The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-12-16
CONFERENCE COMMITTEE ADOPTS
FOURTEEN OUT OF SIXTEEN
ITEMS CONSIDERED.
TWO OF THEM ARE RAISED.
THE AMOUNT FOR THE BUILDING
INSPECTOR AND CITY ENGIN-
EER INCREASED.
ed After the Committee Learns
What Is on Hand.

The conference committee made rap
Id progress with the comptroller's tax
estimate yesterday afternoon. In the
two hours session, the committee
adopted fourteen items out of sixteen
considered. Items nine and ten, pro-
viding for school fund, will be the
special order of business for this after
noon, and, If they are disposed Of, the
committee will resume the considera-
ton Of the remaining items, which
are the bridge repair fund, the judg-
ment fund, printing, advertising and
stationery fund, municipal court fund,
public library fund, fire department
fund and the fund for the redemption
of the $4,000 worth of bonds that
fall due next year.
On this last item, which is the sec
ond item in the budget, the committee
took no action yesterday but post
poned consideration of it until a later
day. Action was also deferred on the
fourth item, appropriating 100000 for
the fire department fund, owing to
discrepancy between the books of the
fire department and those of the comp
troller The other items from the
lie " Tie SlSnlGGlIn INCLUSIVE. 0A-
cepting, Of course, the school appro-
priation, were adopted successfully
after brief discussions in some in
stances and none at all in others.
Beginning with the first item, provid-
ing for the interest on the bonded debt
for the year 1897, amounting to $399, 1885,
and for $1O,S15 for the sinking fund,
r. B. G. Bement, president of the water
board, suggested that if 100000 worth
of bonds were to be paid on March
1, 1897, and $4,000 worth on Sept. /,
1897, it would reduce the interest on
the bonded debt provided for in the
first item by the sum of $4,000 and
that the first item ought to be reduced
by that amount.
Comptroller McCardy said there was
always a shortage in the interest fund
and that it would be advisable to Sc
cure a surplus, if possible.
The first item was then adopted as
recommended by the comptroller. AS
the board Of water commissioners will
pay $114,2 200 to these funds, the amount
to be raised by taxation is 1926, 800
The second item, appropriating $780,
900 for the redemption of bonds, was
postponed as mentioned
On motion of Mr.. Bement, the third
lleHl was dOOptSQ DIS II StdHOS. InlS
item provides for the payment of the
interest on tax levy certificates
amounting to $50, 900 out of the gem
eral fund, and consequently there is
no special levy necessary.
President Freeman, of the fire board,
asked that the 100000 in the fourth
item providing for the support of the
fire department be increased to $215,-
600. The additional sum, Mr.. Freeman
said, was needed to improve the fire
alarm system, and also to substitute Il
steamer in place Of chemical No. at
Victoria street and Ashland avenue
Comptroller McCardy thought it I'M
wise to increase the estimate. The fire
board had to its credit today about
$4,000, and on Jan. 1, 1897, the depart
ment would have on hand about 10000
after paying $1,000 worth of bills now
due.
Mr.. Freeman said that the depart
ment's books showed that the Depart
ment would have a balance on Jan.
of only 1852. Continuing Mr. Free
man said that an improvement in the
fire alarm system was absolutely neces-
sary. 1t was only a six circuit system
whereas a twelve circuit system was