The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-01-09
WENT OVER THE ESTIMATES.
PRIME DOWN THE BUILDING IN
SPECTOR AND GIVE HEALTH
OFFICER A RAISE.
PROVISION FOR MORE LIGHT
Jensen's Office Gets That $500 Again
Total Result Is n Reduction
of $I46,2OO.

Whack at the tax estimate budget
yesterday afternoon. The result of the
labors of the committee was a reduc-
ton of $146, 200 in the total amount as
reported by the conference committee.
This was arrived at by the committee
recommending that the $150,O00 worth
OF bonds falling due this year, be re-
funded. The amount allowed by the
conference committee for the building
inspectors office was reduced ST. 900.
The amount allowed by the conference
for the health department was raised
$1,000. At the instigation of Aid. Shep-
ard, $4,000 was added to the sum for
lighting the city and the city, clerk was
allowed $500 additional to increase the
salaries of the employees in his office
Although the budget will undoubtedly
pass with the understanding that the
bonds will be refunded, the sum Of $780,
900 which the comptroller had placed
in the general fund item to redeem
bends, was allowed to stand.
All the members of the committee,
with the exception Of Aid Shepard,
were on hand when the meeting was
called to order by Aid. Bigelow. In
McCardy and a number of the alder
men and assemblymen were present to
keep posted on one thing and another
The first item as reported by the
comptroller and adopted by the confer
ence committee giving 1926, 800 for in
terest and sinking fund.- was adopted
The second item calling for $15O,0O0
to pay maturing bonds during the year,
was knocked out of the estimate by a
resolution which advocated the refund
ing Of the bonds.
The third item. $4,000 for interest
on tax certificates of indebtedness, was
also adopted without change
The fourth item, $2OO,OOO for the sup
port Of the fire department as recon-
mended by the comptroller and adopt
ed by the conference committee, was
not changed, although Mr.. Kirke said
new engine house was badly needed
on the hill, and if the department. was
allowed the full amount Of the charter
appropriation, $215,OOO, this could be
accomplished. Mr. McCardy had a set
of figures (of his OWN which he said
showed that with the $4,000 now on
hand according to his books, the de-
partnent would get within $1,000 of
the full amount allowed them by the
charter. -...r 7- ..~-.,s5- -.+t-.:-.-.. ~.
The fifth item giving the police de-
partment $19S,600, was adopted without
debate. The comptroller explained that
the $13,600 over and above the amount
allowed under the charter, was to pay
salaries for November, 1896
The sixth item to provide for the
lighting of the city, was reported by
the comptroller as needing $155, 900 to
meet past Indebtedness and do the
lighting for this year. Aldermen Shep-
ard, Larsen and Bell thought the num-
Der Of gasoline lamps allowed by the
comptroller, $780, was not sufficient
Mr.. McCardy said it was nearly 100
more than was being lighted now but
this did not appease the aldermen Aid
Bell thought at least 400 more lamps
were needed, and it was finally decided
to increase the figures recommended
by the comptroller and the conference
committee, and allow $4,000 additional
for AN increase in the number of gasu-
line lamps. Mr.. Kirke wanted to know
II there was not some way in which
the city could get out of paying the
$1,000 interest each year to the gas
company. He thought if the gas posts
not in use were dug up by the city,
this would allow the city to escape pay
ing interest. Mr.. McCardy was in
doubt as to whether this would prevent
the company under an old charter from
collecting the interest.
The seventh item allowing $1,000 for
the water supply fund was adopted
without change, as was also the eighth
item allowing $21, 666 as the city's one
third of the board of control fund
The combination of the ninth and
tenth items for the support of the
public schools and additional buildings
caused a long and tedious debate. Each
of the aldermen and assemblymen
present wanted the item amended so
as to provide for school buildings or
anneXes to be erected in their district
The estimate as sent in by the comp
troller provided for $4,000 for a new
school building in the Second ward and
$4,000 for free text books. The con-
ference committee, however, struck off
the free text book and Second ward
school building and Jumped the $35,-
600 under the general head Of school
sittings. Assemblyman Thompson made
frantic appeal that the residents Of
the Second ward be allowed the $4,000
for a new school in that district. Aid.
Shepard said the Tenth and Eleventh
ward was as much entitled to a new
building or annex as was the Second
ward. Aid. Bigelow called the atten-
ton Of the committee to the fact that
the Fifth ward also needed increased
school accommodations. Assemblyman
kirke thought the Seventh ward should
have a start toward more accommoda-
tiOns and wanted a site for a school
purchased in that ward. Aid. Bigelow
had lot Of figures which showed that
there was not much need for more
buildings, except in the First, Fifth
Tenth and Eleventh wards He was Of
the opinion that the S35 900 should be
scattered among the various wards
and not half of the amount spent in
the Second ward. A motion to allow
the 900 item to stand for the Second
ward building was defeated by a tie
vote, Daily, Shepard and Bigelow vot-
ing against the proposition and Kirke
Mabon and Larson in favor of it, The
item as adopted by the conference COM
mittee, giving $198.750 for the support
of the schools and $500 for increased
Sittings, was approved.
The eleventh item, allowing Sc, 200 for
the building inspectors department,
which was adopted by the conference
committee, was changed and the total
on the suggestion and talk made by
Assemblyman Craig. He said he had
made an investigation of the depart
nent and was of the opinion that two
clerks or inspectors, as they were call
ed. could be cut off without detriment
to the department. Mr.. McCardy said
the estimate as reported by the con-
ference committee was $500 in excess OF
the amount allowed last year, but this
was owing to there being a shortage in
the fund, and as the courts had held