St. Paul daily globe., 1891-03-08
LOCAL LEGISLATION.
:.
Ramsey County Bills Hastily
Discussed by the Dele
cation.
County officers Not Yet Ready
With the Desired Ac-
counts.
fhe Plat Commission Strongly
Objects TO an Untimely
Death.
Eill to Add a Practical Chem
iSt to the Department
Of Health.

The Ramsey county delegation as
Jembled once again in the office of the
eity attorney yesterday afternoon. and,
in the conrSe of few hours, transacted
a vast amount of work. Before routine
business was taken up, Register of
Deeds Haas explained to the delegation
that, as he had only been in Office two
months, he was unable to furnish the
statement of receipts and expenses
asked for. One of the deputies was en-
gagged in preparing a statement, which
would be ready in few days. MIR.
O'Brien, the county attorney, who had
been requested to be present at all the
delegation meetings, presented num-
Der of bills prepared by the board of
county commissioners, and the delega-
lion proceeded to digest them.
An act to legaliZe the expenditure by
The board of county commissioners of
the sum of $1,000 for the benefit of the
Iuffrers by last years cyclone at Lake
GervaiS was recommended to pass.
The bill authorizing the construction
Of a boulevard around Bald Eagle lake
was referred to the county attorney to
report upon.
An act to detach School District No.
b9, which is partly i'll Ramsey county,
and attach it to School District No. 25,
which is in Anoka county, whereby the
property holders whose land is i'll the
Ramsey county section will be relieved
from paying for schools in AnOka coun-
ty, was recommended to pass.
Jurors who attend the district courts
in Ramsey county. ana who are excused
from serving without having actually
EQrypH N will nOt hp allowed
compensation, bill to that effect hav
ing been recommended to pass by the
delegation.
The business of the abstract Office
then came up. A bill to regulate the
office provides that no credit shall be
given for work done 10y the office; that
Rll fees must he deposited in bank as
special account; that at the first meet
ing of the board Of county commission
erS every month all receipts shall be
turned over to the board; that clerks
shall only be employed with the consent
of the board, and their salaries paid by
the county treasurer after the pay roll
has been passed by the board. AS the
delegation has not yet decided whether
Or not to abolish the office, the bill was
laid over.
a bill to change the grade on Selby
avenue hill was the next taken up. 1t
gives power to the common cOu neil to
decide upon the width of the grade:
also. to decide how much assessment
shall be made on property, and how
much the city shall pay as It's share of
the cost of the work.
Representative Nilsson opposed the
measure, as he considered the city
would not be benefited, but that the
street railway company would receive
all the benefits. If the street railway
company desired to change the grade
they ought TO pay for it, and the people
should not be taxed. He moved the bill
be laid on the table. Senator Lienau
amended so that part of the expenses
should come out of any city fund, eX-
cept from the fund created by the as
Sessments for this special work.
Mr.. Nilsson withdrew his motion, and
the bill was referred as amended to
committee consisting of Senator Dean,
Representative Stone and the city at
tOrney to report upon.
John Ives, of the plat commission,
made statement TO the delegation,
protesting against the proposed legisla-
latiOn which would GUST them out of OF
fee. The department was no expense
to the city, and unless there were good
reasons the commission objected to be-
Ing abolished. A number of questions
were put to Mr.. Ives as to the duties of
the commission, and the matter was laid
over for deliberatiOn.
Judge Cory then presented bill he
had been requested by the delegation to
draft, amending the municipal court
act. so that the judges have power to
issue writS of execution, also regulating
the costs to be allowed in civil cases.
The bill was accepted and taken under
advisement.
The recent employment Of State
Chemist Eberman to make the analysis
of the atmosphere Of the city schools
was the cause of q bill being drafted,
which provides that the assistant health
commissioner should be competent
chemist, to be paid Sl25 per month.
Representative Ringwald thought that
the health officer should know little
about chemisty, and made a pyrotech-
nical speech in which DR.. Hoyt's ablli-
ties were vividly Illuminated. The
delegation declined to act at the time OH
the bill, and took it under adviSement.
House File 715. introduced by Repre-
sentative Battley, which provides for
the reconveyance by the city of all lands
acquired by deeds or otherwise for a
street or levee in the Sixth ward, was
laid over owing to Mr.. Battley being
absent through sickness.
A very long communication was read
lTCln secretary hart, Ol INe DOdfU VI
correction and charities, asking that a
change be made in the law relating to
short terms of Imprisonment in the city
workhouse, which he considers at pres
ent to be very harmful; also suggesting
that the management of the board of
control be altered SO as to conform to
the laws in force in some other states.
The letter was placed on file and the
delegation will request Mr.. Hart to
draft bill in accordance with his ideas,
and present it to the delegation.
On the question of free text books a
resolution was adopted on the motion OF
Representative Bell, that it was the
sense of the delegation that the provid-
ing OF free text books i'll Ramsey county
was not an advisable measure.
Senator Lienau introduced resolu-
tion that county commissioners be pro
hibited from acting as assessors, but the
delegation quickly laid it on the table
At this point the members of the del
egation decided TO go into executive
session, which being carried, the mem