St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-07-28
THE COUNTY BUDGET.
FIXING UP THE TAX LEVY FOR THE
COMING YEAR.
ACHIMONY ABOUT POOR FUND.
Final Getting Down to Business
The Budget Shows an Increase
in a Good Many Items-The
Poor to Be Cared for, Even if
Other Things Are Neglected.

Inc TAX levy was fruitful theme Tor
animated discussion at two sessions of
the board of county commissioners yes
terdaY. The estimate OF the auditor
made heavy cuts in several funds and
marked increases IN others. All OF the
commissioners were present when the
mayor called the meeting to order
shortly after o'clock in the afternoon.
The meeting was an adjourned one. and
the tax levy was taken up at once as
unfinished business OF the previous
meeting.
Commissioner Daily submitted a state
ment from the board of control, in
which estimates for the year 1894 were
placed at the following figures:
City and county hospital. ..........S So, $40
ramsey county almshouse. ........... 10000
SutuCor reIlef. ..-.,........ .......... l5,OOO
T"'"iIe9 .'.-'....- .:'.''..........-.... SOU
The county twothirds. 5000. ..... ST., go. 90
SltN one-lhlrd -............ -, 416. 30
Mr. DAILY. addressing the board, spoke
OF the Likelihood of 4 great many people
being left without work and means of
support during the coming winter who
must be taken care OF, even if the road
and bridge fund aud some other things
be cut down.
The county auditor took an inning
after saying that he thought he ought to
be allowed a vote in the hoard when his
statement was being considered. lie
characterized it as being wrong to al
low so much to the almshousc. He de-
cIared that the board of control had not
replied TO call TO state the number of
people cared for in the pOorhouse. If
the poor are to be cared for let the board
of commissioners see where the money
goes.
Dr. AnckeI stated that he had gone
ovel the estimate of expenses for the
hospital carefully and come to the con-
cluSlOn that no cut could be made. lie
declared that everything is bought at
Jobbers' prices, and, in some cases,
cheaper than the jobbers sell for.
Mr.. BurnS-l don't mean the hospital
1t IS the almshOuse | am after They
have Peter Picker in the dlmshouse.
lie has house and lot that he has been
offered $1,000 for, and has no one de-
pendent OH him.
Mr.. kerwin, of the Board of Control
investigation will Show that to be Slip
perry talk. We had very Insulting let
ter frGm Mr.. Burns not long ago on that
matter. HE men Oh the board of con-
troll have been in the city for thirty
years. L was never accused of taking
money wrongfully before in my life,
and have been here thirty years.
Mayor Wrigbt-1Dat is not cues
toned
Mr.. Kerwin-Just a word. | have
been accused. | want to say that | do
my best TO keep down expenses.
Mayor Wright-What is the cost of
the ucnnepln county almshOuse?
Mr.. kerWin-lt is little higher.
Mayor Wright have a statement
showing it 10 be lower.
Mr.. kerwim-I think it is higher.
Now as 10 Picker. We are managing
ms property in the PROBATE court and
VIII make him pay for Ills maintenance
II we can. lie has guardian appointed
by the probate court.
Mayor Wright-ThiS should be in
Vestgated. Ii he has property he ought
not 10 be Kept by the county. If he is
an lmOecile he ought to be sent to an
inebriate asylum.
MI. Layalle-IHveStigatio will show
that the county Is not taking care of
any one who has property.
The discussion then turned on the
cost OF operating the farm. One side
led by MIR. kerWIn claimed it to be Oh
r..
the other side claiming it to be sinking
that much per year. The question of
renting or selling so of the 100 acres
was discussed at length, but no conclu-
sion was reached on that matter.
MI. Burns stated that Il man in the
almShouSe had declared that he was
not going to leave there until he gets
work outside.
The mayor, Mr.. LavalIe and others
announced that they favor selling the
half OF the poor farm in case investiga-
non SHOWS that it is not bringing in a
revenue.
After rambling discussion for two
hours on the subject, the cut proposed
in the amount for the board of control
was set aside, and a resolution was
adopted on motion of Commissioner
Lavalle which provides that the county
auditor be instructed to place i'm the
levy sum sufficient to raise SO, 953. 81
as the cOunty'S share of the fund, and
also to provide for the OverdraftS now
existing, amounting to $4,000. This
makes an amount much larger than the
estimate Of the county attorney, and is
more than was collected for the present
year.
AT the evening session the mayor did
not appear, and Commissioner McCar-
ron presided. A couple of hours were
taken up in discussing the remainder of
the auditors statement. The board
seemed in d better humCr than during
the afternoon, and a friendly confer
ence was held which resulted in the
estimate being corrected and left stand
ing about as follOws,in so far as changes
from last year were made either bv the
board or the county auditor:
County revenue fund, at $40 800, as
fixed by the auditor, being an Increase
OF $1,000 over last year: county Door
fund, at S59,953.34, in addition to pro
Vlding for an OVerdraft of $4,000. being
an increase over last year and taking
the place OF the estimate of $50 200 by
the county auditor. The expense for
maintenance Of the court house and city
hall was fixed at t b. same as last wear.
on motion of Commissioner DAILY. This
Is an increase over the figures of
the county auditor. who insisted
Oh retrenchment, and stated that
Comptroller McCardy viii send in re-
pOlt to the common council cutting the
life outot everything. HIS cut amounted
TO 1921 in the expenses of running the
court house and city hall, including cuts
of $1,000 each in gas and fuel and s.. 72O
in repairs. besides cut in the force of
1anitOrS and assistants in the engineer
ing department. The county auditors
cut OF IS, 200 III printing was approved,
as were also his cuts of $500 each in the
fees of the sheriff in insanity cases,
boarding prisoners and miscellaneous
fees. His estimates in the following
cases were also permitted to stand: An
increase from $1,000 to $4,000 i'll district
court fees; district court miscellaneous
expenses increased from s., 600 to 81, 600
and an increase of 500 each in district
court witness fees and probate court
witness fees The auditor explained
that the court fees were fixed by esti-
mates as provided by law. For the same
reason there was an increase of 1860
III miscellaneous court expenses. The
county road and bridge fund was fixed
at the Saue amount as last year, an in
increase OF $4,000 over the estimate of
the auditor.
There was a warm discussion over
this matter, Commissioner Lavalle
wanting it fixed at 50 COO. or enough to