The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-03-05
THROWS OUT THREE
BILL TO ABOLISH CITY COMPTROL-
LER, CITY TREASURER AND
CITY ATTORNEY
AND SAVE THE TAXPAYERS.
REPRESENTATIVE SCOTT, OF RAM
sEY, FAvORs ECONOMY AND
INFRINGEMENT.
,TRoNG OPPOSITION EXPECTED
From Republican Politicians Who
Are Holding Down the Positions
and Drawing Salaries.

Considerable attention has been at
tracted by a bill introduced recently
in the house of representatives by
Representative Scott, contemplating
the adjustment of the offices in cities
of over $4,000 of city treasurer, city
comptroller and corporation attorney.
The measure, which is house file 63i
provides in addition to such abolish
ment that the duties of the officers
named be given over to the correspond
ing county officers, and that the books,
records, ETC., be handed into the keep
ing of the county treasurer. The author
of the bill, Mr.. Scott, it is understood,
would have the changes made as stated
in the interest Of economy and re-
trenchment, and has expressed the
view that if the bill becomes a law
the city of st. Paul can save thereby
something like $4,000 CT $25, 900 annually.
MI. Scott believes that the matter of
taxes, abstracts, etc. would be ma
terially simplified if the taxpayers could
do their business with the county aud
itor instead of as at present with both
the city treasurer and county auditor,
and further that the union of the
two offices can easily be accomplished
by keeping one instead Of two sets of
books by the addition of an extra col
umn or two. This union will be easy
owing to the fact that the descriptions
of all land are kept in the office Of
the county auditor.
Mr. Scott argues that because most
of the work Of the city attorneys Of
flee is now being done by that officials
subordinates, it would be just as we'll
to have it done by these same men,
but under the supervision Of the county
attorney; in fact, he thinks that by a
combination of the two forces an as
sistant could be dispensed with with
out detriment to the work of the de-
partment.
A combination of the offices of the
city comptroller and county auditor
might not be so easily accomplished,
thinks Mr.. Scott, but could be brought
about inasmuch as a major portion of
the work is routine in it's character
and here, too, a lessening of the ex
pense could be secured by the combi-
nation of the attaches Of the offices.
To sum up the items which could be
Topped off as being not entirely neces-
sary, the author of the bill figures that
the amount of salaries of the city
treasurer, $780, city comptroller, $1,000,
and city attorney, $1,000, making
total of $13,500 could be swelled to
the figures named above by eliminat-
ing from the annual expense such de-
tails as stationery, clerk hire in the
consolidation Of the office forces ami
incidentals.
Mr.. Scott, seen last evening, was of
the opinion that if the taxpayers
crystalline the sentiment in favor of
retrenchment, the measure will go
through. There was, he said, danger
of opposition from other sources which
the friends of the bill had not, and did
not, intend to overlook The bill at
present is in the hands of the house
committee on general legislation.
number of citizens interested in the cty's
welfare were asked yesterday what they
thought about the bill, and here's what they
say:
j. H. Weed-The consolidation of city and
county offices would be of great advantage to
the taxpayers AS to the details of the pend
ing bill, it should be carefully considered.
Gen. Bishop-By all means the city and
county Offices should be consolidated as far
as possible Eight years ago a member
of the chamber of commerce l favored the
proposition. Whether the city county Of
fees should be dispensed with is a question.
Daniel r. Noyes-I am heartily in favor of
some such consolidation as Mr.. Scott's bill
proposes. The absurdity of two sets of Of
fees, county and city, for Ramsey county and
4 st. Paul is too apparent to need comment.
Whether Mr.. Scotts proposition is the best
IIldI cOulu De suggested or not, ne is on the
right track and l sincerely trust that sub
stantial practical and economical consolidation
can at once be secured.
A. II. L:ndeke-I am in favor of the con-
solidation Of city and county Offices far as
practicable.
Gen. J. B. Sanborn-I have not examined the
bill, but am Of the opinion there is merit in
it. Something should be done to reduce the
expenses of the city government and by all
means double sets of officers doing practically
the same work should be consolidated.
Kenneth C,ark-I am certainly in favor of a
measure which would consolidate two sets of
officers into
H. P. Upham-Of hand l should say the
bill all right. Anything looking to a
reduction of expenses on the part of the city
and county should be favored
Col. w. P. Clough-The county treasurer
collects about rs per cent of all the money
handled by the city and turns it over in a
lump sum to the city treasurer. There is
no particular need of four sets of accounts
and two sets of officers for the same bust
ness. AS to the BILL it should be carefully
considered in detail and the probabilities are
that the chamber of commerce will take it
up at an early date.