The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-02-02
RIDGWAY AGAIN ELECTED.
Contest in the Park board Was IL
Close One.

Close One.
One little vote yesterday afternoon
decided who should hold a 81 500 a
year position at the meeting of the
beard Of park commissioners. 1t was
in the election involving the secretary
ship, and j. Arthur RidgWay won out
by vote of 8 to I. The result Of the
vote was undoubtedly q surprise to Mr.
RldgWay and his supporters, as well
as to the present incumbent, Charles
L. Cove, seeking reelection. During
the fore part of the meeting several
questions arose in regard to the legal
ity Of the election at the last meeting
when Ridg'Way was elected. On all
these questions, where a vote was tax
en-, the indications were that Mr.. Cove
had the necessary number of votes to
elect. This was undoubtedly the case
at this time, but as the matter was
friendly discussed pro and con, some
commissioner had change of mind
and turned to Ridgway, giving him
the necessary number of votes.
The reading OF the sacretarys min
utes was the immediate cause Of bring
ing the factions together. After thei1
reading Commissioner Jones arose and
moved that the part of the record when
states that Mr.. Ridgway's resignation
as a commissioner be placed on file, be
changed to ''acCepted.' Commissioner
be a proper procedure, inasmuch as
this part of the record would involve a
question of legality Commissioner Hun
ter now made the motion that brought
out the forces. 1t was that this part
Of the record be expunged altogether.
This was carried by a vote Of 8 to I.
The vote by roll call was as follows:
Adams, Baxter, Elliott, Hunter, Hewitt,
Peterson, Smith, YOung-ayeS; DOminS,
Jones, Nye Pratt, Woods, Folwell-no.
The motion that the minutes be APP
proved as corrected was carried by
vote Of to 6.
The next on the programme was the
reading Of a communication from Mr..
Ridgway, furnishing the necessary
bond of $4,000. A little fight resulted
over the motion to lay this on the
table, which was carried.
Mr.. Elliot now arose and moved that
the board proceed to the election of
secretary. Legal opinions came thick
and fast. Nearly everybody had con-
suited some attorney or legal authority
since the last meeting, and was certain
that he was right Mr.. lockwood, the
attorney of the board, was called upon
for his opinion. He stated that it
was his opinion that the former cleo
ton was legal. Mr.. RidgWay's resig-
nation had been placed on file. He
had then been elected secretary, and
the resignation subsequently passed
upon. In a board like this, where the
Enumeration, he was of the opinion
enumeration, he was of the opinion
that the resignation took effect as
soon as presented, and would not con-
fiict with the law, which states that
the secretary can not be a commission
er. There was, however, a conflict of
OPINION on the case. Our supreme
court had never passed on this point.
10 off n 10
taken in eXpunging part of the min
utes he could not say, but he believed
that the final acceptance of the board
Of the resignation finally ended the
matter.
Commissioner Hunter arose to a point
of order, stating that the attorneys
remarks were out Of order. He did
not believe that the opinion had any
thing to do with the question. Elliot
referred to the smart game in plac-
ing the resignation on file, and again
moved to- proceed to an election of a
secretary.
At this, .p0int Mr.. Ridgway, who was
! present, arose and wished to state, iii
his own Behalf, that he had not taken
any part in anything involving his
election that was unfair His resigna-
ton had been rendered in good faith.
with the understanding that it would
| be acted upon at once. He did nos
| wish to be held responsible for the
| action taken, as he had not been pres
ent.
Commissioner Nye also stated that
| he had moved to place the resignation
on file in good faith, supposing that
was all that was necessary.
The motion to proceed with the cleo
tor was now carried. A secret vote
was taken upon the secretaryship.
which resulted in the election Of Mr..
FiGgway.
His bond was then taken from the
table and discussed. 1t was decided
that a security bond be required, which
will be furnished and acted upon by
the next meeting, which will be held
! Monday.
j. Arthur Ridgway, the new secretary, has
| been a resident of Minneapolis since 1888
He is native of Pennsylvania and forty years
! old. He has been identified with the extra
! ordinary development of Kenwood, which
| property he looked after for years. The
| greater part of his time in Minneapolis has
| elected for a sX-year term in 1886. at the
| conclusion Of which he was reelected by
| the board to fill the vacancy caused by the
| resignation Of Commissioner lockwood Dur
| ing the last year of his own term he of1c-
| lated president of the board He is known
as efficient in all matters pertaining to parks
and considered one of the most valuable men
| that have sat on that board. He states that
| with his knowledge of these matters he will
| be able to attend to many things that lie out
| side OF his duties as secretary of the board
| Egan Has Pet Measure
| Ed Egan, county commissioner. has pre-
| pared bill for presentation to the legisIa-
| ture, providing that in all counties with
| population of 70 eco all road lnonevs shall ho