St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-01-27
T|NKER|NG THE LAWS.
Minneapolis Solons Consult Upon Mat
tiers for Future Legislation.
INFRINGEMENT PROVIDED.
The Municipal Court Judges Salary
Boxing Matches Employment Agsu-
cies Get Shake-Up.

The council committee on legislation,
as their first business at the meeting
held yesterday morning, listened to pro-
posed amendments to the city charter
from City Attorney Russell, and. after
due consideration, agreed to the TO How
ing:
Amending section 8, chapter 2, Of the
charter so that officers removing from the
city or ward, or officers refusing to enter
upon discharge of his Office for ten DAYS otter
the beginning of his term, shall be deemed to
have abandoned his Office. Any officer may
resign with the consent of the city council.
All vacancies shall be flied by the council.
Amending section IL, chapter 5, requiring
the controller to report Oh the first Monday
of January the amount OF taxes collected
and outstanding, and the revenues received,
and the expenses for the first quarter OF the
current year: and II 1t appear that the eX-
penses are liable to exceed the revenue, the
council shall reduce the current expenses III
such manner as may be deemed advisable.
and for that purpose may diminish the
amount of service for lighting streets, reduce
the force in number of men employed in the
several departments of the city, except the
fire department.: but in the discharge OF such
men the city council. so far as may be, shall
provide that such discharge shall be oper
alive only during the summer months of the
year. In all future contracts for lighting
streets the right of the city to reduce the
amount of service on account OF deficiency
of revenues shall be reserved.
Amending the first paragraph of section ],
chapter 5. providing that the city council at
its first regular meeting i'll March appoint a
city assessor, who shall keep an office in the
city, whose term shall expire on the first
Monday in January, 1891, at which time,
and every two years thereafter they shall
elect an assessor, whose term shall be two
years. etc.
Amending section 5, chapter g. so as to
provide that the council shall appoint an at
torney for the city who shall perform all the
duties incident to the office, give opinions,
advise city officers as to their duties, and to
attend meetings of the council: He shall
also act as attorney for the board of educa-
ton and the board or park commissioners.
He may appoint an assistant, and may, with
the consent or the council, appoint other as
sstants. The city attorney shall have the
right to decide the matter OF appeals in cases
in which the city is interested, and in such
bond.
FIXING UP THINGS.
Aid. Bradish had looked up the mat
ter of employment agencies, on inStruc-
ton, and reported that they had been
carrying on questionable business. He
told of cases of men paying 81 on the
agreement that he was to get the place
or his money back, and, after working
a short time, being discharged. He
thought that license of $1,000 should
be fixed to prevent poor men having to
pay 81 for the privilege of working half
a day. AID Ray thought there was no
way of reaching the trouble. Attorney
Russell said there was no reason why
an ordinance controlling the agencies
could not be passed. The matter was
referred to the ordinance committee.
Aid. Sterling proposed to secure leg
IslatiOn permitting the city WOrkhOuSe
to board prisoners from adjoining
counties. urging that 500 OF 500 persons
could be provided for as cheaply as a
smaller number, but no action was
taken by the committee. The city at
tornev was instructed to look into the
question of the power to grant charters
to street railway companies. The ques-
ton of increasing the salaries OF the
municipal judges was discussed at
length, and was dropped without
taking any action. City attorney
Russell was in favor OF the
salaries being increased to at least
mently opposed to increasing the sala-
ries, as in fact were a majority Of the
committee, judging from their speeches.
The committee next chatted about what
was likely to be the action Of the city
in regard to prize fights. Attorney
Russell said there was no question as to
whether there was enough law to stop
it, and another member limited it was
lack of enforcing the law. Mr.. Russell
continued that where there was any
wagers or ventures taken as to the gate
money. the law could put stop to it.
Sparring, etc, it could not stop. and he
did not think wanted to try to, as it
would overdo the matter.
After rambling off in All informal
discussion Oh the unfairneSs of assess
ment in the present plan of opening
streets, and deciding to lay it over to
the next meeting Chairman Downs re-
minded the committee that no action
had been taken i'll regard to the salaries
of the judges, and Aid. Sterling moved
that it be the sense of the meeting that
there be no change in the salaries of the
municipal judges. After a consider
able discussion an amendment was
agreed to that it be referred to COM
mittee of three for investigation, and
Aid. Durham, BarroWS and Sterling
were appointed.
The aldermen discussed their duty in
regard to doing business with the city,
either by contract or otherwise. Chair
man Downs showed how it was alto
gether against the law, and thought
that there was great likelihood of cor
ruplion in taking advantage of their
position in gaining trade, and limited
that such things had been in the past.
The committee adjourned to meet Mon
daV afternoon