St. Paul daily globe., 1895-11-28
CASISTHE BETTER
FOR STREET LIGHTING FIRP0-
SES. SAYS CRAWFORD LIV-
INGSTON
TO PARKER COMMITTEE.
BOARD OF PUBLIC WORRIES IA
ZEN re TASK F0R DIS
ORDINATION.
LANGFonD MAKES a CHARGE.
And Capt. German Explains. but
Finally Admits That Ii Was
an Error.

crawford Livingston, the pfeSl-
dent of the St Paul Gas Light COM
pauy. gave the Parker retren@hment
committee the benefit of his views
ON the lighting question yesterday.
Some of them have already been
puhliShed by the G o b G. In sub
stance. Mr.. Livingston advised the
committee that the city could eX-
pect plenty of competition If 1t ad-
Vertised for bids for electric light
ing; that. in his opinion, gas would
prove cheaper and more efficient
means of lighting than electricity,
and that new gas had been discoV-
cred ana was being manufactured,
possessing Illuminating powers that
rendered it more than likely to dis
place electricity.
Before Mr.. Livingston was heard,
the committee resumed its considera-
ton Of the general subject of as
sesSment and taxation. The pro
ceedings opened with an informal
discussion regarding the assessed
valuation of st. Paul property. 1t
was conceded by Col Clough, Judge
LuSk and Gen. Sanborn that, the
valuation. amounting to $4,000, 900.
was too high. 1t was their opinion
that the property had been assessed
at high figure for the purpose of
eSta bIishing a basis Of credit.
n. p. Langford, who referred to
this matter the day before, believed
that the valuation ought to be re-
duced to $65. GOO .00O and the rate of
levy raised. This would. effect a big
saving in the annual tax paid to the
state.
Mr. Langford. at this point, took
occasion to arraign the board of
public works for its action in
matter that had interested him. MI.
Langford related to the committee
how the board of public works had
exempted the Atheneum company
from the operation of a final order
calling for a cement sidewalk on
Exchange street. As his own prop
erty was directly opposite, and he
was required to pay for a cement
sidewalk, Mr.. LangfOrd called upon
the board of public works to aSCer-
tain why the Atheneum company
was excepted from the provision of
the final order and was permitted to
lay a wooden sidewalk instead. He
was informed that the exception
was made at the request of the al
derman of the ward, but that the
board would except him if he de-
sired. He so desired, and the ex-
ceptiOn was made.
But on the way home" contin-
ued Mr.. Langford, 81 got thinking
the matter over. and concluded to
have nothing to do with such an If
regular proceeding. So | ordered a
cement sidewalk, and used the plank
in the old wooden sidewalk to help
construct a new floor in my barn.
Mr.. Langford said that he consid-
cred this proceeding a grave charge
to lay against the board of public
works.
The board of public works." he
added. lis almost judicial body,
and its corruption is almost as seri-
Gus as corruption of the judiciary
would be-"
Mr.. Langford's statements amused
as well as surprised the committee.
President German, of the board Of
public works, was at once sent for.
When he arrived Col CIough put
this question to Capt. GOrman:
rs it a practice, captain, for the
board of public works to make vari-
atoms or exceptions from the terms
Of final orders for sidewalks ?"
Capt. German answered that perhaps
there had been some exceptions made
generally, however, at the request of
the aldermen.
Gen. Sanborn-When you know that
that request is against the order of the
council?
Capt. Gorman-Yes, sir, when the
parties Interested are willing to pay for
another kind of work.
Col. Clough-It doesn't look quite
straight, does it?
Capt. German tbereupon explained
that after the board of public works
had received final order from the
council it had allowed parties to lay
their own walks before the final order
was published, bat not after it's publ
cation.
THE CASE IN POINT.
Capt German Was not certain wheth-
e. the concession to the Atheneum COM
rany in the case in point was made
before or after the publication of the
order. The charter allowed a private
party to lay his own walk of such mas
tcrial as he might choose before the
final order is published.
Mr. LanSford asked Capt. German
why then, the board took "a vote in the
case.
Capt. German said that it was merely
TO assure AGr. Langford that he would
not be stopped in laying his own walk
reference TO the record showed that
the final order in this case had been
| passed three weeks before the board
! of public works granted the Atheneum
company the right to lay a wooden
! sidewalk.
Col. Clough-Then, Capt. German,
| the board exceeded its authority in this
| case?
Capt, Gorman-Yes, sir. I don't
know why, but we just did it. Oaugh-
! tcr)
the whole lighting question was sug-
/ gested.
! Mr.. Lewis moved that the committee
take the matter up and dispose of it.
! AID. Markham seconded the motion.
! Col. Clough said that he had all the
! Information on the lighting question
/ he required, except perhaps, the views
! Of Crawford Livingston. Col. Clough
was opposed to the plan of the city's
owning a lighting plant and was con-
! fidcnt that contract let under fair
competition would be the best and
! most economical plan Of lighting the
city. He favored electricity as the best
method Of lighting the business dis
trict
Chairman Parker agreed with Col
Cloi;gh that the city ought not to invest
in or purchase Il lighting plant.
The roll call on the motion of Mr.
Lewis resulted in vote of to
against the motion. Chairman Parker
Col Clough, Judge Lusk anG Gen. San