The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-11-22

Better to Have the Street Rail-
way Repair Shops Here, but the
Others Were Generally Unani-
nous I'm Favoring Holding the
Big Meeting Place.
The question Of appropriating an
amount of money to advance the in
terests of the city was discussed at
meeting held at the mayors office
yesterday afternoon. The result of the
discussion, which was participated in
by Mayor Kiefer. Comptroller Nc
Cardy, Assemblymen Albrecht, Thomp-
sen, Benson, Craig and Nelson and Aid
Bell, Kenny, Knauft, Bantz, Blom-
quist, Reeves and Murphy, was that
committee of six was appointed to pre-
rare suitable resolutions to be sub
mltted at the next meeting of the coun-
Gil.
Comptroller McCardy reported that
curing the present year something like
| S4.uOO had been appropriated from the
| fund known as the contingent fund Of
| the city. This fund consists OF $40, 600,
Which may be used annually for the
eest interests of the city and there
was now on hand about Sc 900.
If the $4,000 was not used this year
or appropriated before Jan. l, any sum
used after that date would have to
come out of the appropriation for 1899.
| The comptroller favored the appropria-
ton of at least $1,000, with which TO
renovate and put in order the Auditor
! ium building
The city council. in the fall of 1897,
Set apart from the best interests OF
the city fund 81, 500, to be used in
meeting the expenses necessary to keep
Up the Auditorium. The building. Mr..
McCardy said. was owned by the G..
a. r. committee, and this body had
no income to keep UP the building. If
the city did not deem ii advisable to
make an appropriation then the COM
mitJee would have to give up the build
ing.
The receipts from the building dur
irg the past year outside the amount
appropriated by the city, had been
about 5000, and after the expenses had
been paid the balance ON hand would
be between $500 and $500
1t was the intention to paint the
| outside Of the building in the spring
and make other necessary repairs SO
that the structure would present
creditable appearance In answer to
questions put by Aid. Kenny the comp
tTOller stated that the committee from
the G. A. r. would sell the building
TO the city for $1,000.
The Third ward alderman was of
The opinion that it would be much
cheaper for the city to make the pur
chase than to pay 81 800 each year
toward keeping the building up. His
idea was to secure a lease on the
| ground for ten years and then by a
purchase from the c.. A. r. committee
the city would own the building. I'm
der these conditions all it would cost
the city would be the $1,000 purchase,
the premium on about S., coo insurance
md ha
tainly not be as expensive as $500
each year 10 the committee now having
charge Of building.
The comptroller volunteered the in
formation that the land belonged to
minor heirs and ii would be impossible
to secure any lease of the ground for
a longer period than from year to
year.
The proposition of Aid Kenny did
not meet with the approval of any of
the-ohicials present, ana the matter of
having the city purchase the auditor
iUm was dropped.
Mayor Kiefer called attention to the
advantages st. Paul had as a cOnVen-
ton city, stating that no other city
in the country could compare with it.
He alluded to his action which result
ed in the German Catholic societies
selecting St. Paul as their place of
meeting next year. He urged that all
stand together and secure, if possible,
other conventions for the city.
Aid. Kenny considered it advisable,
while the interests of the city were be-
ing discussed, to call attention to the
fact that all of the work done by the
street railway company, from sharpen
ing an ak up, was taken to Mime
apolis The council, he said. had CIV
en- away the right to operate an in
terurban line via the fair grounds and
had received nothing for it. To his
mind great mistake had been made,
and he considered that 1t was OF much
more Importance to have some fifty st.
Paul men working for the street rail-
way company at 81 per day than it
was to have an auditorium building.
The council had passed resolutions pro-
hibiting the using Of the tracks of the
company for the purpose of hauling
freight and materials from Minneapo-
lis. but no attention was paid to 1t,
either by the company or the city Of
ficials Everything used by the COM
pany, except sand, was purchased and
brought over from Minneapolis, and
even the nickeIs collected on the st.
Paul lines were gathered up twice
day and carried over to Minneapolis
banks 1t appeared to him that all
the Minneapolis parties and the street
railway company had to do was to pull
the string and the ST. Paul officials
and members of the council jumped
sideways.
Mayor Kiefer and Comptroller Nc
Cardy advised that if mistakes had
been made in the past it would be a
good idea to do better in the future
and all join hands and work for the
best interests of st. Paul.
4 committee, consisting Of Mayor
Kiefer. Comptroller McCardy, City
treasurer Horst. Corporation Attorney
Markham. President Donahower, OF
the board Of aldermen. and President
Kirke of the assembly, was appoint
ed TO draft resolutions providing for
such appropriations from the contln-
oant fund as would be advisable for
the hest interests of the city.
ONLY ONE WITNESS.