The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-06-21

cCntrol, .cOrrob0rated the comptroller as
to the walk at the city hospital being
no good.
The city engineer explained that the
walk at the hospital was laid late in
the fall last year, and was not a good
walk, but this was the, only instance in
the city, and the contractor had since
placed it in good condition. The ce-
nient walk at Merriam Park was in
good condition and, an excellent piece
of work when he inspected it last.
INSPECTORS DO NOT INSPECT.
Comptroller McCardy came back with
the assertion that the inspectors for
the city did not inspect The question
of sidewalks was dropped for the mo-
ment, and MT. McCardY called atten-
ton to the work of repaving Laurel
and Ashland avenues, which was now
being DONE ~
To-day 1 asked an Inspector" said
the comptroller, ION Laurel avenue. T..
the work of laying the concrete was be-
Ing done according to the contract and
specifications. He said he did not have
copy of the contract or specifications
with him, but thought it was. l can
say to this committee that the contract
is not being carried out or done accord
Ing to the specifications"
IF Mr. McCardy says the work of
putting in; the concrete on Laurel and
Ashland avenues is not being properly
done" replied City Engineer Rundlett,
he does not know what he is talking
! about. My assistant, Mr.. Wilson, is in
| specting the work and he is a compe-
tent man and the work is being we'll
| done"
Comptroller McCardy said: "The
specifications for the concrete on Ash
land and Laurel avenues say that the
stone shall be screened through screens
which will not allow stones larger than
two and half inches in diameter. You
can go along the streets anywhere AMI
find wagon loads of stones from three
and half to five inches in diameter.
The specifications also call for clear
aud sharp sand to be used in mixing of
the concrete, and the sand used has one
inch boulders in it,
City Engineer Rundlett-If YOU
knew anything about concrete work
you would know that the things YOU
mention would not hurt it a bit. The
concrete on Ashland and Laurel ave-
nues is good and the inspection is also
all right
Comptroller McCardy|I know what
am talking about.
City Engineer Rundlett-No YOU
don't
The two officials were called to time
T.,
that the subject under discussion was
not concrete paving but sidewalks, and
this last mentioned matter was referred
to committee consisting of Messrs.
kirke, Copeland and Rundlett, to make
report. Mr.. Rundlett, however, made
the statement that he was doing
his best to get good work for the city.
and he did not like to be criticised
without cause. +
USE OF TIME CHECKS.
In his suggestions the comptroller
had called attention to the laborers en-
ployed on the street and sewer force
selling their time to- firms who dis
counted the amount. a certain per cent,
and thus caused the laborer to lose a
part of his money. The comptroller ad-
vised that whoever it was in the city's
employ that permitted the giving of
time checks should be DISCHARGED.
City Engineer Rundlett also took ex
ceptions to the statements of Mr. Nc
Cardy on this point. He said no time
checks We're given, but.if laborer, who
was discharged, asked for a statement
OF the amount due him: 1t was given.
and the corporation attorney had held
that the men were entitled to such a
statement. The plan had been adopted
owing to the. hard times, and the fact
get the payroll through the council
and the comptroller's office, so that a
man who was employed for one week
ending April was not paid until April
I6. This was long time to wait for a
rev dollars, and on the strength of a
time statement given by the street COM
mfssioners When-asked 5 for, the men
were able to procure groceries. In some
instances he had learned the time state
cent, principally by one man, but he
saw no occasion for slurs to be cast on
the street commissioners or an insinu-
alton made that they should be dis
charged for what they considered a
charitable act.
The giving out of the time state
ments had added greatly to the work
OF the commissioners and the clerks
who had charge of the pay rolls, but
this had been done cheerfully, with the
sole object Of aiding the laborers, who.
If they so desired, could have secured
groceries and the balance Of the check
in money at any store in the city.
Formerly provision had been made
by the council in placing a fund of
$1,000 In the hands of the city treas
Urer, from which the men were paid.
The city comptroller, however, had OBJ
jected to this and insisted that the
men walt until the pay rolls had passed
through the usual red tape channels,
which delayed the payment from two
to three weeks. 1t was very easy. the
engineer said, to find fault with a sys-
tenn, but more difficultrto find proper
remedy. The statement of the comp
troller that during April one man dis
counted 500 of these time checks was
denied by the engineer, who said the
firm referred to presented only 273
checks, and that during the month of
April 1895 men were employed and $1e,-
1851 was expended in. street and
sewer work. ttf-
Mr. McCardy said, il the committee
was in favor of the laborers being
skinned" all right; If not, the plan
to pursue was to have only stated pay
days and the council issue an order not
to have any more time statements is
sued.
Mr. Wheelock thought the engineer
was to be commended, and his expla-
nation was very satisfactory. The mat