The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1896-03-27

tors filled the lobby of the council
chamber when Mayor Weaver called
the council TO order Saturday night in
regular session. Roll call showed all
of the aldermen to be present.
The special order was the electric
light question, and was first taken up,
the mayor remarking that ''no doubt
our friend Watkins is here some
where" The consulting committees
from the commercial organizations
were called upon for remarks, but the
silence remained unbroken.
Aid. Peterson said that the lighting
committee was not prepared toreport,
as nothing further bad been heard
from Watkins, and there was nothing
more to be said, and he asked for a
further extension of time.
Aids. Zimmerman and Andrews
thought that there should be some &C
tion taken at once. The latter
thought that the council had been
"playAd with" long enough. Watkins
had written two aldermen that he
would start last Wednesday for Man
kato, and nothing had been heard
from him since.
Aid. Peterson explained that week
ago he had notified Mr.. Watkins that
his offer would hold good until April
1st, and he would stand by that, no
matter what the other aldermen did.
Mayor Weaver said that he thought
that it would be useless to monkey"
with such kind of man. When
man offers to sell gold dollars for
Seventy-iye cents, it is well to let him
alone He had received no answer to
the letter which he had written him.
Aid. Bradley thought that it was
useless to negotiate with Watkins any
longer, as it appears as if he is man
without capital, who secures fran
chises to sell again. The council
should not allow itself to be con-
tinually put off, as it would continue
for six months to come.
Mayor Weaver said that it was per-
fectly reasonable to ask Watkins to
send check for $1,000, and he would
have sent it had he been man with
money back of him. Watkins is now
as near Mankato as he ever expected
to see him.
Aid. Zimmerman said that in order
to bring the matter to head he
would move that all bids and PROPOSE
tions be rejected.
Aid. Adams favored postponing &C
tion during the evening, as tele-
gram might arrive. He had never
taken any stock in Watkins, and if
nothing is heard he would favor drop
ping the matter.
Aid. Bradley moved that the light
ing committee be instructed to re-
port during the evening. Neither
this nor Aid. Himmelman's motion
received second, and the matter was
dropped, Messrs. Klein and Comstock
reporting for the advisory committees
that those committees had nothing to
offer.
A petition was received asking that
he old hook and ladder truck and
chemical be kept in the First ward.
This had So signatures. The matter
was referred to the committee on fire
department.
A communication was received
from Mayor W. J. Breath, of Omaha,
asking for favorable action toward
the Trans-Mississippi Exposition, and
it was placed on file.
Seven of the eight ordinances which
passed their first reading at the last
meeting were given their second
reading, and were passed without
amendments. The health board ordi-
nance was laid over to investigate an
objection raised by Recorder Smith to
making the city recorder clerk of the
board. Mr.. Smith held that the city
recorder has enough to do now. Aid.
Zimmerman suggested that the name
of Highland Park be changed to
Bunker Hill Park, but Aid. Bradley
said that the people living there pre-
fer the former name, and no change
was made.
Aid. Bradley brought up the plumb
ers license matter and could not see
why the fixing of the license is in the
hands of the Board of Public works.
Aid. Andrews moved that the board
be asked to abolish the 800 perpetual
license. City Attorney Pau explain
ed that the board has the power to
fix the license. Engineer Haynes said
that the matter was discussed in the
board until 1T was heartily tired of
the subject, and if the council had all
the facts it would likely be satisfied.
Aid. Andrews motion was defeated.
Aid. Bradley advocated opening a
new street to the slough in Van
Brunt's addition, and moved that the
matter be referred to the street COM
mittee. Engineer HAYNES said tbot n