St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1895-02-13
DOWN ON THE BILL.
The Municipal Reform League
Vehementiy Opposes the
Measure
GIVING THE PARK BOARD
Such Absolute Jurisdiction in
the Matter Of Establish
ing Parks.
THE REGISTER OF DEEDS
Is to Be Investigated, and NJ
merouS Things Are
Criticised.

enthusiasm was eVinced last night
at the Commercial club by the
Municipal Reform league in it's de-
cision to hold supplementary meet
ings in each ward of the city. A
number of other practical resolutions
were adopted. Neither of the regu-
lar officers being present, Ferdinand
Willius was named temporary chair
man, and Prof. G. S. Innes temper
airy secretary.
Rev. David Morgan presented a
resolution protesting against an eff
fort to change the date of the n1u-
nicipal election to that Of the state
and county elections. If all three
elections occurred together, party
spirit would be encouraged and po-
litical trading INDUCED in. Recent
city elections had proven that there
existed sufficient number of people
in ST. Paul who are Independent in
municipal politics. Mr.. Morgan
resolution was adopted.
w. G. Thorpe, representing citizens
of the Fifth ward, called attention to
H. f. II, which has already passed the
house of representatives, anI . Inch he
styled ''the most outrageous bill ever
introduced in Minnesota" This bill alb
solutely removed from citizens all
power over the selection and purchase
of parks, placing the entire authority
in the hands of the park board, and
even empowers the board to acquire
parks outside of the city limits. 1t
likewise enables the board to make
three annual assessments for the main
tenance of trees that it may choose to
order planted
Mr. Thorpe vehemently
OPPOSED THIS BILL,
and related the painful experience of
Fifth ward citizens in fighting the
| Ridgeway park assessments, for which
they had secured postponement of con-
| sidration of twenty-eight consecutive
times. When Mr. Thorpe had conclud-
ed, it was explained that the bill to
which he referred gave practically no
additional power to the park board,
except the right to acquire property
outside of the city limits, and this
simply that the entire shore of Lake
Phalen might ultimately be secured
FOR park purposes. However, on mo-
! ton of Professor Innis, resolution
was adopted calling the attention of
the Ramsey county delegation to H. F.
~, and requesting the delegation to see
that the interest of the city was not
iinperiled herein.
Emil Geist, after abiding to the eX-
fensive' repaving contemplated by the
city next season, secured the adoption
of a resolution for the appointment of
a committee to investigate the lowest
possible cost of the various paving ma
terials. Mr.. Geist. Maj. Charles A.
Moore and Oscar Classen will consti-
tute the committee.
Maj Charles A. Moore stated that he
had been given to understand that the
REGISTER OF DEEDS
of Ramsey county was in the habit of
making charges in excess of the legal
| rates, and the majors resolution was
adopted that committee be appointed
to investigate the alleged overcharge.
G. w. Horn, Ambrose Tighe and Will
lam L. Ames were named by the chair
Vice President Horn, of the CONNER
cial club then addressed the league in
a vigorous speech in which he pointed
out the urgent necessity for serious
and practical reform of our city gov
eminent, especially in the direction of
economy. He therefore recommended
that meetings be organized in every
ward of the city to further the pro-
! gramme of the parent league. General
Endorsement was accorded to Mr.
Horr's suggestion, and, ON his motion,
Chairman Willius appointed c.. W.
Horn, Prof. Innis and w. H. Lightner
a committee to arrange for the ward
meetings.
H W. Phillips reported the progress
being made by the conference commit
tee of the legislature on the various
charter bills. The committee favored
the election, by every city with $4,000
inhabitants, of an alderman from each
ward and eight aldermen at large. The
progress of municipal legislation was,
on the whole, satisfactory. Whereupon
the club adjourned until it's regular
/ meeting next Tuesday.