St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-06-27
HERE'SAPRETTY
The Bell Charter Is Ripping
Things Up for the City
Authorities.
Officials and Employees Must
Whistle for Their Monthly
Salaries,
At Least Until the Next Tax
Levy Is in the City
Treasury.
There Is Plenty of Money
Rut II Is for Other PIP.
There Is Plenty OF Money
But 1t Is for Other Pur-
poses.

Ii the gentlemen of the Ramsey cOun-
ty delegation responsible for the Bell
charter ever had an idea that it would,
like the proverbial new broom, sweep
clean, they have but to visit the city
hall and make few inquiries to find
that their pet measure is failure, and
has within few weeks of its going
into force muddled up city affairs in a
hopeless tangle, which is likely to take
some very clever manipulation to I'M
rayel. Worse than all, its impractical
clauses are commencing to work a Seri-
GUS hardship upon hundreds of deServ-
ing citizens. The street force has not
been paid single cent of salary
since May Is last, andthe poor fellows are
not likely to get their back pay for some
months. If this was the only grievance
the most captious critic could have
small reason to find fault, but when it
is stated on good authority that there
are no funds available to pay the police
employees of the city there is every
reason for a good sized kick being
made.
What is the use of this COMPOUNDED
charter anyway" said a prominent city
official yesterday. Il tell you the
whole thing was deal on the part of
the Republican members of the Ramsey
delegation and the citizens committee
of 100. They knew that the law would
simply cause the muddle which now
exists, and that the blame would fall
upon US. You cannot go TO the men
who are employed on the street force
and explain this charter, and tell them
that it is the cause of their not being
paid. Why, l don't believe that it was
ever drafted for
Anyone to Understand;
and / think that it ought to be declared
unconstitutional"
City Comptroller Ponthan, when
spoken to on the subject, shrugged his
shoulders and said he did not see any
way out of the salary tangle. The law
prohibited the transfer of money from
one fund to another. and though there
was plenty of money in certain funds it
could not be touched. The street force
could not be paid, nor was any money in
sight to pay the police and fire depart
ments and city officials.
THE trouble is" continued Mr.. Pom
than, with this charter. Now, for in
stance, the ward fund has been over
drawn S350,000, and all that will be re-
celVed from the county treasurer at
next months settlement is $3.50, 900.
Now, when we place that sum to the
credit of the ward fund there will still
be deficit OF $4,000. 1t will cost S7O,-
600 to run the street force for the reSt.of
the year, so that IN the ward
fund alone there will be a
deficit of $4,000. which [ cannot
include in the tax levy. The charter
should have provided for this deficit,
but the delegation did nothing whatever
as to the general fund | will in few
days make trial balance, but there is
no money in sight for salaries"
what will be done about it?'' was
asked.
We'll, l cannot say at present. but
something must be done, for these poor
workmen come into the office daily and
ask for their pay in order to buy food"
THAT is an outrage" exclaimed Hon.
Frank Battley, who was present. II
opposed the charter all through. and if
l had had my way in the delegation it
would have never passed" | 81
Just what can or will be done in this
matter is at present uncertain, but one
thing is sure, the city cannot borrow
any money to pay salaries. That would
be to create Indebtedness not authorized
by the charter, and to do so is punish
able with fine and Imprisonment. When
the tax levy is made up in October the
city can issue certificates OF indebted
ness for so per cent of the amount, but
until then 1t looks as if the employees of
the city Will have to put up with the
state of affairs.