St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-01-30
The MIGHTY CHAMBER
Now That 1t Has Spoken,
Let the Legislature Adj
? .iourn.
"A Little Adviea (which the
!. Chamber Generously Gives
Gratis.
Tne Double-Headed Council
: Idea Pushed Through
= Easily. :
Doodc thu Dict
4Aau. Dotv Reads the Riot
Act on the Division
Question

OIL cOtHtHtIco iISiu ldSb 0NGulllP livery
chair was occupied. Almost every city
and county department was represented
in the aSsemblage, and many members
of the council were present. Chairman
Moves in calling the meeting to order
said that its object was to consider the
proposed changes in the city charter,
and to effect such amendments as
might be to the city'S interest There
was in some quarter, he said, a feeling
of depression due to the belief that the
city was hopelessly in debt. Admitting
that there was room for improvement
and considerable alteration in the man
ner of conduct of certain departments,
yet there was no cause for loss of conf
dence in the men who had charge of the
city'S finances at this time. st. Paul
WAS to-day more prosperous, if the sit
uation was rightly viewed, than at any
previous time i'll her history. In throw
ing the question of amendments open to
discussion. Mr.. Moves expressed hope
that every movement would be marked
by the same conservative Judgment,
which was the most valuable character
istic of the chamber i'll its undertakings.
G.. II Hazard moved that City Attorney
Holman and w. z. Murray, composing
the committee to whom the matter of
the proposed new charter had been sub
mitted with instructions to prepare a
report thereon, be asked whether that
report was ready for submission to the
chamber. Mr.. Murray stated that he
was not prepared to express his views
on the subject until the chamber had
acted in some way. The charter was now
before the chamber and he preferred to
await the result. Attorney Holman being
called upon. said that he had read the
proposed charter carefully. 1t con-
tanned some good suggestions, but as
proposed. He had no actual report to
make. In his opinion, the present gov
eminent was good one. He thought
the time had arrived when all matters
of expenditure should be brought di-
rectly within the control of the council.
As to the financial situation, it was
matter of regret that many people en-
tertained
Flagrantiy Erroneous Ideas
thereon. 1t was undoubtedly true that
a great part of the spoken and written
Statements anent the so-called deplor
able state OF the city's finances had
sbeen spoken and written in good faith,
but the statements had been the result
of lack of accurate knowledge. The
actual Indebtedness of the city was
s9,2OO,0o0. The press had placed the
amount S2,000,000 higher at different
times, and it was believed by many to
be S11,200.0OO. Mr.. Holman admitted
that there was a floating in
debtedness, and the board of ed
it had been provided for in the tax levy
of 1890, collectible in the first five
months of the present year. This, with
The amounts due from other sources
which could legiiimately be applied on
the debt, would wipe it out entirely.
There were, however, imperfections in
the charter as it was at present, which
could mol be remedied too soon. One of
these allowed of the expenses of the
city being incurred before the tax
levy was made for their pay
ment. To remedy this, in December of
each year every department should be
compelled to fix its estimate for the
coming year. In this way the expendi-
ture could be controlled. Chapters 8. 4
and of the charter ought to be
amended, especially chapter 4, where it
referred to the council. In addition.
all departments ought to be brought
directly within the control of the ceun-
Gil.
Gen. Sanborn, in speaking of the pro-
posed amendments to the charter, said
that most of the changes he had pro-
posed had been covered in the just
completed address of the city attorney.
The principal thing was to divide the
city council into two bodies. With re-
lation to the finance question, it was as
to whether affairs should be brought to
"A Cash Basis
by floating bonds and at once raising
the money to pay the floating indebted
ness. Comptroller Roche had said that
with S11. 100000 he could pay every
debt floating, bonded and everything
else.
Senator Lienau wanted it plainly
stated whether the desire was to meet
simply the floating debt or the entire
debt Of the city, The suggestions would
have to be made in a practical way so
that they could be taken up and acted
on in practical manner.
Russell Dorr offered resolution pro-
| viding for tie issuance of 100000 in 4
per cent thirty-year bonds to reimburse
local expenditures already made. and
| that future expenses should be con.
| fined strictly within the tax levy
| of 1891. To issue Tor the board of edu-
compel that body to SO reduce its cur
rent expenses as to keep within the sum
provided for in the tax levy of 1891.
| The resolution also recommends that
! tax levy certificates be issued with the
approval of the mayor and council in
| anticipation of the levy, said certificates
| not to exceed 81 per cent of the amount
collectible. Also that in assessing prop
erty for improvements, all property
| exempt by law must be excluded from
| the levy. MIR. Dorr in explanation of
| the latter clause said that of the amount
| ofithe city's debt, great part of it was
| due to erroneous assessment. Certain
| lands exempt for various reasons had
| been assessed and improved, and the
| city had never realized therefrom.
| Hon. Peter Berkey thought there was
1 no cause for alarm as to the financial
| condition OF the city. Mr.. Holman had
| stated the city'S credit in none too favor
| able light. 1t was true the school
| board had been prOffigate, but the mat
! ter had been taken in time
- 20 Prevent Disaster,
| and with a little care the proper basis
\ could be reached for the future conduct
\ of.that body.
/ Frederick DrlscoIl Sr. thought 1t i'm
possible to vote on set Of resolutions
4 on such brief consideration and discus
l sion as could be accorded them at the
4 present meeting. He moved the refer
! ence of Mr.. DORIS resolution to COM
/ mittee to consider it and re-
port at an adjourned meeting
| next Thursday night The motion to
refer carried UNANIMOUSLY, and the
chair appointed Chairman Dean, of the
delegation. City Attorney Holman and
! Judge Clarke on the committee. The
| question relating to a division of the
/ city council into two bodies to act sep
arately. was then taken up.
/ E. w. Peet introduced a resolution
/ providing that in any amendments to
! the charter it shall be provided that the
council consist of two bodies, one to
| consist of eleven members and another
| OF seven, the latter to represent the city
at large This brought AID. Bott to his
| feet, and he
Dnounced the Scheme
| nf d;,;c;an &c pronosad nc one that