St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-12-13
The LAW ALLOWS IT.
The Market House May Be
Remodeled Into an Audi
forum.
Enthusiastic Meeting OF the
Promotion Committee to
Discuss This.
Returned ENJOYS Talk En-
eouragingly Of Their Mis-
Sion'S Results.
# the Convention Comes West
st. Paul Stands the Best
Chance.

There was no time lost upon the re-
turn of the advance guard from their
Washington trip, and a meeting of the
committee on promotion was held last
evening in the mayors Office. Chair
man Baker, in calling the gathering to
order, spoke somewhat at length upon
he work effected by the delegation in
Washington, and he felt sanquine that
the next national convention is within
the grasp of st. Paul if there is no ceS-
sation of individual and organized eff
fort. He said the meeting mad not been
called for the purpose of submitting
report, for that would be more properly
made when the mayor arrives. Mr..
Baker enlarged upon the importance of
securing pictures of hotels, flats and
apartment houses, both eXteriors and in
teriOrs. together with capacities, and he
urged that the ability of ST. Paul to give
entertainment to the thrOngs would go
a long way towards securing the con-
ventiOn.
Naturally the auditorium projects
figured largely in the deliberations of
the evening. 1t was generally con-
hall, it would be folly for this city to
compete with others in the race, but an
auditorium once assured and the Strug-
gle is almost won.
Hon. c. D. O'Brien voiced this senti-
ment in a well-wOrded address to the
committee. He argued the Importance
of an immediate meeting of both
branches Of the city council to determ-
Inc the proposition to erect the structure
as purely city enterprise, and urged
that 1t must result in a profitable IN
vestment. He held that the public
spirit behind the movement is suffi-
cient to impel the aldermen and assem-
blymen to place the tax as has been
planned.
William Hamm's idea was that the
committee on auditorium should take
action in this regard. The assembly
has voted for the appointment of COM
mittee on auditorium, and he felt that
the citizens committee upon the same
= Should at Once Confer
with the assemblymen designated. Mr..
Curry followed in the same strain. He
was convinced that the citizens COM
mittee would have great influence, and
Senator Lienau wanted the president of
the council, who was present, to appoint
a committee of aldermen without for
mittee and the citizens committee.
But President Cullen had some scruples
against summary action. He thought
it proper to act in regular form and
would not name committee until he
had been authorized by the council. He
thought it would be an unwarranted
assumption to anticipate the board in
such a way.
Chairman Baker, to make the propo-
StiOn practical, suggested that Spe-
cial committee be named by the COM
mittee on promotion to hold joint con-
ference with the auditorium committee
and the assembly committee as early
Monday as possible, but the thought
was not followed mp. Mr.. O'Brien drew
attention 10 the necessity of immediate
action, and he argued that every days
delay in determining the auditorium
plan is both poor policy and dangerous.
50 County Treasurer Nelson reflected
like sentiment. He added fuel TO the
flame of enthusiasm that had already
spread through the gathering by eX-
planning that in his official capacity he
had conferred with a great many tax
payers, and he had found out that the
sentiment was in favor of the proposed
one mill tax to erect the auditorium. 1t
had been claimed on one hand that the
poorer taxpayers were cOnStitutiOnally
and bitterly opposed to the plan. Mr..
Nelson, the past three weeks, has been
in daily and constant converse with this
very class of citizens, and he knew that
they all favor the project. He said he
was satisfied that if st. Paul builds the
auditorium the convention is assured,
and he knew that the citizens are in
favor Of grand auditorium whether the
convention is secured or not. IL will
make the way certain for other national
gatherings that mean great deal for
ST. Paul.
Mr.. Hamm insisted that the proper
way to dispose of the problem is to have
a conference at once between the audi
forum committee and the members of
the council. He thought this course
must bring the whole thing to a focus,
and Mr.. O'Brien, with this plan in
view moved that when the meeting adj
jOurn it be until 10 O'Clock Monday
morning. He urged that the committee
must fight
Against Apathy.
The only way to win the fight is to be
persistent and to keep at It, This mo-
ton prevailed.
w. NJ. Campbell, chairman of the
state Democratic central committee,
saw the need of a special meeting of
the two branches of the city council
without delay to take decided action,
and he urged that it should not be later
than Tuesday evening. Then the citi-
ZcnS' committee can appear and present
such arguments asst has in its posses
sion. and he telt the whole matter
would be speedily and felicitously set
tied.
MIR. Cullen was in doubt. He wanted
the legal phase first revealed. He
fhQuUhf the cOuDcll SbOuld LnOU
whether or not it has the charter au-
thority to levy a tax for an auditorium.
He doubted il. and he insisted that
there are a great many citizens who en-
jOyed the same opinion. In response
Mr.. O'Brien suggested that the legal
feature is entirely within the province
of the city attorney. Mr.. Lawler could
give the information Mr.. Cullen asks;
and thereupOn Mr.. Hamm moved that
the city attorney report to the commit
tee at the Monday meeting.
MIR. Nelson saw way to comply with
technical provisions of the charter. He
advised that the money be appr0pri-
ated, after the tax shall have been
levied, for specifically remodeIing the
market house. Mr.. Lawler here
gave the legal opinion desired
by Mr.. Cullen in succinct
way. He said that Mr.. Nelson's idea
covered the matter very comprehen-
sively. The charter gives the explicit
authority to build and remodel a city
market, and he advised that as the city
owns the property, the city has the
common right to improve it, However,
he qualified. this is a construction of
the law that IS subject to either a literal