The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-07-28
COUNTY FATHERS PONDER.
Weighty Matters Occupied Their At
fentiOn.

At a meeting of the board Of county
commissioners held yesterday after
noon, it was decided to include in the
tax levy estimate an appropriation Of
$4,000 for equipping the city hospital
with an electric light plant.
The report of the committee on roads
and bridges which contemplates the
issuance of 100000 worth Of bonds for
the purpose of building macadamized
roads, was the subject of some adverse
criticism on the part of Messrs. Doran,
Kellerman and Ness, although it was
finally adopted and placed on file. A
clause was also included in the report
recommending that there be included
in the tax levy schedule an appropria-
ton of 5000, for the improvement Of
roads and bridges Of which $4,000 was
to be set aside for the construction Of
macadamized roads. The recommended
ton at this time was made by the COM
mittee on roads and bridges for the
reason that when the schedule was sub
mitted last week it had not yet COM
pleted it's figures.
Following consideration of the re-
port by separate items the extra recon-
mendation was unanimously adopted
and the schedule accordingly amended.
The recommendation for the issuance
Of the $780, 900, payable in ten equal
yearly installments with interest at 4
per cent, was supported by Commits
sioner Allen. its Trainer, and also by
Commissioners McCarron Wright and
Moritz. The arguments in favor of the
proposed issuance were in general to
the effect that ST. Paul was at a far
greater disadvantage than neighboring
cities In the way Of suitable approaches
from the country districts, and that
for this reason much trade was divert
ed into other channels which would,
with the proper facilities, come to this
city. 1t was stated that the increase
in the tax levy would be so small as
applied to each individual tax payer
that 1t would not be felt to any ap-
preciable extent and as a rule, in con-
sideration of the good which would
accrue to the city, most of the proper
ty holders would be glad to pay their
share. Notwithstanding the urgent
plea of those favorable to the plan,
Mayor Doran, and Commissioners Ness
and Kellerman vigorously opposed the
issuance of the bonds at this time on
the grounds that at the present time
the strictest economy should govern
the action of the board and they did
not believe the tax levy should be in
creased even in the slightest degree.
Chairman Kerwin, of the board of
control, and DR.. Ancker were present
to request that an electric light plant
be placed in the city hospital Figures
were presented to show that the ex-
pense of lighting the institution in 1893
had been 81 ,145.10; in 1894, $1347 Is; in
1895, s1,593.45, and for the first six
months of this year, $1,112.12 The in
crease in the expense, it was explained.
was owing to the larger number of
patients for which the hospital is car
Ing each year. The cost Of the plant
proposed was placed at $4,000, with a
yearly expense for its operation of
81, 900.
Commissioner Ness and County Au-
dstor Sullivan asked Mr.. Kerwin if the
plant could not be provided out Of the
appropriation already included in the
tax levy, but the latter emphaticalIy
said it could not as the board of con-
troll had reduced DR.. Ancker's estimate
$4,000. On coming to a vote the appro-
priation for the plant was unanimously
recommended.
The county attorney was instructed
to take an appeal to the supreme court
in the case of Libbey against Anthony
Yoerg, in which Judge Brill recently
decided that the tax judgments of 1893
were void. The county attorney ex-
planned that Mr. Yoerg and two other
parties held certificates against certain
property owned by Mr.. Libbey and en-