The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-02-16
SCORED THE SCHOOLS.
Chamber of Commerce Says The
Are TO@ Expensive.

Are TOM Expensive.
Senator Stevens bill proposing am in
crease In the maximum levy for school
taxation from 2.5 to mills was given
a vigorous overhauling yesterday by
the chamber Of commerce, which, while
1t protested its deep regard for the
best interests Of the common educa-
ton, insisted on q policy Of economic
mana cement
Thomas Cochran brought up the subject by
offering the following resolution:
Resolved That the committee on legislation
be requested to oppose the bill known as
Senate File No. 2O. to Increase the rate Of
taxation for school purposes, and any and all
other bills which may be introduced in either
house of our state legislature whose result
shall be an increase in city or county ex-
penditure
Resolved. That the secretary of this cham
Der be instructed to call the attention of the
mayor and the different departments of our
city government to the definite recommends
tons which appeared in the report Of the
non-partisan retrenchment committees of 1895,
with regard to the practical economies which
might and ought to be introduced into our
municipal affairs.
Cochran said that the business men
of the city were struggling with ad-
vers1ty. and he was curious to know in
what atmosphere of plenty and pros
peTfty the city and county officials
drew their inspiration.
Mr. Woodman protested that he did
not want to see the schools closed or
crippled. He was satisfied that the
schools were being conducted in an
economical manner.
Capt. Castle said the report of the
committee on retrenchment showed
that the schools were not being con-
Quoted with economy Not one Of the
recommendations of the committee
looking to economy, had been followed.
The schools were run with extrava-
gance.
N. P. Langford was called upon. The
tenor of his remarks was that in 1890
the city had funds enough, and more
than enough, to run all departments
of the city. Now each department
could be run efficiently for two-thirds
of the cost of 1890, and the school board
should come down to that two-thirds
limit. They should be compelled to do
that.
A number Of the directors spoke in
the same strain, and the Cochran reso-
luton was adopted.
Maj. Espy introduced a resolution
urging congress to appropriate $150,000
for first surveys for the deep water
channel to the sea, which was adopted.
Another by the same author encourag-
ing the Northwest dairy board of trade
was referred to the committee on
manufacture. Chairman Noyes ap-
pointed the following gentlemen to at
tend a meeting to consider city char
ters, to be held in Minneapolis to-
morrow evening: Messrs. Lindeke, Muir
ray. E. B. Smith, Castle. E. G. Rogers.
Woodman. Cochran, Abbott. Hart and
Quinby. Representative Of Duluth will
also be present.
Mr. Dean hoped that the st. Paul men
would cling to the Bell charter with
all possible tenacity. The Howard
charter was. in his opinion, a pernicious
thing, and would lead into disaster and
bankruptcy.
Mr.. Murray explained that the Min
neapolis meeting was not In support Of
the Howard charter. Tt was rather in
behalf Of some general charter bill.
Other gentlemen present did not
agree with Mr.. Murray, and believed
the meeting would indorse the Howard
charter.