St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-03-29
PLENTY OF ABsENTEES,
But the Park Board Meeting Was
Interesting Nevertheless.


There were plenty of absentees from
yesterdays park board meeting. Com
missioner Stutt was the only one from
the Democratic side who put in an APP
pearance. Commissioner Winston was
represented by Acting Mayor Gray.
The most significant piece of business
transacted was the appointment of Com
missioners Folwell, Demeules, Stoft and
Ridgway and Attorney lockwood as a
committee to go to st. Paul and lobby
for the amendment to the charter intro
duced by Senator Mcmillan. The park
board is very much in earnest about this
matter. Commissioner Stoft said he had
conferred with Representative Trip
about that portion of the charter relat-
ing to the park board. Tripp had told
him If the charter were allowed to pass
in its present form it could be amended
later. The board believes that it is now
high time that something be done
toward amendment, hence the appoint
ment of this committee. President
Haugan discussed the charter, in its re-
lation to the park board, after the meet
ing.
LAS 1t now stands" said he, ''the
charter takes everything out of the
hands of the park board. This body is
made a mere committee of the city
council, with the difference that mem
berS of council committees have voice
in the proceedings of the council. We
would become lobbyists, nothing else.
All the park board is allowed to do
without the sanction of the council UNI
der the charter is to adjourn. No de-
partment of the city government can
show SO much for its work during the
past two years as the park board. And
L don't believe the people, or the MEN,
bers of the Hennepin delegation even.
would have allowed this charter to pass
if they understood its effect upon the
park board"
President Hangar then pointed out
some of the Inconsistencies in the char
ter's park board provisions. Here are a
few named by him:
The number of elective members of
the park board is declared reduced to
eight; yet no provision is made for the
! retirement of the four extra members.
| PlatS and surveys of park lands are
| ordered flied with the board OF public
works. There is no such board, under
the charter. All appropriations of
| money, the charter provides, must be
made by twO-thirds vote of the elect
| i've members. And there is nothing to
| prevent the eX-officio members from
voting against such appropriations.
| The charter provides that the park
| board must report to the council twice a
year on the work contemplated; that is,
the board must tell the council Just
what it intends doing six months in ad-
vance. This is impossible. frequently
the board doesn't know what it VIII do
| so far ahead. Special assessments to
| pay for land acquired for park purposes
| must be paid in five years instead of
tel years, as now. This will be a hard
ship to many property owners, compel
ling them to pay out twice as much
money every year as they do now. AS
sessments for tree planting cannot be
more than so cents per front foot. That
| will not pay for trees.
Senator Mcmillan has already intro
dnced an amendment to the charter re-
lating to the park board. This amend
| ment practically re-enactS the old park
board law. These are the only changes
The number of elective members is re-
duced to eight and a method for the re,
tirement of the extra four is suggested.
Bonds can be issued only with the con-
sent of the council. All appropriations
Of money must be ordered by two,
thirds vote of all the members of the
board. These changes are favored by
| lllC pa OOdlQ. mCMllldIl pilI VIII Ut
supported by the lobbying committee.
Yesterdays meeting was special
called at the instance of Commissioner
Ryan and others. 1t was expected tha
the Medicine lake boulevard project
would come up. Ryan was absent anC
nothing was heard of it.
First ward people have decided tina
they must have park. They sent in
an extensively signed petition yesterday
reciting their woes. The attention Of
the board is called to blocks and 16, il
Marshalfs addition. This tract is only
FIVE blocks from Washburn park. The
matter was referred to the committee
Oh designation of grounds.
The committee on forestry reported
favorably on the petition for tree plant
ing on Chestnut avenue and Fifth ave
nue. and Fifteenth street. Presiden
Haugan advised the exercise of caution
in the matter of tree planting, consider.
ing that the charter speaks on that mat
ter. The report was adopted.
The report of the special committe,
on park enlargement, of which Prof
Folwell is chairman, reported. The re-
pors q this committee has al ready beel