St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-01-28
CITY HALL CHAT.

nose of the taxation that is also stipulated
therein. The report that was submitted some
time ago, purporting to be in accordance
with this ordinance grant. was somewhat re-
miss in point of detail. TO be more explicit,
it failed to give the slightest indication of
the earnings of specific lines, but made an
easy job of IL, and. to borrow an idiom.
dumped it." This was decidedly opposed to
the ideas of the shrewd and exacting city
treasurer. He has a fancy that more def
mite construction Of the ordinance would be
the proper caper. Accordingly upwards Of
two weeks ago Treasurer Refs formally nOti-
fed Supt Scott, of the street railway system,
that the schedule was entirely unsatisfactory.
He suspects that the corporation is given too
much TO generaliziug in such instances, and
he demanded full and complete itemized
exposition of the earnings of the company.
Patiently and exrectantly he has waited for
recognition of the appeel-but all in vain.
He had hoped that the schedule asked for
would be forthcoming without contention or
controversy. but he has nearly despaired of
such an occurrence.
what is your purpose?" asked GLOBE re-
porter Of the austere financier yesterday,
when the treasurer had explained that his re-
quest had been ignored
Il am in doubt as to the best course to pur-
sue." he returned thoughtfully. 81 do not
want to be considered summary, nor do l
ever act hastily in a matter of unusual mo-
ment. But the time must come when the dig
nifty and interests of the city cannot be con-
served by silence. because silence is too apt
to be construed into practical concurrence,
and want to say, most emphatically too,
do not concur in this omission of the stipu-
lated part of the charter contract. No, no:
the city railway company must furnish a
schedule that meets with the full intention
of its franchise, else the city must be forced
to take positive steps. How soon? Well,
that is hard to answer Within few days
probably
Inquiry at the general offices of the street
railway company elected the information
that superintendent Scott is in the East, and
this may be good and sufficient reason for
the unseemly delay in complying with the
request Of the city treasurer. At all events
no one could be found by the GLOBE reporter
who would acknowledge that they knew any
thing about the matter. 1t is highly proba-
Bile, then, that Superintendent Scott has bur-
dened himself exclusively with this duty.
Since his return from the Washington cru
SADIE for the national convention Mayor
Smith is the busiest man to be met with about
the city hall. Every few minutes during his
business hours delegations of citizens wait
upon him, and heterogeneous mass of bust
ness is before him continually from the mo-
ment he enters his commodious suite of
| rooms until he draws on his great coat and
overshoes to depart for his o clock dinner
| One delegation comes to enter a protest
| to certain threatened legislation, and they
| are often excited and insistent. Moreover,
| they all feel that all they should be re-
| quired to do, as pacific and law abiding
| citizens and as honorable tax pay
| ers. to present their views-usually in
forcible language-to insure the supposedly
| powerful intercession of the chief executive.
| Then there are great many who come to re-
| late tale of woe about certain indignities
| visited upon them by a police officer, and
| these are liable to be the most obStreperous
| callers the mayor has to entertain. It be-
| comes his duty to palliate his friends, and
| this requires great deal Of diplomacy and
| TACT but should the mayor find that the citi-
zens are in the right his interests In their be-
| half is quickly aroused, and searching in
| yestigation is ordered, and satisfactory re-
| dress-if that is the proper method to pursue
| lis made. Indeed, the mayors functions are
| arduous. The position is far from being a
| sinecure.
| The auditorium is the most absorbing
theme to be encountered by the reporter at
the city hall at present. All the other officials
| are anxiously awaiting the return of Corpora
ton Attorney Lawler. They have the great
| est respect for his judgment and counsels.
| There is pervading sentiment in favor of
| going ahead with the plans as first designed
| the remodeling of the market house Mayor
Smith Is the especial champion of this plan.
and he espouses the cause with that esprit
| which characterizes all his undertakings
| when his patriotism is enlisted. And he
| chafes at every days delay. He has been
| taught the lesson i'll public movements by
that most faithful of neutrality-suspicious.
| that delays in things Of this nature are dan
| gerous. The public sentiment of st. Paul
| is ripe, and delegations of workingmen
| and taxpayers call upon him daily to urge
| that there tie no cessation along the entire
| line of action. The laboring men, even
! those who enjoy good situations for the win
| ter, are familiar with the pitiful stories of
| sufferings by those less fortunate in oppor-
| tunities to earn pittance and to keep the
| ravenous wolf from the door, They appre-
| ciate the benefits that will accrue to the poor
| by giving empl oyment to a thousand or more
| men at once upon the structure. 1t will
save hundreds of families from the humilia-
| until business of the opening spring may
| give them relief. Hence the mayor and the
| members of the council also, are importuned
| to lose no time in getting the auditorium I'M
der way.
Mayor Smith again voiced his determine
ton yesterday to leave no stone unturned to
get operations begun on the plans that have
been prepared. He urged that the joint COM
nittee on auditorium meet at once and
award the contracts
But this injunction case" suggested a
cautious citizen who has imbibed the idea
that the auditorium will interrupt business
development in the vicinity of the market.
surely you can do nothing until that is set
tied. and 1 think permanent injunction will
be issued against the city,
Nonsense. my friend" returned the
mayor reprovingly There is no hope tor
the Steele sympathIzers. They have no
ground for permanent injunction, and I
feel perfectly safe in predicting that the suit
will fail ANONYMOUSLY. The charter vests
the municipal government with certain pow
ers. and the exercise of certain rights and
privileges aud it is very explicit TO my mind
in this instance. 1t gives the authority TO
improve, enlarge and extend our present
market property. The city market has an
auditorium, and it is our design to remodel
and enlarge it. Mr.. Lawler believes just as 1
do in this particular, and the only effect of
the Steele suit is-or was rather-to con-
tribute to st. Pauls defeat in its candidacy
for the national convention
.,But we can have an auditorium without
disturbing the market house. That is what
weiwant," urged the gentleman with elo-
quence and earnestness.
.sence more let me remove fallacy from
your mind. my friend. We have no power to
build anywhere else. If the charter gives it.
/ have not discovered it,
THE city owns Rice park. and it is funny
if it hasn't the power to do what it pleases
with its own" insisted the caller
MY friend, Rice park was given to the
citylfor specific purposes. and doubt if all
yOnf eloquence and grit will induce the Rice
ndIrving heirs to deed the square for any
purpose whatever other than that specified
~ ha Of do