The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-09-22
parties, the commercial bodies and the


. city.
The only couneilmen absent from the
caucus yesterday were AssembfymeR
Arosin and Craig, and Aid. Stutz-
man and Larson. The alderman from
the Ninth was there by proxy, as it
were, having previously telephoned
the mayor that he favored the prope-
sition.
At the request of Mayor Doran, City
Comptroller McCardy laid the PROPOSE
ton before the caucus, He recited the
facts regarding the Auditorium build
ing, that were published a few days
ago, how the G.. A.. r. citizens conf
mittee had purchased it a year ago
from the receiver for 81, 500 and leased
it to the Commercial club for one year
at the nominal rental of 81, and that
the Commercial club had decided not
to renew the lease, which would expire
on Sept. 20, 1897. Mr.. McCardy said
that there were now but two courses
open to the G. A. r. citizens commit
tee, either to offer the building for
sale, with the result that it would be
torn down, or to raise enough money
to maintain the building for another
year.
It would require $500 to maintain
it for a year, and in Mr. McCardy's
opinion, it was important and necessa-
ry that st. Paul retain the building
during next year especially, which
would be a year of political conven-
tons.
Mr.. McCardy then pointed out that
there were two ways of raising the
$1,000 necessary to maintain the Audi
forum, either by picking it up around
town as proposed at the meeting of
the commercial bodies, or else. to secure
an appropriation of the entire amount
from the city's $4,000 contingent fund.
adapted solely for large public gather
ings and conventions, Mr. McCardy
thought that the city ought to main
tain it. In case it saw fit to do 50, the
G. A. R. committee would supervise the
building, and would see to it that
whoever used the building would pay
rent therefor Some repairs were nee
essary that would entail the expendi-
ture of $3.50 or $500. The G.. A. R. COM
mittee would make those repairs out
of the revenue that that the building
would yield, and would turn over to the
city all revenue received in excess of
the cost of the repairs
In estimating the cost of maintain
ing the Auditorium for year, Mr. Nc
Cardy said the taxes on. the land oc-
cupied by the building amounted to
$780,. and that the payment of such
taxes would be accepted by the OWL
ers of the land in lieu of the payment
OF ground rent. The insurance of
$500 would cost $500 a year, and the
balance of the 81 800 would consist of
the expense attending the employment
OF man to take care of the building
the lighting and other incidentals. In
conclusion, Mr.. McCardy said that the
G. A. r. committee simply wanted the
word Of the councilmen that they
would vote to appropriate the $1,000,
whereupon the committee would make
the repairs and take the chances of
being reimbursed out of the revenue
next year.
Assemblyman Kirke suggested that
if the Auditorium should burn down
after the council had appropriated the
1900, then the G. A. r. committee
should transfer to the city that per-
ton of the $4,000 insurance in excess
of the $780, the latter figure being
the sum paid by the committee for the
building. Mr.. McCardy said that the
committee would consent to such an
agreement.
Assenblyman Reardon said that the
city couldn't afford to have the Audi
tCrium torn down, and the council
ought to appropriate the money neceS-
sary to maintain it.
In response to Aid. Sanborn, who in
quired how much the G., A. r. citizens
committee would sell the building for,
Mr.. McCardy said. the committee would
sell it to the city for $1,000.
Mayor Deran thought that the prop
osition to. maintain the Auditorium
was the preferable one, but he suggest
ed that the matter of making. the
more extensive repairs be- deferred UNI
3 til next spring.
Mr.. McCardy assured the caucus
that the G.. A. R. committee would at
once repair the roof and doors of the
building.
Mayor Doran then called the roll to
ascertain how many present would
pledge themselves to vote for the APP
propriation of $500 to maintain the
Auditorium. All voted in the a1hfmaIlFe
save Aid BigeloW and Lindahl The
latter said that he might vote for thc
appropriation when the time cams
and he was satisfied that the Audi
toriurn had been put in proper shape.
AID. Bigelow asked to be excused from
voting. Aid Larsen's telephone res
sage was counted as an Affirmative
vote on his part.