St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-01-30
Freeman P. Talks Practical
Reform to the Hennepin
County Delegation.
He Intends Introducing a Bill
Cutting the Number Of AL
dermen to Seventeen.
The Police Commission, Too,
He Will Seek to Sweep
From the Earth.
District Court Judges to Have
Their Salaries Raised to
$4,000 a Year.

A large representative delegation
from Hennepin county journeyed to st.
Paul last evening. aud in the caucus
room at the capitol held joint meeting
with the members of the senate and
house of representatives from that
county. Senator Clough was chairman,
and Representative Smith secretary.
The object of the meeting was to dis
cuss bills relating to increasing the
salaries of Hennepin county officials. A
spirited opposition was raised to the
proposed increase. Judge Atwater
and j. b. Bassett led the opposition.
The first bill was that in regard to the
district judges, raising their salaries
from 81, 500 to $4,000 per annum. This
| passed on a vote of tWenty-nine for and
twenty-one against. Representative
Underwood thought that some legisla-
ton was required in relation to the for
FIXTURES in the municipal court. At
present these forfeitures were appropri-
ated by the law library of the bar asso-
citation. He suggested that the money
should go into the city treasury. A
large number Of attorneys present
kicked against this proposition. The
and law students, any deserved all the
| support it got. "BesideS," added one
attorney, ''the forfetures are meree
bagatelle."
| 1.-THE sum received last year." chimed
| Representative Underwood, was
| $1,000"
The ststement was 'pooh-poohed."
and it was authoritatively stated that
| but few hundred dollars were received
| yearly. Chairman Clough interrupted
further discussion by bringing up the
bill to increase the county attorneys
salary from So. 200 to $1,000, and provid-
ing the sum of $1,000 for clerk hire.
J. b. Bassett-I move that 81, 200 be
allowed him for house rent. Laugh
! ter.
Judge Atwater said before the last
! election the committee of the board of
trade had an interview with the repre-
sentatives of both sides in regard to re-
form and retrenchlnent. A large num-
| Der pledged themselves to be in favor
of retrenchment and reform, and it was
| because of these pledges he supported
the Republican party. He, therefore,
asked: why did not these officers say
before they were elected they would
not accept these offices unless their
| salaries were raised. The peo-
| pie did not demand them
| TO do it. The men sought the Offices;
| the people did not call the men; and if
to-day they don't want to fill these Of
fees they shall be filled in twentyfour
| by as good and true men Ill Hennepin
county as themselves. We have got
hundred of them, and they are all ready
to accept these Offices" Laughter.
County Attorney JamiSon gave two
reasons why the increase was necessary
| in his salary. First, he was underpaid;
second, clerk was requisite to attend
| the examinations in the municipal court.
| He had more criminal work than any
other attorney, yet Judge Egan, of
Ramsey, received $1,000 per annum, and
it was proposed to give his deputy $4,000
| and clerk S1,2C0.
The discussion on this bill resulted
| in no increase being allowed to the
county attorney beyond $1,000 for clerk
| hire.
A third bill proposed to increase the
| county auditors salary from $4,000 to
| $4,000, and that of the county treasur-
er's from $1,000 to $4,000. County
Auditor Condit stated that he last year
| Melted $500 to $3.50, and County
Treasurer James said he had 50, 800 lett.
This was after they had paid expenses
for clerk hire.
j. b. Bassett was opposed to any in
crease. "If they are not satisfied" he
remarked to those officers, there is no
law against them reslgning."
Frank M. Nye said the net salaries of
the county treasurer and county.audltor
were reflection on the intelligence Of
| the people of Hennepin county.
Representative Hay desired to inform
| Judge Atwater that there was one
member of the Hennepin delegation
who made,no pledges to the committee of
the board of trade, or any other commit
| tee, in relation to measures of retrench-
ment and reform. al want to say" he
added, "that | was not so pledged, and
that my actions shall not be bound by
anybody" [Applause.]
Judge AtWater-I never said that YOU
did.
Representative Hay-You suggested
that idea.
Judge Atwater-I suggested no such
thing.
Representative Hay-I understood
you so.
Judge Atwater-You then understood
me wrong.
Representative Hay-I am very sorry.
Judge Atwater-I accept your apol-
ogy.
This little breeze had an exhilarating
effect upon the auditors, and the discus
sion waXed warm. Eventually it was
agreed that the two bills be laid over,
Messrs. Atwater, Fisk and Bassett be-
ing appointed committee to investi-
gate the work and expenses of auditor
and treasurer. They will make report
to the delegation.
Bills providing two additional district
judges, and increasing the salary Of
Jailer Riley from $50 to S75 per month,
were agreed to without discussion.
1t was left to Representative Freeman
Lane to add fitting climax to the pro-
solve yourselves into kicking commit
tee, but / intend to introduce a bill
which shall reduce the number of alder
men in the city of Minneapolis from
thirty-nine to one from each ward and
four at large, who shall receive salary
of $500 per year. l shall also introduce
a bill to abolish the police commission.
The saving to the city would he 1927, $50
per year. This is what call practical
reform, and to those who talk about re-
trenchment, say: For Gods sake,
lend me helping hand" Mr.. Lane
said the police commission was an out
rage on the citizens of Minneapolis, and
the s., ZOO paid per annum to each COM
missioner might as well have been
thrown into the sewer. Judge Atwater
remarked that he had framed a bill for
reducing the number of aldermen, but
as the question was an important one,
| and the hour late, he moved an adjourn
ment. The adjourned meeting will be
held Tuesday evening, at Minneapolis.
KNOWN AT MINNETONKA.
A Continental Romance Which Is
of Interest in Minnesota.
LONDON. Jan. ga London doctor