The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-01-31

99O.S5 outdoor relief, s12,6sS; salary. which
board Of control and their assistants
| $S,640.S4; in the amount charged to the hos
pital there were expended $500 for permanent
improvements
In the amount charged the almshouse,
$1,000 were expended for stock and perma-
nent improvements, the largest item being
| for silo
The amount expended for outdoor relief was
for fuel food, clothes, ETC., furnished the
destitute people of the city. We found all
cases were thoroughly Investigated by the
associated charities before relief was grant
ed. The secretary of the associated charities,
Mr. Jackson. is paid by the board of control
| 500 per month for services. We examined tne
accounts and books of the board OF control
and found the system to be every way sat
isfactory and commendable. 1t is recon-
mended that this department continue TO be
kept out of politics, as under its present
management it is run in an exceedingly eco
nomical manner.
The grand jury visited and examined the
various offices of the city government and
would report as follows:
In the Office of the city comptroller a care
full examination was made of the books, rec
ords. files and methods of conducting the
business of this office with a result that 1t
was made evident to our satisfaction that the
comptroller maintains a very careful record
of all his acts and doings and his methods
employed most comprehensive and or
ready reference. His corps of clerks are also
apparently conversant with their duties and
the whole tone of the department impresses
one with an air of business that is to be
commended.
CONDITION OF CITY FUNDS.
In the city treasurers office we found a
complete record of the receipts and dis
burSement of all revenues received by the
city. The accounts are kept accurately. show
ing the exact financial condition of the city
and where funds are placed and deposited.
| The amount on hand in the different banks
as OF Jan. 10, 1897, was $61S, 212.85, of which
&c i1a1NI hpi tied in
suspended banks. The different bank Off
Gals have sent statements to us confirming
the amount of city funds on deposit with
their several institutions Jan. 10, which con-
forms with the result of our examination of
the cash on hand at that date We examined
the bonds given by the several banks and
would recommend that the names of the
bondsmen now attached to the existing bonds
be Immediately examined and that all bonds
containing the names of those who are deem
ed to be unable TO pay the amount oil their
obligations be replaced by new and respon-
sible bonds.
In addition TO the funds kept in local banks
there has to be, according to the contract Of
the city of st. Paul funds kept in the city
of New York to meet the bonds and certif
Gates Of indebtedness as they become due and
the interest thereon. At the present time
there is no local bank designated by the cCun-
Gil that has furnished bonds for deposits to
transmit through, nor is there any bond Civ
en- by any New York bank to secure the city's
funds deposited for the purpose above men
toned. The amount sometimes is quite large,
and the jury recommends that a bond in
sufficient amount be required of the New
York bank that has the custody of the citys
money. We also recommend that the bonds
given by local banks should be examined
every year. and that bonds should be
made each year and their adequateness ap-
proved.
In the Office of the city clerk free access
was given to all the records, files and books
pertaining to the office. We found records Of
| the proceedings of the common council and
all papers and records of the city properly
| fled. and in such manner that they can be
promptly referred to. We further found the
different bonds given by saloon men for liquor
licenses, and the bonds of city treasurer, all
executed in proper form and properly veri-
| fed. The cash receipts of this Office
comparatively small, and statements CT cash
receipts are made monthly and turned over
to the city treasurer. These records show
amounts disbursed as salaries to employees in
NO CRITICISM HERE.
The clerk Of the municipal court has the
custody and care of all the books papers
and records of said court. He is constantly
present at all trials, keeping the minutes of
all proceedings, and enters all judgments. or
ders and sentences. He receives all fines,
penalties and fees of every kind, and deliv-
ers each day, within a day or two there
AFTER, to the city treasurer, the sums of
money so received taking the CITY treasur-
err receipt therefor. 1t transpires that
due to the fact that the clerk Of the munich
pal court having temporary custody of money
to be turned in to the city treasurer, and bail
money to be disposed of directed by the
court, when the Minnesota Savings bank sus-
pended, the clerk had to his credit S345 of
the city funds, and few hundred dollars of
FUNDS available only bail money. This
$345 OF city funds has, within day or two,
been handed to the city treasurer The bail
money has been settled with notes in lieu
of cash. No criticism other than this is in.
| tended to be made The present practice has
the sanction of a long established precedent
but our belief is that the policy is a bad one,
and that the clerk should be relieved of the
responsibility of the personal liability for the
care of such funds. We recommend that this
office be provided with good safe in which
to keep all moneys temporarily intrusted To
the clerk of the municipal court unless some
other and better provision can be made.
Inc health department was visited and
commissioner Gem Stone explained it's workings.
with regard to the work being carried
on IN this department, it is of very great
| value to every citizen.
We particularly commend the effort the
! commissioner Is now making to have the eX-
| ecutIon Of the garbage contract placed directly
under his control. The garbage contractor is
| obl1ged to render monthly statements to the
commissioner of health, sworn to before
| notary public showing the work actually done
| by him. 1t is provided that this report shall
| be transcribed into a book of records. We
think this duplication Of work and advise
| that the garbage contractor be requested to
make his sworn reports on blank forms sim
| liar TO those which are used in a bound
| book of record. These monthly reports can be
| In proper form for binding and thus can be
| preserved for future reference. AS it is now,
| me office clerk is occupied about one-third of
| the time in transcribing these reports into
| the book of record.
HEALTH OF THE CITY.
The records show that there has been
most satisfactory reduction in the number of
| cases of contagious diseases We think the
| health department deserves great credit for
! the healthful condition Of our city With the
| exception Of Berlin, we have the heaIthiest
| city in the world. The records for November
and December, 1895, show that the death rate
was the lowest recorded in any city not ex-
ceptng Berlin. The city is to be congratu-
lated in having, for the first time in its his
tory, complete laboratory under the control
OF the health commissioner. The apparatus
used in this laboratory is all new, and so
far as we could learn, thoroughly adapted to
the needs of the department. This laboratory
is OF great assistance in dealing with conta-
glOus diseases and enables the health de-
partment TO analyZe specimens of water and
milk with reference to the closing of wells
and the selling of impure milk.
The officers of the corporation counsel
building inspector and city engineer were Wis
tied and examined. Their methods of doing
business were inspected, and we report that
everything in those Offices was found in
satisfactory condition.
In visiting the offices of the county officers
of Ramsey county we first visited the office
of the county auditor. After carefully and
thoroughly looking through his methods of
bookkeeping (he being the bookkeeper for
the county, and examining the manner in
which he conducts his Office we take pleasure
! to 1s.,er T.,