their right to express
their opinion of the question, and it becomes inn
portant to know who is responsible. By law
and the practice in such cases it would seem
to have been clearly the duty of the city coun-
Gil and officials to have given the proper notice
and done all other things necessary to submit
the question to the voters of the county in ac-
cordance with the provisions of the act.
1t is not the purpose of this report to explain
why this was not done. Whether it was through
neglect or from some motive not yet explained
the fact is plain that the voters of the county
have by this course been deprived of their
right Of expressing their opinion at the ballot
box IN regard to measure in which all our
people have deep interest.
A committee of this chamber, after examina-
ton, reported that the building now used for
high school purposes is utterly unfit.
The State medical board have pronounced it
fatally unhealthy and all intelligent opinion
has condemned it as being unsightly unsafe
and unwholesome for both children and teach
ers, and large portion of our citizens desire to
emphasize this general opinion by their action
at the ballot box. 1t is said that others of our
citizens would prefer-rather than incur any
additional taxation no matter how small-to
gardless of the health Of the children, and all
other considerations involved. If this be so,
then such class had right to express this opin-
ion at the ballot box and the failure to submit
the question to vote of the citizens of the
county would seem to have been grave error
on the part OF those who are responsible.
w. l.. BANNING, Chairman.
Mr.. Lee thought it was the business of this
committee to have called upon the school board
to submit the bill to the people. He thought
the salary of the school board was SO small that
they could not attend to their duties, and he
asked the secretary to read the law instructing
the treasurer of the school board to lend the
money and make monthly report thereon.
He said this had not been done and proceeded
at some length to comment upon the manner
in which the school board did their business.
He wanted to know whose children were being
educated in this high school. He wanted 20
know what was to be done with the 100000
asked by the school board this year.
Mr.. Banning thought it scarcely necessary to
reply. Like all men with great minds Mr.. Lee
covered great deal Of ground. If it came
from any one else he should say it was mali
cious. MIR. Lee does not reply to his Ban
nidg's) inquiry why the question was not
submitted to the people, but goes into an
attack on the school board. What he BAN
nlng) wanted was to ascertain who was respon-
sible for the failure to submit the law to the
eople. He had consulted with members of
the school board and found they claimed that
they had nothing to do with it, that it was the
duty of the city council.
Mr.. Murray said MIR. Banning should address
a, note to the board of education, asking Why
they paid no attention to it. No member of
the board, and no citizen took the trouble to
get copy OF the law and ask the council to
submit 1t to the people. He (Murray) believed
Mr. Banning was the only man who wanted the
matter submitted because the others all said it
was sure to be defeated and they did not wish
to have the high school interests damaged bv
such defeat.
James Smith, Jr., said that the law required
The act to be submitted to the voters of the
county. This of itself rendered the bill mega
tory, Tor there was no county election at the
time OF the city election.
Mr. Lee stated that the matter was discussed
py the board OF education, and that they decid-
ed they did not want to submit it to the people.
As to the normal matter he thought they were
assembled to look after public interests, and
he would take no notice of them.
Capt Blakely moved that the matter be in
definitely postponed. Carried.
NEW COURT HOUSE.
Mr.. Murray moved the following resolution:
nesotae0, That IN the opinion of the chamber
OF commerce the time has arrived when action
should be taken for the erection of new court
mousse and for the purpose of bringing the
subject before the public, it is recommended
that legislation be procured to enable the voters
OF Ramsey county to vote upon the question
OF OF raising 100000 each year by taxation, for
the purpose of building a new court house
until sufficient sum shall have been collected
TO pay Tor such building as may be approved
Mr.. McClung moved the indefinite postpone
ment OF the resolution, claiming that this was
no time to inaugurate expenditures which
would cost half million. The motion pre-
vailed by l6 yeas to z nays.
The board then adjourned.