The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-12-16
MAKE FEW CHANGES
CONFERENCE COMMITTEE APPROV-
ING GENERALLY OF COMP
TROLLER's BUDGET.
THE MONEY FOR CYCLE PATHS
FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS TO BE
PROVIDED FOR THAT IMPOR-
TANT WORK.
CARRIAGE FUND ALSO REDUCED,
Which VIII Even Up the $4,000
AdGed Onto the Lighting
Fund.

other session yesterday afternoon The
estimate as presented by the comptrol-
Ter was not changed in the aggregate
at the meeting yesterday. The divi-
sions in the general fund item were
amended so as to allow $4,000 for con-
structiOn and repairs of cycle paths.
The sum set apart in the cOmptrollers
estimate for insurance was taken for
this purpose The amount set apart
for the garbage fund was reduced from
500 900 to $4,000. AS far as the COM
mittee has proceeded the total amount
Of the estimate submitted by the comp
troller has been increased $4,000, which
was added to the lighting fund. This
increase however, was reduced TO
81 900 by deducting $4,000 from the esti-
mate allowed the building inspectors
department. The comptrollers esti-
mate as to the amount to be raised by
taxation was $1,348,S27, and the COM
mite has to date increased this sum
lust $4,000 more. The committee eX-
poets to complete its labOrS today and
the estimate will then be turned over
to the council for consideration. The
council has the power to make such
changes in the estimate as it deems
necessary.
The communication from the city at
torney relative to setting apart %23,-
900 in the estimate with which to
pay for assessments against property
where the owner allows the assess
ment to go to judgment was consld-
cred by the committee. The city has
then to bid in the certificate and as
there is no money the contractor is
either obliged to wait or sue for the
amount due him.
Mr.. McCafdy could not agree with
Assistant Attorney Phillips. If the
request was granted it would create
revolving fund.- and that would be
the commencement Of running the city
into debt The city had to pay during
the past year or so interest on some
contracts This was because due dill
gence was not exercised. 1t would be
much cheaper for the city to pay
small amount of interest on delayed
payments of contracts rather than
start a revolving fund which was
bad thing for this or any other city.
Provision had been made in the judg-
ment fund for the payment of the bal
ance due at the present time. For this
reason it would be unwise to create a
fund for something that was largely
anticipated. II was time enough to
cross a bridge when it was reached,
beside he thought the city had no
authority to create the fund suggested.
Mr. Bement agreed with the comp
troller that the charter gave no author
ity to create such a fund. The char
ter provided that the contractors be,
paid only from the money received
from assessments on the property.
Mr.. McCardy said the amount of
certificates issued each year and which
the city bought in would not amount
to more than $4,000 year For 1898
about all the contract work to be done
was street paving, and that in sec
tions of the city where there would be
no trouble in disposing of any of the
certificates in case they should be al
lowed to go to judgment. The talk
about the contractors charging more
for the work owing to the delay in col
lecting the assessments was not true.
The courts had decided that the con-
tractor was entitled to interest at 7
per cent after the work had been done
some months and when bids were
called for on any work the contractor
was fully advised as to the status Of
either claim. On motion of Mr.. Nc
Cardy the communication was received
and filed.
The committee then took up the
consideration of the estimate, the item
next in order being the bridge repair
fund. The estimate allowed $4,000, but
the city engineer said considerable
more would be needed. He presented
an estimate as published in the b t
yesterday asking for $256, 900 for bridge
repairs, the greater part of the amount
being for the widening of the south end
of the Wabasha street bridge, which, it
was estimated, would cost $160,000 The
engineer said the Edgerton street
bridge and the Western avenue bridge
would have to be repaired at the eX-
pense of the city, which would neces-
state the expenditure of $11 100 in the
aggregate. The Wabasha street bridge
if not widened, would cost $500 to put
in repair.
Mr.. Rundlett said he did not want to
be responsible for the condition of the
bridges. Mr.. McCardy thought it
would be well to consider the question
as to whether the city or railroad COM
panies would have to repair the
bridges. He suggested that the city
order the bridges repaired at the eX-
pense of the railroad companies and
give a specified time in which the work
was to be done. 1t case the railroad
companies refused to do the work the
city could do 1t and then sue the sew
eral railroad companies for the amount
expended. Mr.. McCardy thought it ad-
visable for the city engineer to submit
a statement showing just how much
would be required to put the bridges
in repair and more especially those
only absolutely needed. He moved that
the consideration of the item be post
poned until the engineer could prepare
an itemized statement.
Mr.. Bement said it was all foolish
ness to think of putting $256, 900 in the
tax estimate, as it would simply mean
an increase of about three mills In the
tax levy rate for next year
Mr.. Rundlett thought 100000 could
be deducted from the amount submit
ted If the Wabasha street bridge was
not widened. This would cut his estl-
mate down to sos, 800
After some further discussion the
bridge matter was postponed until this
afternoon at 2:30 o'clock, when it viii
be made a special order.
Item number twenty allowing $25,-
600 for a judgment fund, was adopted
without discussion. The tWenty-first
item, for printing, advertising and sta
tionery, put in at $4,000, was adopted,
Mr.. McCardy explaining that it was
three times as large as in 1897, for the
reason that there was no balance in
the fund this year. The twenty-second
item providing $4,000 for the municipal
court, was adopted, the comptroller in
reply to Mr.. Zimmerman stating that
there could be no shaving, as the salar-
les We're fixed by the charter.
The twenty-third item, giving $4,000
for the public library, was adopted.
Mr.. Wheelock wanted the amount
raised an additional sum. but the
comptroller pulled the Bell charter on
the suggestion and read the section
which provided that not more than $15,-
600 per year should be allowed in any
one year for library purposes. Under
ofi &I,o