The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-09-20
CONSOLIDATION IN FAVOR.
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE WOULD
UNITE CITY AND COUNTY
minneapolis Delegation FavOrs CO.
operation In Securing Legislation
-SuggestiOns as to City Roads.

operation In Securing Legislation
suggestions as to City Roads.
The chamber Of commerce yesterday
| decided in favor Of the consolidation Of
the city and county governments.
Thelegislative committee reported as
| follows:
The conclusion Of the committee is
| that article 2, Of the constitution, must
be amended, and power granted to the
| legislature to provide either by special
or general laws, or both, for merging
the county and city governments into
one government, and designating the
O01cerS that shall carry into effect all
laws pertaining to the citizens or prop
erty within the geographical limits over
which such government and laws shall
extend before the same can be lawfully
done.
The committee recommends that the
delegation in the legislature be in
structed to introduce the amending bill
providing for the submission of the
amendment to the electors Of the state
at the next general election, after its
passage The committee is of the
opinion that the advantages accruing
to the business interests and people of
the city and county from the organi-
Zati0n Of one government would be
manifold. The expenses to the bust
ness interests and tax payers of the
city would be reduced, 1t is believed, at
least % Per cent. 1t is the opinion of
the committee that no one step that
can now be taken by the county will
do so much to relieve unnecessary bur-
dens and eXactiOns as the consOlida-
ton Of the two governments, which
! can never be accomplished unless the
first step is taken by amending the
constitution, and cannot then be &C.
complished in less than three years
from this date.
The report was adopted.
E. W. Peet, chairman of the Commit
tee on municipal affairs, read a report
on good roads. Some streets, he
thought 1T was desirable to macadanl-
| iZe.
| The original cost of construction is
| less, while the cost of maintenance is
greater than that of asphalt or brick
| pavement The expense of Construc-
| ton is borne by owners Of abutting
| property, while the expense of main
| tenance is borne by the city at large.
| 1t is therefore more equitable that a
| pavement costing less at the outset
| and more to maintain should be laid
| on many streets not main or business
! thoroughfares. The committee would
| not recommend that macadam be used
where the traffic is heavy or where
! the property is slightly improved and
! the streets are comparatively LIIle
used.
The report was referred to the legis-
| lative committee.
| Mr.. Peet also read a report on the
work done in welcoming home the re-
! turning soldiers and miniStering to
the wants Of the sick and GONZALES
cent.
kThe chamber recommended that a
proper demonstration of welcome be
made upon the arrival Of the Four
teenth regiment, and that a formal
demonstration of some kind should be
made by the citizens to show their ap-
probation Of and gratitude for the he
role services of the Third regiment,
United States infantry, as soon as con-
venient.
o. B. Clark, president; S. T. John.
son, vice president, and c. S. Cairns
were present representing the Mime
apolis board Of trade.
Their spokesman, Mr.. Johnson, rec
commended that cross purposes, antag-
onisms and animOsities should die. He
suggested that if the legislative COM
mittees of the two bodies were made a
Joint committee on legislation, they
might accomplish much together that
| they could not separately.
The committees will meet jointly on
| Thursday