St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-12-21
MINNEAPOLIS.
IMPORTANT MATTERS
Disposed of by the Council Com
mittees Yesterday.

mltteeS Yesterday.
Seven council committees met yester-
day afternoon in order TO dispose of
the matters referred to them in time for
The council meeting tonight. Some of
these matters are important.
The committee on underground wires
spent most of its time discussing the
petition of II. G. Akeiey, OF the Mime
apoliS International Electric company,
for permission to string certain wires
overhead from its plant in the Lumber
Exchange until spring, when
they would put them under
ground. The committee unanimously
decided 20 Recommend that the peli
ton be not granted. This puts the
company in an unpleasant position in
aSmuch as it had already strung the
wires over certain buildings, anticipat-
ing that the permission would be grant
ed. The building inspector had the
officers of the company arrested for
violating the underground wire ordi-
nance, and the case will be tried in the
police court Jan. 5. In the meantime
the company will probably take down
its wires, but that will not alter the fact
that they violated the ordinance. The
desired permission 10 slring the
months, until the ground was in such
condition as 20 permit of laying con-
duits. was refused because the commit
tee believe that the granting of such
privileges, even though temporary, de-
moraliZeS the underground.wir sys-
TEN. The committee will also recon-
mend that all wires operated by the
city in its police and fire departments
within the subway district be placed
underground as soon as possible, and
that necessary funds for that purpose
be appropriated outof the general fund.
The work viii cost about $4,000.
The committee on ways and means
decided to take no action in response 10
the communication of the St. Paul anti
coal combine committee, suggesting
that Minneapolis, as well as St.
Paul and Duluth. contribute alto
gether $1,000 to defray the eX-
penses OF the hearing before the
railroad and warehouse commission
Jan. 10. The communication is signed
by Col. y. Il. Davidson. chairman, and
j. NJ. Hawthorn, secretary Of the COM
mittee of fifty appointed at the cele-
DRAFTED Market hall anti-coal combine
meeting last March. the hearing next
month is for the purpose of securing, if
possible, a reduction III the coal freight
rates from S1.50 ton for hard coal and
81 for soft coal TO reasonable figure.
While the council committee admitted
that the present rates are f1agrantly eX-
orbitant, still, in view of the hard times,
II was agreed that the city could not
spare any money to pay the legal dis
bursementS, witness fees, ETC., of the
hearing.
The committee on public grounds and
buildings deputiZed Aid. Rollins to find
out why the city is paying $1,000 year
rent Tor the use of the second floor OF
the ramShackIe building occupied by
the municipal court and its officials. G.
Nj. LOring IS the lessor Of the building,
ana the committee wants to know how
much longer the lease has to run, with
view OF terminating it as soon as pos
slble. Besides the rent the city is con-
stantly expanding money for repairs
and furniture. The committee will also
recommend that the petition calling for
the compulsory use OF smoke consumers
on all buildings dlscharging large guam
titles of smoke be referred 10 the city
attorney and the building inspector, with
instructions to draw an ordinance COM
polling the use Of the consumers.
The JOINT committee Oh railroads and
ordinances decided 10 report adversely
Aid. Ingenhutt's ordinance prohibiting
the street railway company to sprinkle
salt on its tracks. No petitions for the
passage of such all ordnance have been
received, and the committee believed
such a regulation would seriously i'm
pede rapid transit.
The committee on licenses granted
four saloon licenses on Hennepin ave-
nue., but refused TO act on the applica-
ton of Otto Johnson for All employment
agency license until after an investiga-
ton, in view of the recent complaints of
labOrers against the employment
agents.
The police, and roads and bridges
committees transacted routine business.