St. Paul daily globe., 1888-08-23
MINNEAPOLIS.
SHOULD CONTINUE REVISING.
The Board of Trade Eliminates
Still More Objectionable Mat

The Board of Trade Eliminates
Still More Objectionable Mat
ter.
The board of trade Yesterday took
step down from the position it has occu-
pied-that of finding the city admins
tration willfully extravagant, whether
the facts bore it out or not. The board
has been in the attitude Of pre-
pairing an Indictment on which
citizens ticket could have some ex-
cuse for living, and there have even
been some who were unkind enough to
say Mr.. Nimocks, in his report. was
building highway into the Office of
comptroller. But yesterday the board
took middle ground. In the report, as
submitted after revision, was this para
graph;
The report made by the city engineer shows
that the expenditures for sewer, curb and
gutter, pavement, bridges, ETC., Is consider
ably In excess of the figures OF the comptrol-
Ter. Your committee are Informed that these
discrepancies between the reports OF the
two officers are covered by outstanding obll-
cations which had not been met or adjusted
by the time the copptroller's report was
set the deductions made from the figures
Compiled by Mr. Nimocks as originally
printed.
: Comptroller Holbrook showed its
falsity by producing the engineers
figures, which show $1,000 in excess Of
his own. Mr.. NimOckS was absent, and
until he came in several members were
opposed to striking out the paragraph.
In the meantime, characteristic board
of trade discussion ensued, in which the
Eighth ward matter was touched upon.
Finally Mr.. Nimocks appeared, and be-
ing unable to dispute the correctness of
Mr.. Holbrook'S figures, the paragraph
was eliminated. The following para
graph was also, after long discussion,
stricken out:
] have been asked what would do to
bring about 8 change. First would appoint
q strong committee of taxpayers to visit ST.
Paul when the state board of equalization
meet, and have the county valuation cut
down at least 25 per cent. would have both
political parties nominate only such men to
fill our offices as are pledged to do all in their
power to bring about reform.
The greatest discussion was had over
the following, which was in the original
report and retained there by the re-
ViSory cOmmitteei
Iwould require every candidate for any
state. county or city office, or for the state
legislature, to sign an agreement to this effect
before he should receive a nomination, and
if he succeeded In getting 1t without, by
packing caucus. would follow him up at
the polls and defeat his election. l would
require all political parties to place in their
platform plank pledging the party to re-.
duction of expenditures.
Capt. Merriman made quite speech
in which he opposed any candidate
whom it might be necessary to pledge
in advance. The power and ability of
candidate should be their owu guaran-
tee. Judge Atwater believed in a re-
form administration, but did not think
the board should go further than to
show that the reform was necessary.
John De Leittre closed the discus
sion with a few sensible remarks: The
matter of city extravaganza did not
stand upon permanent improvements,
which people and press had denounced.
The question was whether the expense
of maintaining the city government was
relatively large, Finally this para
graph was stricken out and in its place
was put a recommendation that the
people support for Office only men whose
character was sufficient recommended
tiOu