Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-07-18
Actton OF the Council.


The official proceedings of the city council
yesterday afternoon on the matter OF making
an appropriation of money for the purpose of
aiding the Jewish refugees expelled from
Russia and sent to st. Paul without notice,
VIII be found in another column OF the GLOBE
The question presel ted was an ugly one for
the members OF the council to deal with. The
necessity Tor doing something for the refu-
gees was apparent, but the legal authority for
doing it was wanting. Even more than this,
there is positive prohibition in the charter
against making such an appropriation.
This was the state of affairs
that caused the trouble. After the
reading of the communication from the mayor
setting forth the situation, a resolution ap-
propriating $1,000, or so much thereof as
should be needed, was offered.
Aid. Otis was not prepared to vote for that.
In one or two instances, such as the suffering
| at New Ulm, the council had lodged the law,
but that was in regard to our own people that
we knew, people that were permanent
in the state aud that we were
bound to take care of. These people or whom
this aid is asked are strangers, here TO-DAY
end gone tomorrow. He argued that the
council had no right to make the appropria-
| ton. 1t was illegal, and subjected every
| member voting for it to an Indictment and
| imprisonment. He thought 1t would have
been better for the members OF the chamber of
| commerce to have gone down in their pockets
and paid the money than to have shuffled of
| the responsibility upon the council. He did
| not like that way of doing business.
Mr.. Murray explained the situation of the
| refugees and their necessities, and said the in
| tention was to distribute them around as
| soon as possible, by sending some
| to Minneapolis, saltwater and other places,
and to find work for all they could.
Aid. Dowlan at first thought as Aid. Otis
| had expressed himself, but after going down
and seeing the refugees he had chan ged his
| mind.
| AID. Cornish thought the council had gone
| as far in this kind of legislation as it ought
| to, and, in his opinion, it was time to stop.
He did not like the idea of having these peo-
| pie imposed upon us, nor did he like the idea
OF violating the law as it was proposed
TO do. Some kind of action should be taken
to put stop to this way of sending paLpers to
st. Paul. He did not want to see repetition
OF this business. II was very serious I'M
position. He was not prepared to vote for
| this resolution.
The Rev. Mr.. wechsler, OF
| the Jewish congregation being present,
| was invited to make a statement il he desired
| TO do so. In response he stated in substance
how these refugees came here and explained
| their needs.
Mr.. Otis admitted that the council was put
| in tight place, and that 1t was difficult to
| act He wanted to have the chamber of com
merce understand that it must not again put
| such responsibility upon the council. There
was much more talk OF the same kind, and
| finally Aid Dowlan offered an amendment to
| the effect that the sum appropriated be $500
instead OF 81 COO, This was agreed to, when
| the resolution was adopted
Aid. Otis offered resolution which was
unanimously adopted. directing that railroads
| that brig paupers to st. Paul be punished
! under the ordinance, after which the council
adjourned.