The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-01-18
CHAPTER ON BONDS
CHARTER COMMISSION ADOPTS THE
REQUIREMENTS OF CONTRACT
oRs' SURETIES.
e II
Y 8
J5 81
THEY MUST ALL BE EXAMINED
BONDS TO BE MADE GOOD IF A
SURETY SHOULD BECOME
INsOLyENT.
IN .
THEY MUST ALL BE EXAMINE D
CHAPTER on THE woRKHousE.
1t Is Also Submitted, but Referred
Back Becanase One Section Was
Not Satisfactory.

AT the meeting of the charter com
mission last evening but one chapter
of the new charter was adopted. that
being the one relating to the bonds of
contractors. Mr.. Murray, who was
chairman Of the committee appointed
to draft the chapter relating to the
workhouse, submitted a report and all
of the fifteen sections were agreed to
but one. The section to which objec-
ton was made related 10 the DISPOSE
ton of money received from the sale
of goods manufactured at the work.
house. AS the charter reads now, all
money received from the sale of prod
uctS or goods at the workhouse is turn
ed into the general fund. Mr.. Murray,
who is member of the board of di-
rectorS of the institution, in his report
amended this SO as to provide that the
receipts from the sale of goods should
be credited to the Workhouse fund He
informed the commission that, as it
was now, the workhouse paid for the
raw material from which the goods
were manufactured from it's fund, and
then, when the goods were sold, the
comptroller, instead of crediting the
fund with the amount, turned the
money into the general fund. The
change, he stated, would simply give
the board proper credit for the money
and allow them to make a showing of
the work done. Mr.. Lightner took is
sue with Mr.. Murray and said the
change practically meant that the
board would have about $4,000 more
to spend each year than now allowed
Each year, Mr.. Lightner explained,
the council fixed the amount to be ex-
pended by the workhouse at about
$4,000. or an amount ample for all pur-
poses. If the amendment proposed by
Mr.. Murray should be placed in the
new charter the directors of the work
house would have the amount set aside
by the council and the $40, 900 additional
from the sale of manufactured goods
The other members sided with the view
taken by Mr.. Lightner and this section
was referred back to the committed
There was also some question raised
as to whether the section relating to
the election Of superintendent of the
WOrkhouse should not fix the term of
Office of that official. Mr.. Murray ex-
planned that the bylaws of the board
of directors provided that the superin-
tendent be elected every two years, and
that this was the best method as it
place the superintendent at the will of
the board, and as the board was re-
sponsible the charter should not fix the
term. No change was made in this
particular The remaining sections were
practically the same as at present, and
provided for a board of five directors,
one to be appointed by the mayor each
year, and each to serve five years
The committee, of which Mr. Fetter
was chairman, submitted a report on
chapter 13, relating to the bonds of
contractors. The chapter, as reported,
provides that a surety on bonds shall
subscribe as to being resident and
freeholder OF the state. That he is
worth the sum for which he was to
justify over and above his indebtedness
and exclusive of his property exempt
from execution. 20
Mr.. Dean raised the point that the
city had up to date insisted that bonds
men must, in order to justify, have real
estate in the amount of the bond. He
saw no reason why the chapter should
be changed. MI. O'Brien thought the
change was advisable, because real
estate was in these times frequently
liability rather than an asset. Mr..
Dean moved to amend, but afterward
withdrew his motion
All bonds are to be approved by the
the sureties are to- appear personally
before these officials and be examined
as to their fitness. Surety companies
are also allowed to- justify as bonds
men with the approval Of the mayor
and corporation attorney. No contract
with the city for the doing Of any pub
lie work shall be assigned or transfer
red, except by the operation Of law, and
any assignment or. transfer shall end
0iY1a nd ch "a
make the same null and void as to any
further performance by the contractor
or his assigns. No assignment, transfer
or surrender, voluntary OR otherwise,
shall operate to release the sureties on
the bonds. The board Of public works,
whenever one or more Of the suretles
have become insolvent, or for any
cause are no longer fit and sufficient
sureties, may require contractors to
file a new bond within eighteen days
and If not done the contract shall be
fully ended. The board may then pro-
coed to select such contracts, or pro-
coed to complete the same as the
agent and at the expense of the con-
tractor or his bondsmen. The board is
prohibited from entering into any con-
tract with any person who, within two
years. shall leave made default In the
payment Of any just claim, or within
two years prior shall have failed to
complete or defaulted on any contract
Any person who subscribes to the oath
as a surety and is not resident or
freeholder, or who is not worth the
sum for which he justif1es. shall be
guilty Of pergury and upon conviction
shall be punished by imprisonment for
not less than one nor more than five
years.
The question Of the length Of time
for which members Of the library board
should be appointed and the possibility
Of making the board a perpetuating
one was raised by Mr.. Dean. He was
of the opinion that not much money
would be left by will to the library
when the board was as now. appointed
by the mayor. He explained that he