St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-03-07
The Water Board Does Not
Like the Idea of a Curb
by Council,
And It's Officers Argue Strong
ly Before the Ramsey =
Delegation.
The Bell Charter and Stevens
Park Bill Considered Seri-
z,as. atm.
County Officers Requested to
Make Sworn Statements
Of Receipts.

The Ramsey county delegation met
again last evening in the Office of the
city attorney. Those present were
Senators Dean, Stevens. Lienau; Repre-
sentatives Stone, Bell, Ames, Walsh,
Stevens, Ringwald, while W. P. Muir
ray. w. ID. Mum, County Attorney
QBrien, and delegation of cit
liens watched the proceedings.
The first matter for consideration
was the bill introduced in
the house Monday by Representative
Stevens providing for parks for St. Paul.
The bill was referred to the delegation.
and for the benefit OF those members
not acquainted with its details il was
read last evening. The principal points
i'll the bill provide for board of four
park commissioners to be appointed bv
the mayor without salary, the CITY clerk
10 be clerk of the board, while the offices
OF landscape artist, clerk and engineer
are abolished, the city engineer to do
the work now done by the engineer of
the board. The board is empowered
to condemn lands for park purposes.
and when property is sold for assess
ment the certificates of sale shall bear
II per cent, but city certificates of pur
chase will only bear 7 per cent. Oniv
40 per cent OF the cost of any park shall
be taken out of the park fund, which at
present is Sl65,O00. The employment of
legal assistance is prohibited. the city
attorney to do the legal work of the
board: Property owners have ten wears
III which to make payment Of assess
ments, and where property is acquired
Dy the board only 40 per cent of the
amount Shall be paid down, the balance
TO run for Ten years, at z per cent inter-
est.
Senator Stevens explained that the
bill was similar to the MinneaDoljs
park bill, except that the board of pub
TIC works makes assessments instead of
the park board.
Representative Ringwald was opposed
to giving the board power to create
deDtS which the city might be called
upon TO pay, but did not propose any
amendments. The delegation then de-
cided TO recommend the bill to pass.
Representative Bells charter. pre-
Sented in the house yesterday afternoon.
then was taken up. w. p. Murray
stated that members of the fire and
water boards were present. and desired
to make statements.
Judge HOyt. of the water board. said,
that they objected most positively to the
clause i'll the charter refusing them
power to do any work without the con-
sent of the city council
MIR. Folsom made spirited defense
of the water board, and protested
against any interference in their work.
They had given to st. Paul system of
water supply only eXcelled by New
York, Boston and Baltimore, and they
did not owe cent to any one. neither
did they ask for any taxes to be levied
for their department.. If they were to
be restricted in the work of laying
mains and securing custom they would
prefer to retire, and have the city handle
the water system.
Senator Stevens had no doubt of the
| integrity of the water board. but the
! delegation was determined that ex-
penditures should only be sanctioned
by the common council, and no eXcep-
| ton could be made.
A suggestion presented by the board
was adopted in the charter providing