St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-06-28
Conference of City Officials
to Elucidate the Bell
Charter.
City Attorney Lawler Sees a
Way Whereby Salaries
Can Be Paid.
A Poor Woman and Her Fam
lily Evicted for Not Pay
ing Her Rent.
The News Wind-Up Dished Up
to Suit the PalateS Of
{ - Everybody.

The questionsof raising funds for the
purpose of paying the police and fire
departments, street force and city Off
GALS salaries for the next three months
was yesterday carefully discussed by
the mayor, City Attorney Lawler. City
Treasurer Refs and City Comptroller
Ponthan. According to the views of
Mr.. Ponthan, he was of the opinion that
the Bell charter prohibited him from
signing any warrant upon the treasury
unless there was money in the particu-
lar fund with which to pay such war
rant. Mr.. Ponthan's views were pub
liShed in the GLOBE yesterday. He
stated that the law prohibited the
transfer of money from one fund to
another, and though there was money
to the credit of certain funds, there was
no money available to pay salaries until
after the tax levy was made III October
next. when 50 per cent of the amount
could be raised by certificates OF in.
debtedness.
As result of the conference yester-
day, the comptroller announced that
the city attorney had construed the law
that funds could be transferred from
one account to another. Section Of
the charter reads as follows:
The city comptroller and city treasurer
shall each forthwith, as soon as the tax esti-
mate is made in the year 1891, and as soon
thereafter in any year as any tax estimate is
made, open and keep III his books separate
and distinct accounts for each Of the several
divisions of taxes shown III the tax estimate
of the then current year; and in making any
future tax estimate for expenditures and in
making any future levy the city council shall
itemiZe the same. so as to show separately
the amount TO be collected from taxes for the
use of each department of said city, as said
departments are designated in section three
last above. And il sh all be the duty of said
city treasurer to keep in his said books
complete. accurate and separate account of
each and all of the divisions embraced in
subdivisions numbered one to twenty-four
inclusive of section three last above, entitled,
Treasury Department" which shall clearly
and accurately show at all times the amount
of money received by him for the credit of
each of such accounts, and whence received.
and the amount of money paid out by him OH
account thereof. and to whom and for what
purpose paid out.
Mr.. LAWYERS construction of the law
is that the clause prohibiting the trans
fer of money from one fund to another
does not apply to the funds now in eX-
lstence, but to the funds which the
above section authorized to be opened
and kept by the treasurer and comp
troller after the tax estimate is made in
1891.
AS the tax estimate will be made up
in October. the comptroller can there
fore transfer money from one fund to
another until that date III order to
pay salaries. This decision will
be hailed with delight, especially by
the street force, whose salaries have not
been paid since May Is last. Mr.. Pom
than stated that as the pay rolls for the
street force I'D to June Is had been
passed by the council, the men will be
able to receive their salaries in a few