St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-10-04
Citizens Confer With the Al
dermen on an Important
Matter.
Comptroller Roche Will Not
Permit Everybody to In
spect His Books.
Reduction of School AppoP-
tionments and Other
Local Items.
Charges of Extravaganza and
Mismanagement Are
Freely Made.

City government anu Guy cApCHViIuAN
were the theme of an animated discus
sion in the council chamber last even
ing. The meeting was called by the
committee of ways and means. and Its
object was the reduction of the tax levy
for the ensuing year. Citizens were
invited to attend and vent their opin-
ions. and this invitation was taken adj
vantage of by MeSSrs. P. Berkey, j. >.
McCardy, E. j. HOdgson, w. n.
Bell and K. p. Cullen. President
Postlethwaite, Supt. Taylor and Secre-
tary DreheT, of the board OF education;
were in attendance, as were several
county commissioners. AID. sullivan
presided. and representing the council
were Aid. Lefthauser, Cullen, Sanborn,
Minea. Book, Yoerg, and City Attorney
w. =. Murray.
COMPTROLLER Roche once more placed
before the committee his estimate OF
tax levy for the coming year.
Aid Sauborr-One word before we enter
into this discussion. As far as the council
and myself are concerned, We are anxious to
reduce this levy if we can; and l say ms 70
members of the board of education, whom
we ask to assist us. Our promise is to make
them such appointments as they ma abso-
lutey necessary, and | am ready TO DO tnat;
bat hope they Will be able 10 meet US IN
some Wav The council VIII probably be
able TO reduce the street and sewer estimate,
and with the assistance of the county com
misSioners and board of education we may
make the levy more satisfactory 10 those who
object 10 the increase.
i ! McCardy-Is it requisite that the
money for rebuilding Wabasha street bridge
should be placed in one years tax levy:
City Attorney Murray-IeS. sir.
Mr.. McCardy-Is there anything IN ne
law to prevent the city issuing bonds TOR the
rebuilding of that bridge!
CITY Attorney Murray-We have no author
ity TO issue bonds, except where they are pro-
Yided for by law
MIR. McCardy-It is proposed 10 increase
the fund for the street and sewer force by
SI43,0O0. WHAT reason is there for that III
crease: -
Comptroller Roche-The August pay roll
figured So, 600 and the estimate Is based
UnOu that sum for ten months OF the year.
The street force is continually on the in
crease, and the whole trouble Is When a
street Is graded and paved it passes over to
the care of the city.
Mr.. McCardy-Now, Mr.. Murray. don you
think YOU could get the Legislature to allow
you to issue bonds for rebuilding Nabasha
street bridge:
CITY Attorney Murray-I don't know. l
should not like to risk that What Is the cost
of the bridge:
Controller Roche-Sl55,O aO understood.
CITY ATTORNEY Murray-There is $4,000
coming back to us from the Omaha;
Capt Berkey-Do you intend pulling down
the piers?
CITY Attorney Murray-Yes. sir: he will
have to- They are not strong enough and
large enough for the bridge we are going to
build.
Mr.. McCardy-Il is pretty hard matter to
get information, at least, find it so. We
come here: we have an immense array of
figures placed before us, the truth OF which
do not question. The fact is, there is too
much truth in them. The govern
ment of the city is costing u, US
are proposing TO increase our levy this com
ing year at a rate that will make Rome
howl" before you get through win II. rms
is done in the face of the fact that times are
getting pretty hard. have called on some OF
the city officers for the purpose OF looking
at the books. Some | have seen
and some l have not. OF this 1
will speak later, but | wish now to draw at
tention TO this fact: For the sewer: r.; si ao
walk and paving on Dayton avenue $500
was collected from the property owners.
The ei giueers expenses OH this improve
ment were vouched at $4,000. and the treas
urer's tees for collection S1,629. The con
tractors for the work on Dayton avenue
were paid $4,000. less the 10 per
cent usually withheld for certain mum.
Der of years. With regard to the $4,000
balance. | have searched but failed to find
how
1t has been paid out indlscrimlnalely. III
there has been too much money collected. it
ought TO 20 back to the men who paid 1t into
the treasury. Dayton avenue Is not the only
one where ibis feature presented Itself, as
found in the paving of Tenth and Rice
streets similar conditions. Ii strikes me
the city officials are not fair with US. There
is a book that comes to light to-day. 1t Is the
city comptroller report Tor the term endlng
Jan I. SSS right at the very time we want
to conn are notes for making Il tax levy for
ihe current year. Ii is too late 10 wade
through all this matter to get nj the lniorma
ton we want. 1t strikes me that there is a
little mismanagement III the affairs or
our city government. Wherever there is
concealment there is mismanagement.
went to the city complrOllers Office to-day
to get some information. | asked the worthy
comptroller 10 let me look at the ledger OF
the city and | was refused point blank. l
was refused permission to look At that book !.
| can only account for that III one of two
ways: Either the book does not exist, or
there is something the. don't want Inc or
any other taxpayer to see. Mr.. McCardy
proceeded to make inquiries concerning the
sinking fund
Comptroller Roche-The sinking fund is
provided every year TO this extent.
Mr. McCardy-Mr. Chairman, / have the
floor and others must wait until get
through. Mir. McCardy continued that there
was some hedging with regard to the sink
ing fund.
Comptroller Roche explained that Mr.. Nc
Cardy visited his office and was treated most
courteously.
Chairman Sullivan-What about the
ledger:
COMPTROLLER ROche--We have got the
| ledger, nut with regard to it felt that Mr..
| McCardy was a little over oticiOus.
Mr. McCardy-Is there such q document in
the comptroller's Office as Il ledger of the city
| of ST. Paul:
! Comptroller Roche-There is.
Mr.. McCardy-Is it book that shows the
assets and liabilities of the city like any other
! business ledger:
! Comptroller Roche-Yes, sir.
! Mr.. McCardy-That being the case why
! should be deniel the privilege OF seeing it?
Comptroller Roche-I explained that just
/ now.
Mr.. McCardy-I did not catch the explana-