St. Paul daily globe., 1896-03-04
ALDERMEN DISAPPOINTED AT NOT
RECEIVING THE TADULATED
LIGHTING BIDS.
AN EXPLANATION WAS GIVEN,
POSSIBLE TO GET THEM IN
SHAPE,
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT PAYROLL
Returned to the Board and Referred
to COmmittee-AId. Brady Dis
putes the Figures.

ton of the bids for city lighting would
occupy the principal attention rf the
board of aldermen at it's regular meet
ing last night. BY concurrent resolu-
ton of the board and the assembly,
adopted Monday night, the proposals
were referred for tabulation to the
board of public works, the city engi-
neer and corporation attorney, with in
structions to report the result to the
board Of aldermen at last nights meet
ing. But no report was submitted
Nor was the board informed that the
report would not be forthcoming last
evening until Aid. Brady announced
the fact In dong so, he alderman
sad:
Il don't like this neglect TO Cbey the
instructions Of the common council
There doesn't appear to be any good
reason for the failure to submit the
report tonight. I therefore move that
the board Of aldermen meet at 1880 to-
morrow night for the express purpose
or receiving and acting upon the re-
port ordered"
This brought forth an explanation
from Assistant Corporation Attorney
Phillips, who acted with the board Of
public works and the city engineer in
tabulating the bids. Mr.. Phillips said
that the board, the city engineer and
himself had worked all day on the
matter and had practically completed
the task, but it was decided not to
submit the report until certain addi-
tional information could be secured
showing the exact number Of gas
lamps in certain districts. This infor-
nation was not Immediately at hand.
and therefore, at the request Of two
members Of the board Of public works.
1t was agreed that the council be asked
to grant an extension of time in which
to complete and submit the report.
Ala. Markham seconded Aid. Brady's
motion to adjourn until this evening,
rremarking that he was glad to hear
ifom the committee, and he believed
they would find time to tabulate the
lighting bids in time for a meeting to
be held tWenty-four hours later The
motion prevailed, and the bids will be
considered tonight f~~~'e .'+'
Aid. Brady took occasion to remark.
after the explanation Of Mr.. Phillips,
that he had heard that the report was
held back in order that it might go to
the assembly first, for the purpose of
securing an award of portion of the
contract to a certain contractor.
The board of fire commissioners re-
turned the January pay roll of the fire
department, which had been referred
back to the board on motion of Aid.
Brady, and also sent back the minority
report Of the aldermanic committee.
which recommended that no salaries
in the department be reduced except
those of the chief engineer and his first
five nr1 Il
the original pay roll, and in explana-
ton of its action submitted a statement
showing the necessity for the reduc-
t1CnS proposed. The communication
stated that it was not true, as alleged.
that the fire board would receive dur
ing the year the sum of $204, 800. The
actual receipts, including the balance
on hand Jan. l, 1896, of $780, would not
exceed $175,900, plus possible sum of
$4,000 representing delinquent tax col
lectionS, thereby making a possible
total Of $185,900. The fire board then
furnishes an estimate of expenses under
the reduced pay rolls, as follows:
Pay rolls for 1896, $159, 400, minimum run
ming expenses for the year, $27,40O; total ex-
pense, $1S6,000.
This estimate, so the fire board declares, is
for the bare running expenses of the depart
ment, without making any allowance for ac-
cidents or extra hose that the board NAV
have to purchase.
Aid. Brady took issue with the figures SUBJ
mtted by the fire board, and insisted that
his figures, contained in the minority re-
port, were the correct ones because he oh
tanned his information from Comptroller Nc
Cardy. He said he was tired of all this Jug
Cling with figures, and that he wanted the
facts revealed. The alderman then moved
that the January pay roll and the communi-
cation from the fire board be referred to the
committee on fire department. The motion
prevailed by a vote of to 8, Aid. Markham,
Montgomery and President Ehrmanntraut
voting in the negative.
The February pay roll of the fire DEPART
ment was likewise disposed of by the same
reference and the same vote. Aid. Brady
then secured the adoption of a resolution re-
ferring to the city comptroller the
the fire board, and the figures set
forth in Aid. Brady's minority report, for
the purpose of ascertaining which are correct.
Aid. Lindahl, who is chairman Of the COM
mittee on fire department. announced that he
would call a meeting Of the committee, to
take place at p. m. today.
While the clerk was reading the other pay
rolls, Aid. Murphy moved that Of the build
ing inspectors department be referred to the
committee on claims Asked to explain his
motion, Aid. Murphy said that one man in
the building inspectors Office had worked all
the month of February, but that his name
had been left OF the pay roll, as 1t was found
that the department had exceeded its monthly
proportion of the appropriation. Aid. Murphy
declared that the building inspector had not
apportioned the salaries of his department
fairly.
Building Inspector Kingsley, who was pres
ent, said that he was willing the matter
should be investigated, so long as both sides
could be heard. The pay roll was referred to
the committee on claims.
The ordinance imposing upon the building
inspectors department the additional duty Of
inspecting all electric wiring was passed.
EIANDERs AS CI1prD