St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-09-14
Assembly Confirms the Sew
enth Street Asphalt
Contract.
THE ALDERMEN HANG 1T UP.
Spirited Fight Over the Mat
ter in Both the Council
Bodies.
AGAIN THE POLICE MATTER.
A Large Part Of the Mayors
Appointments Not Con-
firmed.

nrmeQ.
Those paving contracts are no nearer
being awarded than they we're before
the joint bodies of the common council
met to consider them. AS was ok
pected, the assembly last evening voted
to confirm the award of the contracts to
Hennessey & Cox. Then the board of
aldermen met and. by vote of to B.
referred the matter to the committee on
streets. The committee OH streets will
meet at 8 o'clock this afternoon and dis
cuss the subject with the interested
property owners just as the assembly
committee on streets did last Monday
night. So asphalt and granite, ,pavements
at the side of the tracks, pavements be
tween the tracks, contracts for one or
the other or both, will be talked over
argued about, approved. criticised, con-
demned, and goodness knows what
more, aud so history will repeat itself.
Then the board of aldermen will meet
again tomorrow evening to pass upon
the committees report, if it makes one,
and SO
More Oratory Can BE Expected.
In the end, it is doubtful if any pave
meat is laid this fall, on the streets in
question, as there seems no likelihood
Of the property owners and the street
railway company reaching any agree
ment. The property owners demand
an ''all asphalt" pavement on Sew
enth street, as we'll as the
other two streets, while the
street railway company insists that
| 1t cannot stand the burden of an asphalt
| pavement between the rails aud tracks
| on account of its wiring system, which
| neeessitates frequent tearing UP of the
pavement for repairs. lnasmuch as
seven of thetep members of the board
present voted last night to refer the
matter to the committee on streets, it
looks very much like knockout for the
| property owners and victory for the
street railway company. 1t is the hope
of all, but faint hope, that tine COM
nittee on streets, with the aid of the
counsel and suggestions of the property
owners and the street railway COM
pany, may be able to so modify the
proposed contracts as to meet the ap-
| proval of all parties. But this is eX-
tremey doubtful. Ii no agreement is
reached the streets will not be paved
this year.
Assembly First.
The assembly convened first last even.
ing. After the transaction of some
minor business, the Seventh street
paving engaged the attention Of all
present, and there were good many,
tile audience. like that of Monday even
ing. consisting of property owners or
their representatives, and William Pitt
Murray.
Assemblyman johnson was the first
| speaker. and he surprised some Of his
colleagues by moving to again refer the
matter to the committee on streets,
that improvements in the form and
nature of the contracts might be facili-
tated.
Mr.. Lewis sopposed the reference, as
the assembl y had already disposed of it
by unanimous vote at the meeting of
the committee of the whole Monday
night. Referring to the statement of
Mr.. johnson that the board of aldermen
would probablyrefuse to confirm the con-
tracts. and that the assembly ought for
that reason to try to modify the con-
tracts so they would suit all parties, Mr..
Lewis said:
''This assembly objects to being used
to rake anybody else's chestnuts out of
the fire."
Mr.. Strouse declared that he was
strongly in favor OF having the streets
paved, first because there was great
necessity for the improvement, and
secondly because it would afford good
many needy men work.
~ am surprised" continued Mr..
Strouse, ito hear Mr.. johnson ask for
reference. This referring and re.refer.
ring is nothing but
A Waste of Time.''
l. "Possibly that is the reason some have
for wanting this reference. If we pave
at all we must pave now"
( Mr.. johnson was indignant, almost
horrfied. to have his motives ques-
toned. He resented the nsinuation
and asserted that he didn't care
whether the matter was referred or
not. He had been requested by the
| parties in interest to ask for refer
| ence.
William Pitt Murray interrupted Mr..
johnson at this point and denied that
he or his client property owners want
ed the matter referred.
Upon the suggestion of Mr.. Parker,
Messrs. Mum for the street railway
company, O'Brien, representing Hem
nessey & Cox, and Mr.. Murray were
invited to express their wishes.
Mr.. O'Brien responded by saying that
he believed in reference. Mr.. Mum
also favored reference. But Mr.. Muir
ray wanted no such thing.
II want the assembly," he said. ito
either reject or contir n the contract, and
then let the board of aldermen do as
they see fit, either reject or confirm it.
1t is not in the power of any committee
to modify this contract or eliminate any
part OF it." Mr.. Murray could not sit
down without dig at Mr.. Mum, so he
said: 81 represent the property own
ers, though my friend Mum says l
= don't. But if got $1,000 year from
the street railway company l could
come into this council aud lie every
! night in the year."
Then, followed some talk about ad-
] journing for two hours, which idea met