The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1896-12-11

MayorWeaver presided at the meet
ing of the council Saturday night. and
all of the aldermen answered to their
names. An unusually large number
of spectators were present, most of
them having an interest in one or
more Of the matters expected to come
up. The greater part were from
North Mankato.
Attorney w. L. ComstOck appeared
and wanted some formal action
taken to show that Third avenue eX-
tends through block 143 to Lafayette
street. After some discussion, the
matter was referred to the street
committee and city sattOrney to in
Vestigate.
Mr.. Comstock appeared also on be-
half of the Mankato Pipe Co. and
asked that it's claims against Contrac-
tor Mahoney or the city be referred
to committee. The bill amounts
to little over S16O. The matter was
referred to the committee on claims
and accounts.
On recommendation of the COM
mittee on licenses, "a liquor license
was ordered granted to j. j. Gould
upon his payment of $1,000 The
same action was taken in regard to
Powell & Conrad.
The committee On claims reported
adversely upon Contractor MahOney's
bill for house connection on Clark
street. All of the connections seem
to have been put in wrong, according
to the report.
The ordinance committee asked for
further time to report upon the mat
ter of city scales.
The report of the city treasurer
for November was read.
Chief Phillips stated that a frame
powder house had been discovered in
Germania Park, within $50 feet of
two residences.
Aid. Adams said that the house is
on Adam Jefferson's land, and he
wanted it removed from his ward. He
said that if any other alderman wants
it he can have it. L. Patterson owns
the powder and will probably consent
to have it moved further away.
The board Of public works reported
the award of the Guenther hill rip
rapping contract to f. and J. Kunz.
and the award was approved.
The health ordinance was reported
from the ordinance committee for it's
second reading, amended to meet the
wishes of the committee. 1t forbids
the health board to enter into any
contract without the permission of
the council. 1t was passed.
An ordinance amending the ordi-
nance relating to nuisances was given
it's second reading and passed. 1t
prohibits, among other things, the
keeping of swine in the city unless by
authority of the health committee or
health officer, and then only in the
sparsely settled portions of the city.
The board of public works presented
anew rule relating to the licensing of
plumbers. 1t reduces the license fee
from 500 to $40, and requires a bond
of $1,000 from each licensed plumber.
The license is to run one year. This
rule takes effect Jan. 1st next. The
applicant for license must furnish
the board with evidence of his
qualifications.
In reply to aquestion, City Attorney
Pfau held that if the previous rule
was legal and the fee of 800 for a
perpetual license was paid without
protest, those who paid cannot recover
the amount of the fee. The new rule
takes the place of the old. If the
previous fee was illegal, then they
can recover now as we'll as before this
new rule was adopted.
Aid. Bradley said that he would not
vote to refund any of the license fee
to the four plumbers who voluntarily
paid the 500 fee, if the city did not
have to repay it. He thought that
these plumbers have been protected
for two or three years and that they
have had their moneys worth. The
$100fee kept out many plumbers.
On motion of Aid. Andrews, action
on the new rule,was postponed until
the next meeting, and the board of
public works was asked to furnish
each alderman with a typewriter
copy of the prOpo. ed rules.
A resolution was adopted releasing