St. Paul daily globe., 1893-06-25

within the 80 per cent limit of their ap-
preparation for 1903. Mr.. McCardy at
this point read from the charter the
clause which provides that when any
de partment of the city had expended
an amount equal to so per cent of their
appropriation 10 power shall exist to
issue certificates to exceed this amount.
There was no excuse, the comp
troller continued, for the commits
sloners, no matter what they
might have been told by Gen.
Sanborn or any other member of the
legislature. They had been acquainted
last fall of the condition of affairs, and
should have governed themselves ac-
cordingly. The announcement that the
board Intended to reduce expenses by
cutting out five or six engine houses,
the comptroller said, was nothing more
or less than bulldozing to make the city
officials violate the charter, and was
part of
A BulIdOZin2 Scheme.
He did hot want or intend to offer any
resolution at this time which would
compel the board to keep within their
limit. but he thought the board would
realize their duty in the matter.
Mr.. Freeman explained again how
much money could be saved by closing
up the engine houses mentioned, and
gave the location of each house.
The mayor said the department had
not been extravagant, and that the
proposition to close up several of the
engine houses was not at all for the
purpose of bulldozing.
Mr. Freeman stated that the members
of the department were now paid less
than any other city of the same size in
| the country.
| The mayor SAID it was his opinion that
| the charter intended to give the fire de-
| partment $2l5,000 with which to run
/ things.
McCardy interrupted his honor to read
! the law, which states that only eighty
per cent could be realized by any de-
| partment in anticipation of the collec-
ton of taxes named In the tax estimate.
The mayor had scheme. by which,
| when the money came in from the tax
| Collections for any year, instead of ap-
plying the first 50 per cent OF the money
to the certificates which had been issued
during that year, the money be used in
running the city, aud pay the certifi-
Gates out of the last 80 per cent instead
of the first.
The Comptroller was opposed to this
plan and pointed out the danger OF al
| lowing the citY's notes to go to protest.
So many thousand dollars worth of GER
| tificates were issued every year, and the
| first money, he said. that came in for
| that years taxes must be set aside for
the payment of the certiflcates.
The mayor said he had been talking
with the city attorney and the charter
contained no such provision.
Mr.. McCardy contended that it did,
aud as an argument for h1s position said
| if this plan was carried out there would
be no purchasers for the next lot of cer-
| tifcates, as it would make the certi6-
Gates which had been issued payable
only when the delinquent taxes came
in, which was very indefinite.
Chamberlain Chips In.
City Attorney Chamberlain said the
mayor had evidently misunderstood
| him in the conversation they had, and
backed up the position taken by the
comptroller that if the certificates were
not paid from the first money collected
from the taxes of the year they were
issued the credit of the city would be
impaired.
The comptroller, to illustrate his
point, said that in March last the county
treasurer had turned over to the city a
large amount OF taxes collected for the
year 1891 and prior years. OF this the
! amount of certificates issued in 1891
were first taken out and the balance, il
any, and the amounts collected for prior
years, was then portioned out to the
| several departments. This plan was
followed in each year.
Mr.. Cullen wanted to know If the fire
department could figure on getting
$195,000 for this year.
The comptroller thought they coul(
figure, but figuring would not get the
money.
The mayor still insisted on his scheme
being tried, and inquired If there was
any provision in the charter demandins
| that the first so per cent from tax collec
tions be set aside to take up certificates
with.
The comptroller said there was M
specific provision, but as the taxes fo
each year were mortgaged that made
necessary to do SO.
The mayor was of the opinion tha
this was not the way to do when thu
interests of the city were to be leopard
lied. There was no need, he thought
to cripple the departments to carry ou
some plan which was not required II
the charter. The comptroller though
il the mayors plan were carried out /
might lead to some of the officials Esinl
sent to the penitentiary. ,
The Mayor Warmed Up
at this and said he was no more de-
sirous of wearing stripes than tht
comptroller was. The comptroller re-
torted that the committee was there tt
discuss cold business, and the mayor
answered back that it was too cold
the idea of shutting up five or six en-
gine houses and raising the rates O.
insurance.
+ City Treasurer Miller and County
Commissioner Lavallee. who had been il
conversation for several minutes, cleo
trified the meeting by saying there
would be S175,0O0 collected from de-
linquent taxes this year.
| To this fine cnrnntrnller said there