St. Paul daily globe., 1896-03-21
PAVING WAR GOES ON.
Mayors Veto Sends the Whole Mat
ter Back to Committees


Mayor Pratt yesterday sent in to the council
a veto of the council resolutions awarding con-
tracts for asphalt paving. The mayor recites
several reasons for not approving the resolu-
ticns, the chief one being that the prices Of
Tered are too high, in view of the figures OBJ
tanned in several other cities. He intimated
that the council had the right to order asphalt
on the down town streets if it was the opinion
OF the aldermen that 1t best adapted for
this city, but held that in justice to the tax
payers they should make another attempt to
secure lower prices. He stated it as his opin-
Ion that there was an asphalt pool in exist
ence, as far as Minneapolis is concerned and
declared that the council in soliciting the last
batch OF bids did not grant sufficient time.
On hearing the veto message read, Chair
man Durham moved the whole matter be
sent back to the paving committee for further
consideration.
Aid. Nordeen objected, and wanted the mo-
ton amended so as to compel the paving COM
mittee to report before the Adjournment of the
council. The aldermen insisted that imme-
date action was necessary.
Aid. Durham declared the time was too
short in which to fully discuss the matter
Aid. Nordeen insisted that a report should
be forthcoming then and there. in order that
the city clerk could advertise for bids during
the absence of the aldermen.
Aids Loye Elliot, Colburn and Harvey all
agreed with Aid Nordeen. Aid. Harvey in
sisted that the policy of rule and ruin would
mediate action.
Aid. Durham turned a hot shot at Aid. Nor
tdeen, declaring it was rather unfair that the
'obstructionists who had had II the time they
wanted should object when some one else
wanted extension"
Aid. Coburn objected to the term obstruc-
tionist, and accidentally played into his op-
ponents hands by moving to Law the motion
on the table, which would have tied it up as
tightly as regular reference would have
done The alderman saw his error only when
nj MS coat tails were pulled by Aid. Nordeen.
Ihe motion was promptly withdrawn.
Aid. Nordeen's amendment was lost 16 to
10, and the original motion, offered by Aid
Durham was carried, follows:
Ayes-Ald. Alexander Long. O'Brien. Dur
nam, Jennings, Rand, Anderson, Rhode. Bra
dish, Schwartz. McAllister. Phillips, Drew,
Dickenson, Fort Currer-16.
Nays-Ald. Loye, Adams Elliot Harvey
Cclburn, Nordeen, Hewett, Miner, Skoog Sny-
der-10.
The adoption of the motion holds the ques-
tion in allegiance until April 30 when the
council holds its next meeting
Al the very fag end of the meeting Aid
Elliot dug the paving imbroglio from its Sc
clusion once more, and offered a motion an
thorlzlng the city clerk to advertise for bids
Tor asphalt pavement Immediately on the
| down town streets, the pavement TO be laid
| on slX-inch concrete foundation. Aid. Dur
nam moved as an amendment that the matter
| be sent to the paving committee. Aid Har-
| Ney came along with substitute but Aid
Jennings headed off long debate by moving
| to lay the matter on the table The motion
| was carried, 10 to 9.
City Assessor Plummer sent in for approval
| his list OF deputy assessors, which was ap-
proved
! The proposed amendment to the milk ordi-
| nance, recommended by the committee on
! health and hospitals, came up upon a recon-
mendation from the committee on ordinances
! The amendments comprised the points sug-
! gested in recent decision of the municipal
! court. There were half-bundred mlkmen
! to watch proceedings.
Aid. Rand, who has undertaken the dairy
mems side of the issue. opposed the ordinance
| because there is in his opinion too much red
| tape and machinery about the milk traffic.
| He believed the bad milk came from outside
! the city. AS matter of fact, the alderman
said, he believed the whole ordinance was
Illegal, and said something which would indi-
| cate that the measure will be again attacked
by the milkmen Of the city. The ordinance,
however, was passed by vote Of % to 5; nays
Aid. Durham, Anderson, Rand.