The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1895-07-26
Claim that They:are not Backed Up
by the Council and Best
Citizens.a
The Councilmen Deny Reports and
Refuse to Accept the Re-
signationS.

tions, in places least exposed to fire.
There are IA business places where
powder is kept and with two excep-
tions) in compliance with the ordin-
ance. These two parties have re-
moved the excess amounts since being
notified to that effect.
One place had from 30 to 40 pounds
Of dynamite on the premises.
We found three frame buildings
under construction within the fire
limits, and notified them to stop.
Two have complied and the other one
has been given permit by the city
engineer.
We have also found several places
where excelsior boxes, papers and
other refuse matter has been thrown
out, making dangerous place. These
parties were also notified to have same
removed at once.
Persons having hay stacks were
asked to place the same under cover
or remove outside city limits.
We recommend the placing of signs
on each and every place where gaso-
line is kept, warning of danger."
q. M. PHILLIPS, chief.
j. A. LULSDORFF, 1St asst.
Il. IL. WILLIAMS, End asst.
Mayor Weaver said thatit is strange
that business men who ought to be
the most interested in the enforce
ment of the fire limits ordinance are
the least so. He was sorry that the
wardens had resigned.
Aid. Bradley said that the opposi
ton tothe work of the wardens comes
from class of people from whom it is
least expected. The ones who would
not be expected to do so are generally
the kickers. He was sorry to say that
it is the better class of citizens who
propose to ride over the law of the
city regardless of the consequences.
One of these was warned to stop work
on frame building within the fire
limits, but he commenced work again
and claimed that he had permission
of the board of public works. If this
is so, what are the wardens for? If
the board of public works is doing this
it should correct its practice, where
buildings are not fire proof. He did
not blame the fire wardens for resign
ing, as they were not sustained.
Ald.Andrews moved that the resig
nations be not accepted, and this
was carried withouta dissenting vote.
Chief Phillips said that the man
men toned had not claimed to have a
permission from the board of public
works but from three of the aldermen.
A permit had been issued by the
city engineer for a frame building
with tin roof, and at one place one
of the fire marshals had been insulted
Mr.. Phillips asked whether the
police ought not to enforce the Or
dinance when fire wardens inform
them of instances where it is being
broken. He wanted this understood
as he did not propose to swear out any
warrants. He thought that the duty
of the wardens was done when they
reported violations of the ordinance
to the police.
Mayor Weaver stated that if any
one knew that an ordinance was being
violated it was his duty to swear out
a warrant and the police would
serve it. A man in the Fifth ward
had claimed to have permission of
three aldermen and the city attorney
to go on erecting frame building in
violation of the ordinance, after he
had been stopped by the wardens. The
mayor said that he told the man that
if he did not stop work he would see
that the work was stopped. If the
aldermen don't want the ordinance
enforced they should repeal it.
City Attorney Pau denied that he
had given the man permission to go
on. and said that he had no right to
give such permission. He had seen
the man after hearing the report and
told him that he had not given him
permission.
Warden Williams said that the
man had claimed to have permission
OF three of the aldermen and the city
attorney to go on with the building.
Aid. Zimmerman said that none of
the aldermen had given such permis-
sion.
Chief Phillips said that the wardens
do not want to hold their offices Ion
ger unless backed by the council.
Aid. Peterson said that the alder
men have no right to give such per-
mission, and that if the man claimed
to have it and the councilmen claim
ed not to have given it, it was a ques-
tio- Of veracity. He thought that
tin rdens should go on with their
UJIk.
VI e o1o ipni6nnt