St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-08-05
PLENTY OF SMOKE,
But the Burning Board of Trade
Caused Little Damage


The board of trade meeting yesterday
strongly resembled thunder storm on a
July afternoon. First there were MUIR
murs, then roars and believing, and
finally serenity, peace and sunshine.
1t was all on account of the court house.
Judge Atwater started it by reading
series of resolutions which censured
the commission rOundly for considering
any business tending toward the cree
ton of court house to cost more than
$4,000. 000 and closing by recommending
that the committee on legislation take
steps to ascertain if the commission has
any right to make contracts for build
ing the cost of which shall exceed
Sl,5OO,O0O. j. NJ. Bartlett arose aud
spoke in favor of holding strictly to the
appropriation. meanwhile branding the
commission and architects with hot
irons. Among other things he said:
''It was just as well known to the gentle
men who were in this scheme, at the time
the plans were adopted, and to the archl-
tects, Long q KEGS, that the building as
planned, would cost more than the appro-
priation, as it is to-day. There are excellent
men on the commission but they are hood
winked into this arrangement. / am sick
and tired of seeing the millionaires' interests
taken care of. Send out for the poor
men, We are not taking care of the
millionaires; they can take care of them
selves: we are looking after the interests of
the people We are burdened in this city.
Business is suspended at taXpaying time.
Let's put in force the rule the late e. G..
WaShburn did when he gave his money TO
building an orphans home. He said: If it
costs more to build then l have named, it
shall stand there as monument to your
folly If he thought it necessary to place an
embargo on his best friends, 1t is all right for
us to do the same. There are good men on
the commission, but there are three or four
there who are members for no known reason,
except it be politics"
Nelson Williams thought the resolu-
| tionS should be referred until the board
could find out the facts and know just
! what it was talking about. Judge Dan
| iel Fish thought so, too. Judge Atwater
| had no objection to the resolutions be-
| ing referred. Mr.. Williams asked if
| similar resolutions had not been passed
| before. Commissioner De Laittre, who
| was present, said: eyes, and they
should have been passed BEFORE" De
| Laittre then took the floor in earnest,
| and said:
| so far as know there is not member of
the commission who is not trying to do his
| duty. The fact is, gentlemen, you can't
| build tre-proof building for less than ST.,
| 100000 1t is all nonsense to talk about
| S., 600, 900, or S6,00O,O00 as the probable
| cost of the building outlined. 1t couldn't
| cost that. The board knew when they ac-
| cepted those plans, the building would cost
| S2.O0O,0OO. / am satisfied now that the
| building will cost $3,000,000, but
| that is only my idea of it. and
| l defy any man to tell what such building
will cost except he is practical builder
| There was not an engineer or builder on the
| board We knew nothing what building
would cost People writing on this subject
say our money is all spent We will have,
| when all present contracts are raid for.
| S66O,0O0 The commission is to blame for
| not securing detailed estimates before plans
were accepted. will admit it was q mis-
| take, and we see it now, but we all make mis-
takes, and it is not TOO late to profit by it,
George p. Wilson thought any reso-
buttons of ceDsure should be laid over
for time. J. B. Bassett couldn't agree
| with Wilson aud Fish. The commits
sioners had failed to do their duty-to
| superintend the construction of a
$1,500,OO0. He roasted the commits
| sion for being too fast.
/ c. j. Buell. and Dr. Evans took a rap
at the commissioner too Buell. wanted
| resolution passed inquiring how many
of the commissioners own real estate i'm
the vicinity of the court house. but it
] was promptly tabled. Atwater'S reSo-