St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-07-09
DIAGRAM OF PHALEN PARK.

z Ansel Oppenhelm opened the discus
sion by announcing that it would be an
Injustice to 90 Oh with the proceedings
to acquire the tract for park purposes.
He had no property interests in the dis
trIct 10 be assessed for the park. but had
been approached by many owners OF
property who would be. This was. he
saIu, the first time in twenty years he
had appeared before any body and
asked that improvements DO delayed.
The circumstances in the case, how
ever. were such that he considered it
his duty as a citizen TO do what he
could to
Protect Those Who Would Suffer
by reason of the assessment for the PARK
being confirmed. The assessment which
TIE board of public works was about to
levy Tor the purchase of the park
amounts to S32, 900. IN round figures. OF
this amount SO, 600 was 10 be paid from
the park fund, leaving $4,000 to be
raised by assessment, and the lots would
be assessed from $500 to $50 each. The
district to be assessed was confined. ne
said, to about nine blocks. or 2T0 lots,
and would fall on a class of people who
could Ill afford at the present time to
pay any assessment, and particularly
one for park. To illustrate the con-
ditiOn OF the owners of property in the
district which would be assessed for the
park. Mr.. Oppenhelm said the firm
which he was Interested IN had small
mortgages on three lots, and the
assessments and costs for the
past Improvements which had not
been paid amounted to $500. An as
sessment for the park at this time
would result in the property being
taken away under mortgage foreclosure
III a number OF instances. The times
were hard, money was tight, and he
urged the board TO recall the order from
the board Of public works and hold it in
allegiance for one year. The city was,
he thought, Oh the eve of prosperity.
but Just now 1t would be unwise to bur
den the people with any more taxation.
especially in this district. Large prop
erty owners in the business districts
had been successful in having paving
ana other Improvements put over for
one year, and he saw no reason why
property holders in the Sixth ward
should not be treated the same way.
Took Legal Advice.
President Wheelock questioned the
statement as to the time when the as
sessments for the park would become
payable. even if the board of public
works proceeded with the confirmation.
Mr.. Oppenheim said the moment the
assessment became a lien on the prop
eTty those who held any MORTGAGES
would have the right to foreclsse.
In order to settle this point Assistant
Corporation Attorney Phillips was sent
for This official sustained the position
taken by MIR. Oppenheim and explained
that as soon as the assessment became
dpliU0Up0t IT. became q lien against RI .
property. When the assessment was
confirmed by the board of public works
thirty days were allowed to pay the
same and at the expiration of this time
the city could apply for judgment Oh
the delinquent property.
MI. Oppenheim inquired if the park
board had the power TO recall the order
for the condemnation and assessment
which had been sent to the board Of
public works.
To this MI. Phillips said there was no
objection to a recall or abandonment.
Mr.. Oppenheim was of the opinion
that the board of public works con-
SideTed the order sent to them bv the
park board as mandatory, and would go
ahead and make the assessment unless
otherwise ordered. BY the law the as
sessment would have 10 be completed
by the board before Aug. Is, unless an
order to the contrary were sent them.
The Power 10 Recall.
Commissioner Horton was of the Opin-
lon that the board could. by a three
fOurths vote, recall the order, and to
back up his opinion read from section
"a of the park board law. which pro-
videS: said board OF park commission
ers, at any time during the tendency of