St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-01-27

izing the law department of the city govern
ment in accordance with the ideas expressed
be referred to the legislative com
mittee and the same was adopted.
On motion the special committee was in
structed to include in the bill TO be drawn, q
clause to the effect that no board shall pay
any salary to any city officer for any service.
The comptrOer's salary was next taken
up. Mr.. McCiung thought So, 900 was not
/ enough Mr.. Cochran wanted to know by
what authority the board of education paid
Mr.. Ruche q salary, and Gen. Sanborn an
swered that it was done without law. MIR.
| Cochran wanted the law changed, ana the
comptroller forbidden to receive anything
from the board of education. Mr.. McClung
moved to make the salary 81, 500. Mr.. Dris-
! coll asked Mr.. Roche how much he now re-
ceiyed, and he replied SO, 500. Mr.. Open
/ helm moved that the salary be fixed at
! $4,000. Captain Berkey wanted to know il
the business Of the chamber was to do moth
| ing but raise salaries. 1t looked to him as
though the board was reversing things. He
would like to know if Mr.. Kelly or MIR Lin
deke, or any other merchant in St. Paul was
raising salaries. Mr.. Kelly replied that his
men were paid better than any county officer
is. Finally Mr. Oppenheim's motion was
adopted and the salary was fixed ut So, 500.
In this connection Mr.. Cochran offered the
following, which was adopted:
ReSolesd, That the special committee to
whom was referred the Legislative necessity
/ for the organization Of the law department
of the city be requested also to provide for
such legislation as will prevent any city or
county officer from receiving additional COM
pensation beyond his regular salary from
any city or county board.
When the city treasurer clause was reached
there was more music. In reply to Mr..
Kelly, Mr.. Roche stated that
the salary of the treasurer
was 50, 900, but during the past year the
total salary including everything, was &c.,
73O 80. The reason for this is that the treas
urer is allowed 8 per cent. on the first
500, 900 collected, per cent. an the second
500, 600 and per cent. on all collections
thereafter. The collections were between
5000, 900 and 500, 900. Mr.. Cochran thought
the board was getting light. He was glad to
find out about the fees of the treasurer as ex-
planned by Mr.. Roche. 1t was understood
that Mr.. Refs was keeping a set
of books of titles in his office which
he claimed as his own. He argued against
this and thought it improper. An officer
ought not to be allowed to prepare books and
keep them away from the public, and run the
office so that It could be made necessary to
keep large lot OF clerks. The system was
execrahle Mr.. Roche made an explanation
about the books and how they came to be
kept Geu. Bishop wanted to know by what
right the treasurer made up those books.
Oppenhein-''He bought them" Gen.
Bisnop-Yes, but the city paid the treasurer
for bis time and that of bis clerks while he
was making the books. Mr.. Cochran.
while he admitted very freely that
the treasurer's Office was well con-
Quoted maintained that it was outrageous
that the business of the city should be kept
in a set OF private books that could be moved
from the Office at any moment, Gen. Bishop
in sisted that some system should be adopted
10 prevent citv officers from making. using
or carrying off private records. Mr.. Delano
favored a fixed salary. The treasurer TO pay
his own clerks. 1t should be stated in justice
To Mr.. Refs, the treasurer, that the books
owned privately by the treasurer are abstract
books, plats and indexes not necessary to be
kept by him, although all information from
these books amounting to several thousand
dollars worth Of work per year,
have been furnished gratis, all other
books pertaining to the city
finances, all account books, and every book
required by law to be kept, belong to the city
exclusively, and are subject to examination
at any time. Gen. Bishop thought 1t ought
to be settled who il the owner of these books.
He desired to have the matter recommitted,
aud it was so disposed Of
The salaries of the county commissioners
were fixed according to the report. So also
were those OF the clerk OF the district court
and the register Of deeds.
ROBERT STREET BRIDGE-BoNDs.
The long discussion on the report Of the
committee having been ended, Mr.. J. II.
Drake started another subject that warmed
the board up in a very lively manner. He said
that he had determined that before he would
favor the Issuing of any more bonds he would
insist on knowing the amount of bonds asked
sor. He desired to have an expression of
opinion from the chamber as to the fair
grounds aud also the Robert street bridge.
Tie was opposed to extravaganza at this time
of business and financial distress. In re-
Spouse To a question from Mr.. Drlscoll, Mr..
Roche gave the bonded Indebtedness OF the
board OF eduratlon, which was $3.50, 600, and
sos. 600 floating Indebtedness. Mr.. Me
Cnrdy said the county Indebtedness was
S2l4,0O0 Gen. Bishop directed attention Of
the board to the fact that the Robert stree,
bridge bonds viii be $500, 900, DAYTON bluff
hridgcS50O, 900 and the up town bridge $780,
900. Mr.. nriscoll supplemented this state
ment with the information that the amount
of Indebtedness OF the city, county, and
board of education was over 1900, 600
The excitement increased. Mr.. Open helm
moved to adjourn. Voices-NO, no. Mr..
Delano wanted n recess. Mr.. Oppe helm
In sisted Op his motion. Conrad GOTHAM
You can't bulldOze anybody around here.
You crowded the bridge business through.
Al this point everyone was on his feet and
the excitement WIS increasing. Dr. Day
Jumped forward with point OF order aud he
was followed by McClung who was also load
ed With points" AT this point Mr.. Coch-
ran formulated a resolution he had previ-
uusy Offered, but which had been partially
lost sight Of, 10 the effect that In considera-
lion Of the large Indebtedness Of the city the
chamber is opposed to issuing any bonds,
at the present time for the purpose
OF bridging the Mississippi. On
the roll being called 1t was found that the
vote was as follows:
Yeas-Barney, Berkey, Bishop. Cochran,
Davidson, Day, Driscol. Fogg. Gilman,
Goizisn. Grbben, Hodson, Ingersoll, Kelly,
Ludden, Nichols Ruudlett, Srabury-lS.
Noes-Caste. Delauo, Fairvhild, Liudeke,
McClung, Merrill, Moon, Moves, Oppeuheim,
Quinby. SOmers, Mr.. Prcsideut-l2.
Mr.. DrisCol moved that the SECRETARY be
instructed to signify to the Legislative COM
mittee the action uf the chamber Mr.C4stle
moved to amend by instruCiing the secretary
to communicate To the legislative delegation
the former action Of the chamber on this
subject. The amendment was lost and the
motion ~ Mr.. Ddscoll vas carried. All this
time there Was great excitement, and various
members were eudeavoriug 10 make motions
while the president vas rapping for order.
Il WIS not a diguifed body at all but stormy
gathering, though \ very good naturrd one.
motion was made by Gen. Bishop that