Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-12-11

Question.
The meeting of the board OF directors
Of the chamber of commerce yesterday
morning was net as fully attended IS
usual
our CITY FINANCES.
The secretary Of the chamber read the
following communication from Comptrol-
Isr Roche, in regard TO city finances:
Caz1rraoL1EG's OFFICE, Cry HALL,
ST. PAUL, Dec. 8, 1858.
B7r. Wm. p. Murray, City Attorney:
DEAs STE: The charter requires tbs city
comptroller annually to present to the
common council an estimate Of the
amoant required TO be levied by direct tax
upon the real and personal estate within
tie corporate limits of the city of st. Paul,
for the purpose of paying the interest and
pal upon the bonded debt IS they
mature, and the general support Of the
city government.
Bat it does not require that estimate
made n miuutg detail, as he has always
made it, knowing that if it were made in
the aggregate, as the state and county es-
Inmates are made, has estimate would be
severely criticised.
Il appears TO me to be the pure essence
OF GOODNESS for any man, or any body OF
men to ask the city comptroller to 'sho8
up" why the tax payers of the city of Saint
Paul have to pay $1,060,3lG.33 after ne has
already done so, so far as the city OF Saint
Paul is concerned, in the amount directly
under his control. If any taxpayer or
citizen will take the trouble to read the
Pioneer Press of September 80,
1888, or the Daily GLOBE, in which
- ,-l,r toiJ
he will find nothing covered, but every
item as clean cut as any honest man should
expect.
The total city tax levy for state, city,
county and school purposes, figured upon
the assessed valuation of $43.577,891 real
q d personal estate has been 1pportione
by the county auditor as follows, viz:
County ................,.., ....Sill,t9o ~
state. fo,tfo "a
Board of Education. ............... 26i, 467 81
City. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. 602,6l2 %
Grad total tag Sl,06O,3i6 SO
The above figures show that ST. Paul is
the lowest taxed city of any Importance in
the country, not excepting the beautiful
and v ell managed city of Detroit, which,
until recently was thought to be foremost;
also considering the extremely conserva-
al estate, (Thich is about 40 per cent. of
the cash yAlue) and her gigantic advance
ment.
There is no city in the country where
the city debt, receipts and disbursement
o public moueys by city officers are pQb-
H5hej for the benefit of The public, as that
af St. Paul.
It is true that the INFINITELY itemized
regular annual reports have not as yet
BON made to the council, but are progress
ing, You are aware Of the almost super
human duties placed upon the city comp
troller by legislation, and that q fruitless
effort was made with the legislature last
season to give authority to the common
council to authorjzs the employment Of
necessary assistance. SO the matter re-
manned until recently, when tbs question
of allowing a salary for the mayors secre-
tary developed the fact that the old law
was repealed last session by some legarde-
mainist giving the power to the common
council to allow it. 1t is probable that the
council will authorize the necessary assist
ance in the opening of the new year,
whether or not the detailed reports will be
produced and the printer made happy.
Very truly yours,
JOHN ". ROCHE,
City comptroller.
The reading of the report from the
comptroller caused some discussion, and
Mr.. Lee moved that the chamber recon-
mend the council to employ some one to
assist Mr.. Roche, provided assistance was
really needed. He intimated, however,
that there were reasons why there might
be desire to not hurry up the publication
of the comptroller's report. Captain Cas-
tie favored furnishing help, and On motion
OF Mr.. Gilman the whole report was re-
ferred to the committee on taxes.
THE BOARD OF TRADE.
The building committee made the follow
ing report, and the same is to be trans
ferred 10 the board of trade:
Tothe Board of Directors of the st. Paul
Chamber of Co nmevca:
GENTLEMEN: The building committee
of the chamber of commerce respectfully
report that they have had under consider
alton the question of leasing the room,
indicated upon the plans and specifications
of the new chamber OF commerce building
as the board of trade room, to the st.
Paul board of trade, and recommend that
the following resolution respecting the
same De adopted, viz.
Resolved, That the St. Paul chamber of
commerce will lease to the st. Paul board
of trade, the room designated as the board
of trade room, for the term of five years
from the date of the completion Of the
building for the sum of eighteen hundred
dollars $1,000 per annum, payable month
ly, at the expiration of each month-this
proposition to include heating, and the
board of trade to have the option of renew
ing said lease at the expiration of each
term of five years, upon rental to be
agreed upon by the respective parties, or
in case of disagreement, to be fixed by
appraisers, of which each party shall
choose one, and in the event that the two
disagree, a third to be appointed by them,
and the agreement of two thereof to be
tiaal. Respectfully submitted,
JOHN B. SANBoRN,
WILLIAM LINDEKE,
PETER BERKEY,
j. D. LUDDEN,
Building Committee.
THE NEW COURT HOUSE.
Two weeks ago Col. J. Il. Davidson Of
fared the following resolution which uas