St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1896-04-03
FOR A LONGER LOOP
-@7 Ss7c = - - . 1919.
ASSEMBLY PASSES A RESOLUTION
DIRECTING IT'S EXTENSION TO
- BROADWAY.
$500
ROBERT STREET MERCHANTS
PROTEST IN VAIN AGAINST THE
PASSAGE OF THE RESOLU-
TION.
POLICE SALARIES ARE FIXED.
Compromise Ordinance on a Basis Of
$3.50 Per Month for PATROL
men Is Passed.


tend its loop from Robert street down to
Broadway. AS developed at the meeting of
the committee on streets last Monday, senti-
ment was sharply divided, the retail mer-
chants in the vicinity of Robert and Sixth
streets strenueusly opposing any change in
the present loop, and the jobbers on lower
Fifth and Broadway actively favoring and
urging the proposed extension. After a
lengthy and spicy discussion, the assembly
adopted the resolution by vote of five to two
The outcome was a victory for Messrs.
Arosin and Lewis, of the committee on streets,
who submitted minority report recommend
ing the adoption of the resolution whereas
the majority report, signed by Messrs. Robb,
Strouse and Reardon, was adverse to the
resolution.
After both reports had been read Mr.. Arosin
moved that the minority report be substituted
for the majority report for several reasons.
Among them were these: The present loop
did not sufficiently accommodate the public; it
was Injurious inasmuch it Disseminated
against large part of the business district
and furthermore, if the loop were extended to
Broadway, it would bring the street cars
within two blocks of the union depot.
Mr.. Robb at once raised the point that the
resolution would cut no figure as the council
could not compel the street railway company
to change its loop. Asked for his opinion
Corporation Attorney Darragh conceded with
Mr.. Robb. Then the discussion began in earn
est.
Mr.. Johnson favored the resolution request
Ing the extension of the loop, because he be-
lieved the change would benefit the public and
work the greatest good for the greatest num-
Der, and the council had primarily to do with
the interests of the general public. Every one
thought Mr.. Johnson, would be benefited
save perhaps few business houses in the i'm
mediate vicinity Of Robert and Sixth streets
and they would still be only one block distant
from the Fifth and Seventh street lines The
change would leave more room for carriages
and would bring the street cars nearer to the
union depot.
Mr. Strouse opposed the resolution upon
the ground that it was nothing but mere re-
quest that the street railway company was not
compelled to heed, much less obey. Attor-
ney Mum, OF the stree. railway. company, had
emphatically stated before the committee that
the company would not comply with the re-
quest. Mr.. Strouse declared that he could
see no use in voting for a resolution that
meant nothing and amounted to nothing but
blank piece OF paper. But he would vote
for an ordinance: that meant something, IL
satisfied that the public would be benefited by
the extension of the loop 1r..
Mr.. Lewis differed with Mr., Strouse He
thought that request was the proper form
OF resolution first addressed to a corpora
ton. II the corporation refused to comply
with It, then the council could use force If it
had force at it's command.
At this point the outsiders took a hand In
the discussion. Ansel Oppenheim, who op-
posed the extension vigorously, remarked at
the outset that the resolution "came from
body known as the St. Paul chamber of
commerce." Mr.. Oppenheim thereupon sailed
into that institution. He recalled how, when
quartered in the building on Sixth street,
it had incurred an Indebtedness that neces-
STATED its removal therefrom, and how GER
tain citizens had advanced loans to the
chamber in its predicament. Now, that it
mad secured other quarters, Mr.. Oppenheim
thought 1t reprehensible for the chamber
TO lnaugurate movement to deprive the
very district 1t once occupied of the benefit
OF the present street railway facilities Mr.
Oppenheim pleaded hard for the retail dis
trict. He said:
we are exerting every effort to build I'D
retail business district, and now the cham
Der of commerce wants to make II imnos
slole for US to go forward. 1t would show
bad faith If this council should take the
loop away from this district If you do.
the time will come when some fellows will
want it extended as far east as John street"
Il. A. Kirk, who was a member of the
transportation committee of the chamber of
commerce, which unanimously approved of
the extension, took exception to Mr.. OPP
penheim's structures on the present cham
Der of commerce 1t had nothing to do with
past deeds. 1t was now composed of rem
resentatlve men, and it was hardly fair to
rake up old matters. Mr.. Kirk believed
lhat pubic interests would be subserved by
extending the loop.
But II Mr.. Kirk took exception to the re-
marks OF Mr.. Oppenheim, A. H. Lindeke re-
sented them Indignantly.
Il am sorry" said Mr.. Lindeke s.tba+ tho
chamber of commerce has been dragged in
here. AS matter of fact, the Jobbers' union
ana commercial club were represented at the
meeting when the resolution was adontad
AS lar as Mr.. Oppenheim's charges against
the chamber are concerned he himself was q
member OF that body when the indebtedness
nc refers to was incurred, and he helped to
create 1t. No one can contradict that"
Well, Mr.. Lindeke, 1 contradict it." in
terrupted Mr.. Oppenheim.
Mr.. Lindeke then proceeded to argue in IA
Vor OF the extension of the loop. He con-
tended that the removal of the loop from Rob-
ert street would not injure the retail NOR
chants at Sixth and Robert streets. In tnis
connection, Mr.. Lindeke testified to the es-
TEEN and friendship he entertained for Robert
Mannheimer, who, he said, was one of the
best and incest men that ever lived. He had
no intention of injuring Mr.. Manufacturers
business, and he was sure the extension of the
loop would not injure it. On the other hand.
II the loop were of such vast benefit to two
blocks, then by all means extend it five blocks
further, for no one had an exclusive right to
such benefits.
j. H. Horton, of Ransom & Horton adj
VanceQ W.
against changing the present loop. To ex-
tend 1t to Broadway would, in Mr.. Horizons
opinion, break up the retail district, and IN
less the retail center could be held the busi-
ness was bound to retrograde and the retail
merchants who were able to do SO. would
move away. The business must go forward
or backward.
Ih1s closed the discussion, and the motion
10 ADOPT the minority report was thereupon
put and carried by a vote of five to two
Messrs. Strouse and Robb voting in the neg
alive.
The compromise ordinance fixing the salaries
OF the patrolmen at $3.50 per month and pro-
Vlolng for the scale of reduction for the SUI
perlor officers, as originally recommended by
Chlef Clark, was passed by a unanimous vote,
but not without some discussion. After Mr.
AIosin had moved the suspension of the rules
and the placing of the ordinance on its final
passage, question was raised as to the time
when 1t would take effect. Mr. Robb said that
1t would take effect from April 1. The ordi-
nance contemplates that it should take effect
from JAM l, but Assistant Corporation At
tcrney Phillips advised the assembly that,
legally. the ordinance would not go into effect
until after Its passage and publication. 1t
could only relate back in case the resolution
OF 1892 fixing the salaries of the police, should
De Invalid for the years subsequent to 1892
Attorney Michael, on behalf OF the. police,