The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-12-18


money on their property and they fire.
quently lost 1t in consequence. Some
times the cost of the improvement was
more than the lot was worth.
Mr.. Lightner wished 1t understood
that he was not advocating the On
tario, or installment, plan, but he want
ed to speak in behalf of those people
who are suffering under the present
system of Ievying and collecting assess
ments, and he thought the installment
plan ought to be looked into and con-
sidered. II the city was going to allow
property owners to pay In Install
ments, wouldn't it be wise to provide
that the application for judgment be
postponed until the property owner Is
in default. Mr.. Lightner suggested
that the city might assign it's lien on
the property instead Of selling the ces-
tificate of assessment, and so the PEG.
pie could avail themselves Of this
privilege.
Judge Clark wondered if anybody un-
der such an agreement would touch
the city certificates with a ten-foot
pole.
Mr. Lightner thought that the pur-
chaser Of the city's lien might fore
close 1t.
Col. Clough at this point suggested
that the committee on chapter VII. be
requested to formulate a plan and SUBJ
nit it to the commission. Col. Clough
here referred to provision in the con-
stitution Of ADMINISTRATIVE 9, sec
ton 1, which says that all taxes shall
be as nearly equal as can be, etc. This
article has been amended so as to per-
nit the legislature to authorize num-
cipal corporations to levy assessments.
The constitutional provision was not
self-operative, for the legislature must
PASS a specific act authorizing such as
sessment to be levied and prescribing
the mode of levying it. Such an act
had been passed. Col. Clough there
fore held that the present charter
must be followed in this matter or else
the city must fall back on the general
law. If the city Is to be governed by
the existing charter in the matter OF
assessments, were there any other leg
islative acts to be observed? Col.
Clough said he would be afraid to is-
more any legislative provisions on the
subject Of assessments, and would like
to have the committee ascertain II the
commission was not restricted to the
present charter, and also investigate
with a view of learning whether some
installment plan could be inserted be-
tween the clauses providing for the
judgment against and the sale OF the
property. Col. Clough added that the
committee would be wasting its time
if it reported any plan that contem-
plated the city's assuming any liability.
Mr.. Lightner thereupon amended his
motion that the committee be request
ed to submit an installment plan by
adding a proviso that the plan shall
not involve the pledging Of the city's
credit for the payment OF the assess
ment or the contractor for the doing
Of the work, but should involve the
,;-{N fN, hn TnoUnOant
the contractor.
Mr.. Lindeke predicted that, If any
installment plan was adopted, the city
would be saddled with an additional
Indebtedness Of 100000 or 100000,
unless the city was guarded against
being made liable to pay the assess
ment.
Mr.. Lightner then submitted in place
of his first motion the following reso-
luton:
THAT the committee on chapter exam
ine and ascertain whether in their Judgment.
under article 9 OF the constitution. any change
can be made in the provisions OF chapter Z.
and if so report II feasible, plan for for
paying assessments in instalments. such plan
not to involve any pledge Of the general credit
Of the city, but to provide for means for pay
ing contractors"
The resolution was adopted by
unanimous vote.
commission adjourn over the holidays
until the first Monday in January, and
that thereafter the commission meet
on Monday and Friday evenings Of
each week The motion prevailed. 1t
was also understood that all commit
tees be ready to report at the next
meeting.
During the earlier portion of the ses-
sion, the commission disposed Of the
sections in chapters and 8, that were
referred back to be redrafted.
Chapter 6, establishing and govern
ing the board of public works. which
was thoroughly discussed at the meet
ing of Dec. 8, and which was referred
back to the committee to be redrafted
in accordance with the instructions
then decided upon, was submitted by
the committee as redrafted, and for
mally adopted section by section. The
principle changes are: First, that the
city engineer shall be elected by the
mayor, president Of the board Of public
works, president of the water board
and president Of the park board; sec
ond, the mayor shall designate one Of
the four members Of the board
of public works as the presi-
dent thereof, and he shall datnte
his whole time to the duties Of the Of
flee and receive salary commensu-
rate with his services, while the re-
naming three members shall receive
nominal salaries.
The half dozen sections Of chapter
8, governing the health department,
which were referred back to the COM
mittee at the last meeting, were also
draffad and ad0ptsd