Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-12-28
NEEDED LEGISLATION.

NEEDED LEGISLATION
Joint Meeting of City and County
Ohacials to Consider the Liquidation
Needed for the Better Government Of
the City-The Fire Dcpartment-The Re-
volving Fund-The Question OF Salaries.
. Arrangements were made for holding q
meeting last evening at the council
chamber Of the committee on taxes of the
chamber of commerce, similar commit
tee from the county commissioners, and
the committee on legislation of the city
council, to consult as to what legislation is
needed for the city of St. Paul and the
county of Ramsey. The attendance was
not as large as it ought to have been,
and the business really transacted was
not very much. The council was
represented by Aid. Smith, Otis, Dowlan
and Van Slyke. Capt. Berkey alone held
up the dignity Of the chamber of COM
MERGE, while Mr.. Kreh did the same for
the county commissioners. City Attorney
Murray and City Treasurer Refs were also
present. But little was done more than
to hold general talk over the matter.
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT..
The first matter suggested for considera-
ton after the election of Capt. Berkey as
chairman, was that of the chief engineer
of the fire department.. Aid. Otis opend up
the subject by saying that one of the most
important matters to be considered is that
of obtaining such legislation as will enable
the city to pay $1,000 for competent man
to act as chief engineer of the fire depart
ment.
Captain Berkey thought we had too
many independent boards.
Mr.. Murray stated that most of the older
cities had abolished these boards after try
ing them for while, and he supposed we
should have to go through the same ex-
perience.
Capt. Berkey thought our board of pub
lie works was necessary, and he also
thought the same about the water commits
sion for the present time, but by and by
we ought to get along without the latter.
Aid. Dowlan thought our fire commits
sioners, though good men, did not under
stand their business, and condemned them
for keeping the present man in position
as superintendent of the fire alarm. In
this connection he spoke severely about
the improperly of striking the fire alarm
as it was struck yesterday noon.
Aid. Otis, to bring the matter up, made
motion that it be recommended to our
delegation in the legislature to secure such
legislation as will enable the city to pay
| the chief engineer of the fire department
$1,000, the assistant engineer $500, and
the superintendent of the fire alarm
| $500, and the motion was adopted with
but little discussion.
Aid. Van Slyke inquired whether it was
worth while to increase the salaries while
| we have oh limited department. and 80
few men, to which Mr.. Dowlan replied that
the more meu-and material you give the
present chief engineer the worse it would
be, as he was wholly incompetent.
REVOLVING FUND.
Aid. Smith said it was absolutely neces-
sary that the revolving fund should be
100000.
Mr.. Murray said there was anotf or
trouble. Mr.. Roche, the comptroller, cannot
countersign contract till the money is in
the treasury, and the board of public works
cannot make the assessment till the comp
troller countersigns the contract. The re-
| suit is as in the Fort street
improvement. In that case the
contractor has done the work, but as
the money is not in the treasury
the assessment cannot be made and he can
not be paid. At the same time the city is
paying him 8 per cent. interest on the con
tract price. The subject was dropped
without further argument with the under
standing that the city attorney, the presi-
dent of the board of public works and the
comptroller would consider the matter and
report what is best to be done.
INCREASING A SALARY.
Mr.. Murray expressed the idea that the
clerk of the board of public works ought
to be paid more salary. On suggestion of
Mr.. Otis, Mr.. Murray made motion that
the salary of the clerk of
the board be raised to $1,000,
and that the board employ such other help
as is necessary. Mr.. Otis thought 1,80O
not too mach. Mr.. Murray said the pres
emit clerk is a very efficient one and to a
certain extent he was the board. On a.
vote being taken the motion was carried !.
MISCELLANEOUS.
IOm tul6 Iluto 10 tuo 0uu VI tuo m00C-
ing no business was transacted but gen.
eral talk was INDUCED in in regard to vari-
GUS matters. good deal of complaint
was made about the plat commission ac-
cepting plats whore the streets of the ad-
dition do not conform to the streets of the
city, and desire to have the commission
abolished was more than once expressed.
In regard to the abstract clerk it was
generally conceded that the present incum-
bent of that Office is an invaluable man
and that his pay is altogether too small.
Aid. Van Slyke was in favor of reducing
the income of the clerk of court and offered
number of reasons for thinking so.
Mr.. Krch, made quite lengthy state
ment of the way public business was trans
acted by the county commissioners. The
way the money went out for roads all over
the county was fearful, and still, in many
parts of the county there are no roads.
Mr.. Murray explained how it was done.
N. WALTER.
Wy TTH% 4