The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-07-21
USED IT FOR A TOY
ASSEMBLY HAS FUN WITH STREET
RAILWAY ORDINANCE, THEN
DEFEATS 1T.
NOBODY EXPECTED 1T TO PASS
SOME HISTORY RELATING TO THE
GAS PLANT BROUGHT TO
LIGHT.
Question Referred to Committee
Considerable Bicycle LeSis!a-
ton Considered.

The assembly held a special meeting
last night for the avowed purpose OF
passing the street railway ordinance
recommended by the committee on
streets of the body. All OF the MEM
bers of the assembly were present when
the roll was called. Mr.. Johnson at
once raised the point as to how the
damages and benefits were to be as
sessed He suggested that the ordi-
nance be amended so that some branch
of the city government should have
charge of the benefits and damages 20
be awarded. He thought the damages
should be fixed so that the property
owners should be bound by the awards.
There would certainly be damages, and
the city should have the fixing of the
amount Of the awards of benefits and
damages.
Assistant City Attorney Phillips said
under the law the board of public
works would have to make the award
If change of grade was made. 1t real
ly made no difference DIS to what the
ordinance said. except that, if the
street railway company accepted the
measure, it could agree to pay the
works. Mr. Johnson asked to be eX-
cused at this stage of the meeting. He
said he had a pressing business en-
gagement, and, as the present ordi-
nance was drawn he would not vote
for it, it would make no difference
whether he was present when the final
vote was taken.
Mr.. Craig also explained that he had
to leave the city and, even could he
remain longer, would vote against the
passage Of the ordinance in it's present
shape. Both Messrs. Johnson and
Craig were excused. The rules were
suspended, and the ordinance placed on
its final passage There were but five
votes for the passage and two against,
Messrs. AlbIecht, Dix, Kirke, Thomp-
son and Arosin voting in the affirma-
tive, and Messrs. Daily and Reardon in
the negative. President Arosin an
nOunced the ordinance lost, and after
the vote had been reconsidered it was
referred back to the committee on
streets.
AS soon as the assembly adjourned
the board of aldermen were called to
order with all members present eX-
cept Aid. Donahower.
Corporation Attorney Markham sent
in an opinion to the effect that the
council had the right to direct the
removal of gas lamp posts not in
service, and that the city was under
no further obligation to pay interest
to the gas company upon the cost of
construction of such lamps and con-
nections The opinion, which was a
lengthy one, went into the charter Of
the gas company granted by the legis-
lature in 1856. The act provided that,
after the expiration of twenty years
from Jan. l, 1857, the city should have
the right to purchase the gas works
and plant at price to be fixed by ar
bitrators. In the event the city de-
clined TO purchase at the end of TWEEN
ty years from Jan. l, 1857, it was fur
Their provided that the same chance
would be given at the end of twenty
years from Jan. l, 1877. The company
contended that, under the charter, the
city was required to pay interest upon
the cost of the lamp posts and connec-
tons from the time ordered in until
the charter of the company expires
either by limitation or purchase. In
view of the fact that the interest upon