The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-06-14


trail Police Station Expires He
Would Have the City Purchase
the Entire Square ON Which 1t
Is LOcated-He Considers 1t an
Ideal Site.
The regular meeting OF the confer
ence committee yesterday afternoon
lasted nearly an hour, something I'M
usual, as generally the meetings con-
sist only Of roll call, filing Of reports,
and adjournment.
This was owing to number Of sug-
gestions about city affairs made by
Comptroller McCardy in a communica-
ton to the committee. The eleven
members of the committee were
promptly on hand and after electing
Mayor Kiefer as chairman, proceeded
to business.
The reading of the usual monthly re-
ports was dispensed with and motion
to adjourn was about to be made when
Comptroller McCardy pulled out the
suggestions and read them.
The comptroller prefaced his printed
suggestions by calling attention to the
money which might be saved in the
public printing bills. He inStanced the
official proceedings as published May
9 as an example. Twenty inches or
space was taken In the official publica-
sion of the proceedings to order the
laying of cross walks on seven streets
when by a consolidation of the orders
and having one roll call pulls shed in
stead Of a separate one for each order
the orders could all have been printed
in seven inches, so that fourteen inches
was paid for by the city at 40 cents per
inch when the $3.50 mi ght just as Well
hoy 10 q " ,rHI thOupht
if the law did not prohibit that the
committee should notify the council
that the expenses in this matter Guild
he reduced.
Mr.. McCardy sid:
ASSESSMENT FOR PUBLIC IMPROVE
MENT.
If 1t is possible to have any change in our
assessment laws made by the next legisla-
/. ture, those changes should be thought out
beforehand and prepared to lay before that
body, and in this connection l think many
of our people would hail with delight
change in the manner of making, assessing
and collecting the cost of public improve
ments. It is a grievance. that many com
plain of, of being required continually dur
ing the year to look after their property lest
some small assessments for sprinkling or
other purposes may mature. Many believe,
as do l, that all assessments for public i'm
provements should be filed with the county
auditor and by him spread upon the tax
| duplicates and collected at the same time
as general taxes are collected. Some Of the
benefits of this change would be: First,
that the property holder once having paid
| the charges against his property, knows that
he is clear of any further anxiety in that
line for at least twelve months Second,
that it would require those in authority,
whose duty it is to make PUBLIC improve
ments and levy an assessment therefor to
think out at least year in advance what
improvements, If any, should be made, and
then make the assessment therefor and let
- n%n1 hnfn 10
for the work has been let. 1t would cheaper
| the cost of the work, and all legal points
would be disposed of before the Work was
begun.
SIDEWALKS.
Considerable complaint has been made re-
garding wooden and cement sidewalks. FIRST
of improper construction, and second, that
they have been ordered where not absolutely
necessary. 1t has been suggested by certain
| property holders that a very close personal
INSPECTION by the board of public warks
should be made Of the necessity of such Inn
| provement before the final order is issued
| Complaints have been made that Sidewalks
| have been laid in place Of walks already ex-
| listing which would answer ali purposes TOT
| one OF more years. | have personal knoWl-
| edge of the truth of these complaints in some
| cases. Even new sidewalks laid last year
were so poorly constructed that they are now
| being overhauled and repaired. 1t would
! seem that more rigid inspection, both before
and after. is necessary. The property hold
ers were thereby compelled to pay out money
| for this improvement, which was not abso-
say that some sidewalks are in bad repair Or
need renewal, that is not what we are at
this time talking about.
STREET FORCE PAY ROLL.
This matter was before the last meeting Of
| this body one month ago.
| Laborers are given so-called time check
! at the expiration of weeks work certifying
| that the holder has worked for the city SO
| many days, and that there is due him 50
| much money. This time check is not author
| lied by the charter. large percentage of
! these time checks are regularly scalped every
| month by one concern. That 1t is an indus
try of small proportions, need only in
| form you that over 500 checks were handed
| in to the treasurer for payment by this one
| concern above mentioned during the month
! of April alone. The street force pay roll is
| paid regularly every two weeks, and persons
| so employed should be informed that pay day
will be on a certain date, and that no time
checks will be issued considerable amount
| of money is lost to the laborer and the city
| by the above process, and whoever it is in
! the citys employ who assists any one in this
| process of scalping should be given leave to
| retire from the citys service. This beard
ought to adopt a resolution prohibiting the
use of time checks.
| MARKET HOUSE.
1t is unfortunate that this valuable piece
of property should be allowed to fall t.
its present dilapidated condition occupyi G.
as it does, one of the most prominent corners
in the city. 1t is now and has been for a
number of years a source of expense rather
than benefit to the city. I am authorized
to say that certain persons are ready and
willing to lease this property from the city
for term of years at a price which will
produce a net revenue of $4,000 per annum.
THIRD STREET POLICE STATION.
The lease for this property expires on the
first day of August next. The annual rental
is $1,000. The property is about fifty feet
front on Third street, and in addition to the
| buildings that were the ground when
the city leased it. the city has placed Cd
dtional buildings and improvements at a
cost of about SIC, 900. This piece of property
| can be bought for $4,000. The rent we pay
| is 6 per cent on valuation of S20,000 and
l think negotiations should be entered ito
with the view of purchasing this property
While this matter is being considered, steps
| should be taken by which the block bounded
| streets, would be acquired by the city Is
| is the block just south of Rice park, a,
| would make an ideal place for a public
| library.
COUNTY EXPENSES.
of Ramsey county is $s6.29O,42O, divided as
| follows:
City 1890. ...... ........SsS, 6s9, "a
| About 951h per cent of the valuation being
| in the city. The total taxes levied in the
| year 1897, for all purposes covering state, city
| county and school taxes was 81, 124 ,013.31. OF
| this sum about 81 per cent is assessed against
the city property. Here is the division: