St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-12-16
BY The SOLID VOTE
The Board of Aldermen Or
ders the Levy for the
Great Auditorium.
After Several Ringing Speech
es, 1t Passes With En-
thusiaSnl.
Belief That 1t Practically Set
ties st. Paul's Final Great
Success.
Mayor Smith Says the Senti-
ment Daily Strengthens
in the East.

A wave of patriotic enthusiasm spread
through the council chambers last
night. The deliberations of the board
of aldermen were witnessed by an au-
spicious assemblage of representative
citizens. And the labor element was
not absent in the gathering. There was
a conspicuous sprinkling of the st urdy
toilers, and they applauded the progress
Of the auditorium plans from stage to
stage until the tax levy was passed by
a unanimous vote. The result was
greeted by general applause, and the
citizens committee of one hundred, to-
gether with the scores Of friends of the
crusade. departed for their homes with
the feeling that success awaits the
further efforts of the committee on pro-
motion.
1t was $50 when Aid Sanborn an
nOunced to the council his desire to
hear the preSentment of the committee
of 100. lie wanted to listen 10 their ar
gumentS before action was taken upon
the tax levy. But it became known
that the property owners in the vicinity
of the market house had a claim to offer,
and they were first given the floor. A
protest was read. 1t opposed the audi
forum project, unless provision IS made
in the plans for series Of stores on the
street fronts, and Aid. Cullen put this
sentiment in practical form by intro
ducing a resolution to the effect that no
plans for an auditorium be accepted or
considered that do not include stores
for the entire frontage on Wabasha and
Seventh streets at least seventy-tiye
feet deep. This met with opposition
by Aid. Gehan. He moved 10 lay the
resolution upon the table, and 1t was so
ordered.
Arguing for stores.
Then Emil Geist, one of the interested
property owners, was given audience.
Prefacing his remarks with the un-
PQuivOcal declaration he that was heart
lily in sympathy with the auditorium
scheme. lie protested against q structure
that would bar business from the cor
ner. All he asked for was a provision
in the ultimate plans for row of stores
OH the ground floors fronting Wabasha
and Seventh streets, thereby correcting
the error that was committed in the
original market house structure. He
recognized the need of an auditorium
and appreciated the fact that there is
no more suitable site in the city.
Mai. ESpy followed III like strain. He
reiterated that the object was not to in
terpOSe any obstruction to the move
ment. But he felt that the market house
corner is the very best business site in
the city, and he recited the occurrence
of four years ago when movement had
been set in operation to lower the
ground floor at an expense Of $1,000 so
that the property would have been made
available for business pursuits. He
argued that the auditorium plans should
be so arranged that the ground floor
front can be converted into stores after
the convention has been held.
The reading Of the tax levy followed
ana Aid. Sanborn introduced resOlu-
ton pOStpOning all action on the same
until Jan. "a. He supplemented this
with remarks at length. He recited the
fact in support Of his position that the
law provides that the levy may be
passed on the last day Of February.
His resolution pledged the good faith Of
the council to pass a One-lniil levy for
an auditorium in the event the cOnven-
ton is actually secured. He opposed
an auditorium unless the convention
comes to St Paul. and he urged that
on Jan. a the question will have been
decided.
AID. Gehan instantly moved to lay
the resolution on the table. He urged
that it will be impossible to secure the
convention on promises of that sort.
His motion prevailed, and Aid. COnley
introduced resolution adopting the
tax levy estimate us passed by the con-
ference committee.
The Argument Begun.
Assemblyman Oppenheim was on
hand with arguments and facts 10
oppose Aid. Sanborn's plans. He
ton of the finances of the city
Should the tax levy be postponed
until February the city will be help,
less to meet its obligations in January.
There will be no funds in any depart
ment save that of the board of educa-
ton, and he amplified by showing the
absolute necessity of immediate action
on the auditorium enterprise. He had
consulted great many architects, and
they advised that unless the structure
is begun at once it will be physica
impossibility to get it in readiness fol
the convention in June, and he reiter
ated the statement that it will be need
less to send delegation to Washington
with the mere promise that if the com
mittee will give the convention to St
Paul. St. Paul will 70 TO work and builC
an auditorium. The committee mus
first-be assured that the auditorium vii
be there. and the only way to give this
assurance is TO show them the plans anC
10 say IHaI the DullQlHR IS ALREADY wei
under way and will be ready in time
The committeeman will want proof;
and the delegation must 90 armed Will
the proofs or they can't get the cOnven
ton.
For Immediate Action.
Rev. S. G. Smith spoke eloquently
and feTvently in favor of immediate
and final action. He spoke of the diff
ferent phases that had been presented
10 the auditorium committee in their in
Vestigatons. There were some feature,
that were not desirable. They had con
sidered other sites, but they were no
found practicable. The committee ha(
been actuated by the theory thatin thi
world men cannot do the best thing. bu
the best thing that is possible, and tht
committee finds that the best thing pos
sible is the market house site. He as
sured the members of the council ant
the interested property owners that TIL
only plans that had been considered
had provided for stores on Wabasha an,
ST. Peter streets. But, he held, this i
question that must be decided here
after by the council. This body mus
have charge of the details. No plan
had been adopted. and a good man,
plans are likely 10 be presented for con
sideratiOn.
i ain not so good Democrat as my friep'
Aid SanbOrn, continued DR.. Smith, humoI
Ously. Il fancy neither of us are very goo
Oh that score. bur repeat ! am not so goo