St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-01-01
A LIVELY CONFERENCE.
The Court House Commission and
the Hennepin Delegates Meet.

The Court House Commission and
the Hennepin Delegates Meet.
The conference between the members
of the Hennepin county delegation to
the legislature and the court house and
city hall commissioners, held yesterday
afternoon, while not of decisive nature
in its result, did this much. 1t proved
that the commission has not been going
it blind, as many have supposed, and
that the amount they propose to
eXpend is not so much out OF
proportion when it is considered that
they are building for the future. The
commissioners sat on one side OF the
room, and the senators and representa-
tives on the other, with long table be-
tween them. The debates at times were
lively, and the meeting seemed to re-
solve itself into the proportions OF a
board Of trade assembly. The commits
sion sprang little surprise, which
changed the aspect of affairs. 1t seems
that Il quiet meeting had been held on
Monday, when proposition was agreed
upon, which was in substance:
That the county half of the structure, eX-
elusive of the tower. be built at once, as that
was the most needed. This could be done in
three wears in the following manner: In the
first place no more bonds would be needed.
The scheme is as follows: The S3000u0 city
bonds should be converted to the county
series. This added to the $4,000 still on
hand of unsold county series would com
plete and furnish the county half OF the
house. Then Il One-mill tax levy should be
placed upon the city tax and the same upon
the county. This would bring III all income
of about $200.0U0 a year, which could lie
used in finishing the city part. Should this
be done and the contracts let at once, the
county part could be done III two and one
half years. This is also the most needed part
of the building, as vault room is now needed
at the old court house, and little should be
expended ON the old structure.
This proposition did not meet with
entire approval on the part of the dele
cation as 1t was plain to see. They
were very candid in criticising the ac-
ton of the commissioners in exceeding
the $1,500,000 appropriated, and the
commissioners were equally aggressive
i'll defending their position. Senator
Morse finally brought things to focus
when he asked il the commission did
not think it was limited to the $780,
COO appropl iation. Mr.. johnson said the
commission never had that idea and
was backed up in his assertion by sew
eral commissioners who were in the
legislature at the time. Mr.. Morse re-
had this idea. Representative Trip
thereupon remarked that it had been
given out that the board had been going
it blind, but he had found out that it
did know what it was about, and
went deliberately to work to con-
truct building which would
cost 50, 100000 with soft stone or $4,000
600 with granite, and had thrown dust
in the eyes of the people.
The repartee across the table came
quite sharp and bitter when Senator
Mcmillan took hand, and, in the cool
est manner Imaginable, proceeded to
doubt the entire wisdom of the boards
actions. He wanted to know,if the del
egation fixed a limit at 100000, or
81, 800, 900, if the commission would
agree to confine itself to that
amount Commissioner Bracket
said he would resign first
and Commissioner Clough echoed "me
tOo''-George ii. Bracket acquieSced,
ditto De Laittre- Titus Mareck said:
elf we were so bound up that we cannot
put up proper building III resign"
Commissioner Oswald in a dignified
speech echoed the same sentiments, and
the conference was at an end.