Daily globe., 1879-06-06

to report by resolution at 1870 p. NJ. this
day.
Adjourned.
WA1. RHODES,
President of Council
rnos A. PHENDERGAsr,
City Clerk.
Regular Meeting.
ST.. PAUL, June 3, 1879
President Rhodes in the chair.
Present-Ald. Allen, Bell. Dowlan, Grace,
Griggs Minea, O'Connor, Smith, Sanborn,
MIR. presidcnt-1O.
COMMUNICATIONS.
From the City Comptroller
ST. PAUL June 3, 1879.
To the Honorable the President and Common
Council of the city of st. Paul:
GENTLEMEN: The city charter does not per-
NIT the lcvying 4 tax for an amount i'll excess
of the $40, 900 Legislative appropriation for the
erection and completion of the contemplated
market house at u cost of $5S, $40, not iuclud-
ing painting and glazing, heating sewerage,
plumbing. etc, which will probably cost
Sll sou more, making tot, excess of $50, 600
over the appropriation, which must be pro-
vidcd for before a. contract can be properly
executed.
In the matter of lcvying taxes for the ''gen-
eral fund.- the city charter is very clear as to
the powers of your honorable body, rs shown
by the following sections of chapter i've viz:
See. 3. ITO provides general fund to pay
the general current ana incidental expenses of
The city including salaries of officers. police,
st,~.t force, fire department, lighting the city,
water Department., printing and stationery,
AMI for IL contingent fund not exceeding ten
Thousand dollars, and to provide for the pres
ervation of the health Of the city; but the
amount of money to be raised for the ;sbove
purposes shall only be SO much as will be
necessary, in addition to the amount received
from licenses, fines, markets, and other Incl
dental sources for the economical admin!stra-
tion of the affairs of the city, and shall not ex
cecd ten (l0) mills on the dollar of the assessed
value of the taxable property of the city; and
the money SO raiscd shall not be erpene1edt for oay
other purpose than aboUe State}.'
Sec. 4. Tho said levy shall be made by the
said Common Council on or before the first day
of November of each year, etc, ETC.
Sec 26. The tax to be levied Under Sec
tion four for the general fund.- shall embrace
the following specific objects, which shall be in
cluded and itemized in the 2 ,lual
report of the City Comptroller,
quired by section eight of chapter three
of this act, to-wit: Salaries of city officers,
police department, expenses of city hall, fire
Department. board of health, water depart
ment, street lamp department, contingent
fund, and for such other specific purp.ee
purposes as are prescribed by laws heretofore
enacted and still in force, aforesaid, and the
taxes levied and collected for such specific OBJ
ject or objects, shall be applied only to defray
the expenditures, together with the arrearages
due and unpaid for such specific object or OBJ
jects, which arrearagcs or Indebtedness shall be
provided for in the next tax levy
All revenues other than taxes, such as licenses,
fines, market collections, etc, are already ap-
propriatctl by section 3 to the ''general fund.-
to pay Tor the specific objects mentioned there
in-thcrefore your honorable body cannot 9th
erwise ordain.
The legal commission in the revision of
the city charter displayed much wisdom in
framing CHAPTER five, relating to finances and
taxation, in guarding against the levying of
excessive taxes for purposes not prescribed by
law.
The city of st. Paul financially ranks with
the great cities and holds the palm OF being
the least taxed city in the Union-only thir-
teen (l3) mills on the dollar for all purposes
including State, county and school tax-bascd
upon 1923 COS, ,000, assessed valuation of real
and personal estate, at about fifty per cent. of
the cash valuation.
Lo,D tGres, without impairing the finances
and efficiency of the city government should
be the aim and pride of all having charge of
public affairs. Your honorable body has shown
a desire to do this in the reduction of salaries
which is exceedingly commendable; similar
economy in other matters will be productive of
much good
In place of the ordinance introduced at your
last regular meeting--requiring tax levy of
one and onc-half 90 mills for the excess of
the authorized appropriation for the con-
sruction of the new market house, most re-
specially suggest the passage of al ordinance
appropriating much of the delinquent taxes
years-applicable to the general fund.-"
and not otherwise appropriated requr-
ing stipulation in the contract
that in case the money is not in the treasury in
consequence of the said tax or any part there
of remaining unpaid, at the completion of the
contract-then the contractor shall be entitled
to interest at the rate of per cent. per annuni
payable scni-annually, upon whatever balance
may be due upon the contract, from the date
Of allowance by common council.
1t is probable that q sufficient amount from
such delinquent taxes will be in the city treas
ury, applicable to pay the contract, before the
completion of the market house. Very respect
fully, your obcdient servant,
JOHN W. ROCHE, City Comptroller.
From L. Il. HuddlestOn end others
Remonstrance against proposed sewer or
Watashaw street between Iglehart street anC
College avenue.
Referred to Board of Public Works.
From N. Rosenfeld-
Asking to have license transferred to .!
West Third street.
Referred to c. mmittee on License.
From D. w. Wellman for Mary r. Well
man
Protesting against the proposed chang
, of grade on Marshall avenue.
Referred to Aldermen Of Fourth Ward
From John Schillo and others
Asking the Council to order change in
the present plan of grading Park avenue.
Referred to Committee on Streets an
City Engineer.
c. NN,+
Giving notice of having laid street main
and located hydrents as ordered by Chief Q
Fire Department..
r 'ferred to Comptroller.
From Board of Education, City of ST. Paul
Presenting statement of moneys nece:
sary for support of the public schools.
Referred to Committee Oh Ways an
Means, City Attorney and Comptroller.
From John G.. Hinlzel and others
Protesting against the grade of Hol
avenue.
Referred to Aldermen of the Fourth War
From Samuel Mayall--
Asking to have tho construction of sid
walks on the west side Of Sibley street fro
Fourth to Fifth streets, delayed for the perit
of four months.
Referred to the Board of Public Work
with request that prayer of petitioner
granted.
From the German-American Bank, the Sa
ings Bank Of st. Panl, and the Farmel
E Mechanics Bank
Presenting bonds as security for none
deposited OF to be deposited.
Referred to City Attorney.
REPORTS OF OFFICERS.
Of City Comptroller
OfF1CE OF THE CITY CONTROLLER, |
ST. PAUL, June 8, 1879.
To the Honorable the President and Comm
Council of the City of st. Paul.
The attached communication of the St. Pc
Water Company relative to 9, lob feet OF NJ
mains laid is probably correct, but have
means of knowing. The matter should be
terred to Engineer Sewal for measureme
and. at the same time, prepare map showi
the location of all street mains, hydran
measurements, etc., as the city is paying
hundred dollars per mile per annum t.
Water Company for street mains upon ab'
:,,r+oo, ,,,;lns Tho said man ShOuld a