St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1896-02-21
HE WILL LOWER THE FLOOR
UNTIL 1T Is LEVEL WITH THE
SIDEWALK, AND HEAT MAR
KET HALL
LEASE RUNS FOR THREE YEARS
So the Public Library Scheme Is AID.
Darently OF for at Least That
Long.

At~SS night oil experienced dllu
acute observer Of the proceedings Of
the common council said:
IF 1 had hopeless measure that I
wanted to put through the assembly
I'd go to Billy Johnson"
Nicholas Rauen, the gentleman who
submitted the sole bid for a three
year lease of the first floor and base
ment OF the market house, was evil
IDENTITY astute enough to recognize the
inhuence OF Assemblyman Johnson
over his colleagues. Championed as it
was by Mr.. Johnson Mr.. Rauen's bid
was accepted by a vote of to 2. This
sidetracks the other propositions. one
for the public library building and the
other for department store, until the
board Of aldermen passes upon the
resolution Mr.. Rauen's proposition is
to pay nominal rental of 500 for a
three years lease Ct the first floor
and basement of the market house, in
consideration of which he agrees to
lower the first floor of the building to
the level of the street, put in some thir-
ty-two stalls and make various other
alterations. aggregating In all from
$4,000 to $4,000 worth of work. More
over, Mr.. Rauen agrees to heat the
market hall and the other rooms on the
second floor, which will remain in
possession of the city
The result was the outcome of a.
long yet spicy debate over the resolu-
ton of Mr.. Parker, which was defeated
by tie vote at the previous meeting
This resolution instructed the city
clerk to furnish the city with a suit
able site and ThroY hJ1il 10 ha
erected thereon. the combined cost of
which should equal the value of the
market house property, the value Of
which should be determined by a COM
mission Of three real estate experts to
be appointed by the district court of
Ramsey county.
AS predicted by the g o e, the res
olution was reconsidered. In its sup
port, Mr.. Parker read a similar reso-
luton adopted at the citizens meeting
held at the Commercial club Tuesday
afternoon 5- -r. .......
Mr.. Johnson, in significant tone,
asked how many citizens were pres
ent at that meeting. Mr.. Parker said
that he did not know, as he was alb
sent when the vote on the resolution
was taken. He judged. however, that
there were from sc to Is present He
could not say whether the vote was
unanimous.
Mr. Johnson said that the vote was
not unanimous, and furthermore de-
clared that the representative business
men of st. Paul were opposed to the
resolution.
Mr.. johnson argued that 1t was an
inopportune time to sell the market
house property or any other real es-
tate. Moreover, the city was confront
ed with demand for a reduction Of
|. taxation in real estate. and yet at this
time it was proposed to go to an ex-
pense of several hundred thousand dol
lars for a library building Mr. John
son believed in the necessity Of a pub
lie library building, but this was not
the time to purchase one, especiaIly
when the city was reducing the sal
aries Of its policemen and other en-
ployes Mr.. Johnson figured that the
market house Dronerty, if taxed, would
bring in only $4,000 year Mr. John
son then proceeded to indorse the prop
osition of Nicholas Hauen to repair
and alter the market house, under a
three-year lease. Mr.. Johnson opposed
the department store proposition and
said he would not encourage depart
ment stores.
Mr.. Parker. In reply, said that his
resolution did not contemplate the sale
Of the market house property. His
resolution simply called for bids for A
site and library building based upon
the value of the market house prop
erty. Mr.. Parker denied that an extra
expense to the taxpayers of the city
was involved.
Mr.. Johnson retorted that it was an
extravaganza to devote the assets aris-
i1ocr fl,n L. 81 l,A ~
property to a public library building.
The city had a public library, and it
would answer for the present.
Mr.. Parker contended that his resolu-
ton contemplated getting for the city
an asset equal in value to the market
house and at the same time convert
ing the market house property into
| taxable property, and SO realizing a
revenue for the city, and all this could
be done without increasing the tax
levy one cent
Mr.. Lewis thought it better to have the
| resolution throw the matter open to two class
es of bids, one a cash valuation and the
other an exchange. Mr.. Lewis was willing to
vote to advertise for bids for a site. merely
to ascertain what it would cost. He would
not, however, consider himself bound to &C
, cept any bid. He did not agree with Mr..
Johnson as to expending an asset: it was
merely exchanging one asset for another. Mr.
Lewis believed that the great majority OF
PdliOilS VI the pubic library consisted OIL
poor people. Therefore he not afraid to
| advocate the necessity of public library
building because of the reduction of the sal
aries Of the policemen and fremen Mr.
Lewis opinion of the Rauen proposition to
improve the market house was that the city
should make the improvements and realize
the profits that would arise therefrom. Mr..
Lewis said he would never be found voting
to give away the market house property for
less than it is worth.
Mr.. Johnson again replying to Mr.. Parker
ninI hat
seventy-five citizens at the Commercial club
| constituted the opinion of the majority OF
| the citizens Of st. Paul.
| Mr.. Parker accepted the suggestion of Mr.
| Lewis that his resolution be revised so as
| to throw the matter open TO two classes OF
| bids, one cash bid and the other ex-
| amended, and then Mr.. Parker offered /,
/ for adoption.
| Mr. Strouse said that while he was in favor
| of selling the market house property outright
| he thought the present was an inopportune
| time to sell it. In a few years time there
would be two buildings vacated-the presen,
postoffice and the state capitol-either Of
which could be purchased for less than one
| half of the value of the market house prop
erty There was no harm in the Parker reso
luton however, and he was willing to vote
| for 1t to ascertain the actual value of the
market house property.
Mr.. Robb was also willing to vote for it.
But Mr.. Parker was also shrewd enough tc
observe that the resolution would be lost il
allowed to go to vote. so he moved a refer.
! ence to the committee on streets.
Mr.. Johnson opposed the motion. He
wanted to see something done.
The motion then put to a vote and
| lost by G vote of five to three. Messrs. Lewis.
Parker and Strouse voting for reference.
Mr.. Parker theh offered to withdraw his
resolution but Mr. Lewis objected, where
upon Mr.. Parker moved its adoption. The
resolution was ldss bSnthe following tie vote
nays, Arosin, nFJehhson, Reardon Van
SlykeA. President Copeland was absent.
Parker fhefs left the cauncil cham her